Many years ago, we spent Father’s Day with our dad enjoying a play at the Music Center.  After the play, we went to eat at a nearby restaurant where we were approached by a woman who introduced herself as Downtown Donna.  She offered to answer any questions we had about downtown Los Angeles in exchange for money that she needed to help feed her son. Downtown Donna was obviously resourceful and obviously homeless.  My dad whipped out his wallet but, instead of handing her money, pulled out his business card.  “How about this?” he asked her.  “How about if you call me or come to see me at my office tomorrow and I guarantee I can find you and your son a place to live.”  Downtown Donna’s eyes lit up and she promised to call our dad.

 

We do not know the ending to this particular story.  But what we do know is that there are thousands of Downtown Donnas who found a place to live and a better way of life through the extraordinary work of Portals, the community-based agency our father led for over 35 years.

 

Portals’ mission is to enable people with psychiatric disabilities to improve the quality of their lives and live independently in the community. Our father joined Portals in 1965 and transformed it from a fledgling halfway house into a large, multi-program, multi-location organization that now serves over 1,200 clients each month. 

 

Today, we are very excited about an opportunity to help the men and women of South Los Angeles with severe and persistent mental illness and to honor our father’s legacy.  In recent months, Portals has embarked on the Western Avenue Renovation Project to enhance and expand the agency’s treatment facility on 39^th Street and Western Avenue and create a new Recovery and Wellness Center.  The goals of the project are to expand service capacity, create new programming opportunities, and improve access and safety.  Once completed, the Center will serve the needs of an additional 150 – 200 people per year.  It will also increase the number of transitional housing beds by 40%.

Our family pledged to Portals that we will raise $50,000 to help fund the renovation of the building. 

 

We are writing to ask you to help the community of South Los Angeles during an especially challenging time and to help us in our efforts to continue our father’s good work by making a contribution to the Marv Weinstein Memorial Tribute.  Simply use the Donate Now feature on this website.

 

While we have a financial goal of raising $50,000 – and anticipate several large contributions for the Memorial Tribute – we assure you that no donation is too small.  Contributions of cash, stock, real estate, personal property, insurance policies, and estate gifts are welcome.  Pledges for up to three years will be accepted.  All donations are tax-deductible.  Your contribution will be acknowledged on a handsome plaque placed prominently in the Recovery and Wellness Center. 

 

We want to thank you so much for even considering making a donation.  Through your contributions, you will help in Portals’ important mission of turning lives around.

 

                                                                     

 

Karen Weinstein                                                                 Judy Weinstein