Zimmer Honors Mark Itkin and Gloria & Jerry - Zimmer Children's ...

WINTER 2004-2005 ISSUE 6
Zimmer Honors Mark Itkin
and Gloria & Jerry Lushing
at Discovery Award Dinner
The Zimmer Children’s Museum hosted the fourth annual
Discovery Award Dinner on Thursday, November 4, 2004,
at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Nearly 700 friends were
on hand to celebrate the accomplishments of our honorees,
Mark Itkin and Gloria & Jerry Lushing. Guests bid on live and
silent auction items, and enjoyed the talents of master of
ceremonies Jerry Springer and Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis
Jr., who performed a set featuring many of their hits, to cap
off the evening.
We were
proud to honor
three individuals
who are builders,
creators and
leaders in their
fields and
communities.
L-R:Jeanne Newman, Mark Itkin, Gloria &
Jerry Lushing and Annette & Leonard Shapiro
The Discovery
Award recognizes
the importance of this work.
Mark Itkin is Executive Vice President, Worldwide Head of
Syndication, Cable and Non-Fiction Programming and member
of the Board of Directors of the Williams Morris Agency. Mark
continued on page 4
Artists Answer
the Call
show&tel:
art of connection
Supports youTHink
Arts Education
Visitors to the
Zimmer this
summer were
treated to a unique
international art
installation –
show&tel: art
of connection.
Using the universal
symbol of communication,
the telephone,
as a common starting
point, more than 100 noteworthy
individuals expressed themselves
through art. Whether beautiful,
tongue-in-cheek, or thoughtprovoking,
each piece provided
a perspective on the art of
connection.
Rob Eshman,
Jewish Journal
Editor-in-Chief,
with his creation
continued on page 3
SAVE THE DATE: President’s Circle Event – Thursday Evening, June 2, 2005

Message From Our Chief Executive Officer
At 13 years of age, we are beginning
anew. After evolving as part of
Jewish Community Centers of Greater Los
Angeles, we are becoming an independent
institution. Under the leadership of our first
Board of Directors, alongside our Board of
Advisors and our President’s Advisory
Board, we are launching our future through
creative new exhibitions that underscore the
importance of community and that teach
our young visitors what it means to be a
contributing person in our society.
Our youTHink arts education initiative will
expand its reach into public schools throughout
the state, inspiring young people to
explore their own capacity to make changes
and lead their peers. youTHink will continue
training educators in facilitative teaching so
that they can serve as a resource for all their
students, to teach about society and civic
involvement, and to lead their students
towards critical thinking and problem solving.
The future abounds in opportunities and
challenges. We will overcome our adversities
by working together to secure the funding
needed for our programs to continue to soar
and succeed. Limitless possibilities will develop
with new leadership and programmatic
collaborations and institutional partnerships.
Our challenges will yield to opportunities as
we renew our commitment to the work we
do and to our mission “to provide interactive
learning opportunities that promote the
values that help make a better society.”
The leadership of our Board of Directors
changes hands as we embark on this new
chapter, and we join outgoing chairpeople
Beth and Rodney Freeman in welcoming
incoming chairperson Wendy Moss Klein.
We thank Beth and Rodney for their
guidance during the past three years as the
museum and youTHink have changed and
grown, during show&tel: art of connection
and, most recently, through our transition to
independence. Wendy takes over at a pivotal
time, and will undoubtedly excel in her new
capacity.
ESTHER NETTER
Olympic Festival
The Zimmer was abuzz this summer with fabulous
drop-in programs, workshops and performances with an
underlying theme of discovering individual accomplishments
and universal friendships. The summer culminated in a very
special Spirit of the Olympics Festival, where participants
celebrated the core themes of the Olympics: friendship,
unity, sports “personal best,” teamwork and making a
difference in the world. Through games, music, art and
drama, our young Olympians shared a memorable
experience.
Arts and Education Specialist Rachel
King with visitors and Olympic torch
2

show&tel Continued
A group of participants beyond our wildest
dreams was assembled by curator Kate Stern,
who asks, “Where else can a Nobel laureate,
world-class athletes, artists, singers, actors,
journalists, designers, humanitarian and
community leaders all come together in the
name of art” NY Firefighter Hugh Giffords,
environmental activist Julia Butterfly Hill,
Nobel Laureate Jody Williams, and Annie
Wignall, teen Founder & Director of Care
Bags Foundation, together with Buzz Aldrin,
Charles Arnoldi, Pete Carroll, Robert
Graham, Gary Baseman, Alicia Keys and
Elizabeth Taylor are just a few of those who
donated their time and talent to provide
vital support to arts education in the public
schools via our youTHink program.
The exhibit kicked off with a festive
opening on June 6, attended by more than
400 friends and supporters, including a
number of the artists. Guests mingled and
viewed the pieces on display throughout the
museum space and in the Federation lobby.
Twelve of the telephones were sold during
a spirited live auction that evening.
New York Firefighter Hugh Giffords with his telephone,
commemorating the events of 9/11
The telephones remained on display through
September, when they were auctioned
online at gottahaveit.com. Proceeds from
the sale of the telephones go to support
our youTHink arts education programs in the
public schools.
We are grateful to everyone who
participated and helped make the event, the
exhibition and the auction a tremendous
success.
We extend a special thank you to:
Karen Sandler, Chair
Trevor Bryant, Exhibit Producer
Kate Stern, Curator
Lisa Cohen, Beth Freeman,
Eve B. Greenfield, Dara Schnee,
Sheryl Wachtel and Jan Weiss,
show&tel committee
Missy Halperin
Roy Gamityan, Auctioneer
Marc Friedland and
The Creative Intelligence Inc.Team
Sacks Productions
Artist Gary Baseman and Curator Kate Stern
3

2004 Discovery Award Dinner Continued
is a 10-year member of the Academy of Television
Arts & Sciences, a two-term Governor, and spent
six years on the Academy’s Executive Committee.
Mark was the first agent appointed to NATPE’s
(National Association of Television Programming
Executives) Executive Board. Mark is currently on
the Board of Hollywood, Radio and Television
Society, the Board of Governors of Cedars-Sinai
Hospital and the Board of Directors of AIDS
Research Alliance.
In addition to the many friends and colleagues
who attended, Mark’s partner, Bradley Bayou, sister
Robbin Itkin, mother, Estelle Itkin and Aunt Marjorie
Taren joined him to celebrate.
Throughout 44 years of marriage, Gloria and
Jerry Lushing have built a life dedicated to family
and community involvement. The Lushings are
committed to a wide range of organizations, with
the Jewish community, healthcare, education and
the arts of special interest.
Gloria and Jerry are Vice Presidents of Major
Gifts for Stop Cancer, supporting research at USC,
UCLA and City of Hope. Gloria is trained by the
American Cancer Society to counsel women at the
Brandman Breast Center at Cedars Sinai. Jerry
serves on the Cedars Sinai Medical Center Board
of Governors.
The Lushings were thrilled to share the evening
with their four children and their spouses, and their
12 grandchildren who range in age from six to 20.
We extend our sincere thanks to the many
people whose efforts contributed to a wonderful
evening. Dinner Co-Chairs Jeanne Newman and
Annette & Leonard Shapiro; Event Chairs Wendy
Moss Klein and Sheryl Wachtel; the Event
Committee, Lisa Cohen, Beth Freeman, Eve B.
Greenfield, Susan Greer, Lisa Hofheimer, Sharona
Nazarian, Dara Schnee, Jan Weiss and Alice Weit,
and the amazing team at Sacks Productions.
We also acknowledge previous Discovery Award
honorees Barbara Fisher, Jean Friedman, Andy
Heyward, Arthur Hiller, Gary E. Knell and Cynthia
Sikes Yorkin. Your ongoing involvement and support
are invaluable.
Rodney & Beth Freeman, Outgoing Museum Chairs; Wendy
Moss Klein, Event Chair and Incoming Museum Chair; Sheryl
Wachtel, Event Chair; Dara Schnee, Board Member; Esther
Netter, Chief Executive Officer
Jerry Lushing; Gloria Lushing; Dr. Jerry Friedman;
Jean Friedman, Founding Chair & 2001 Discovery Award
Recipient and Mark Itkin
4

Thank You 2004 Sponsors
Platinum
Gloria and Jerry Lushing
William Morris Agency, Mark Itkin
Gold Circle Sponsors
The Appel, Frank, Gluckstein, Greitzer
& Miller Table
The Chais Family Foundation
Jean and Jerry Friedman
Janet Semler
Jerry & Gloria Lushing, Mark Itkin, Honorees and Jerry
Springer, Master of Ceremonies
Honoree Mark Itkin with sister Robbin Itkin and
his partner Bradley Bayou
Gloria & Jerry Lushing with their four children and
spouses, and 12 grandchildren
Silver Circle Sponsors
The Goldman, Good, Goodman,
Stern & Weisberg Table
CBS
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Freemantle Media
Hansen, Jacobson,Teller, Hoberman, Newman,
Warren, Sloane & Richman, LLP
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
NBC Universal
The Ornest Family
Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, LLP
Sony Pictures
Table Sponsors
The Beim, Familian, Fineman, Maltzman,
Miller & Sherman Table
The Buchalter, Katzman, Hochman, Konheim, Pepper
& Simon Table
Bunim/Murray Productions
The Dolores Cardelucci Table
Jennifer & Curtis Cohen
Elissa & Edward Czuker & Family
Vin Di Bona Productions
Disney Hand
Fox Television
Beth & Rodney Freeman & Family
The Goldman, Horn, Minsky/Polone, Ray & Smalley Table
Industry Entertainment
Lions Gate Entertainment
Bloom, Hergott & Diemer, LLP
The Lutin, Feldman, Krevoy/Spiwak,
Stabler, Licht Table
Nelson Felker, LLP
Dara & Charles Schnee & Family
LMNO Productions
The Severo Group/RBC Dain Rauscher
Warner Bros. Studios
Jodi & Andrew Zicklin
The Zweben, Pollack, Lazar, Lopaty, Laurie,
Lopaty & Weinhart Table
5

youTHink Brings Student Views to City Government
Acollection of student social commentary
art is on display at City Attorney
Rocky Delgadillo’s Office through the end of
the year. The art, by elementary through high
school students from throughout Los Angeles,
was created during the students’ participation
in various youTHink lessons in their classes.
The exhibit is part of a larger collaboration
between youTHink and the offices of City
Councilmember Jack Weiss and City Attorney
Rocky Delgadillo to foster students’ civic
involvement in important social issues in
this city, and to convey student views and
perspectives to a broader city audience.
The collaboration begins with this exhibition,
and will include a student group visit to
City Hall to experience the inner workings
of local government. It will culminate with
a large exhibition of student artwork at the
Bridge at City Hall, opening in December
2005.
Feedback from teachers, students and
parents has been tremendous. Brandon
Backhaus, 4th-grade teacher at
Community Magnet Elementary School,
told youTHink, “I feel my students
benefited greatly from your program.
Their perspectives are broader than they
were before the program. They are the
ones standing out as leaders for the school
and the classroom. They are the ones
mediating conflicts, and having meaningful
discussions in class and informally.They
asked me if they could do your program
again. I’d love to participate again.”
One parent wrote, “We’re thrilled! Our
son took this project to heart and had a
great time creating it. We’re grateful to the
City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo with youTHink student art
youTHink team for dreaming up a concept
that involved our entire family in helping
Johnathan to explore his cultural heritage as
part of his research. We’re so proud of his
accomplishment, and what a wonderful way
to celebrate it.”
youTHink serves public schools throughout
California, with a primary focus in greater
Los Angeles.
Sophie Korn, an
outstanding teen
volunteer, was given a
grand send-off by the
Museum staff as she left
to attend Johns Hopkins
University. She brought
her enthusiasm, intelligence
and creativity to
the Zimmer for over four years. We miss her and
wish her well.
To find out more about volunteer opportunities
contact Sara Zolott at (323) 761-8998.
6

And Now, Introducing the Zimmer’s Super Staff
Joey Dennis, Operations and Facilities
Manager, is responsible for ensuring that
the exhibits are in great shape for our gests.
He is also the busy point person overseeing
birthday parties and special events.
As Program Coordinator, Sara Zolott
initiates all of our Sunday and special
programming, including the popular Thursday
summer programs. In addition, she plans our
holiday programs and festivals and is always
on the lookout for new and interesting
performers and workshop leaders.
Rachel King, the Arts and Education
specialist develops educational curriculum for
school groups that includes a lesson, tour of
the exhibits and an appropriate art workshop.
A trained artist, she plans and facilitates all art
Joey Dennis, Rachel King & Sara Zolott clearly enjoy
working at a children’s museum
workshops and is responsible for decorating and
transforming the Museum during Jewish holidays.
Museum Manager, Esther Shapiro oversees
programming, creates new initiatives to grow the
Museum, both in content and attendance, and
supervises staff.
We appreciate and depend upon our donors
whose ongoing support serves to sustain the
Museum and its programs.
Museum Founders $5,000 and above annually:
Susan & Aaron Amster
Dawn & Roland Arnall
Adele & Gordon Binder
Stanley & Joyce Black
Jennifer & Curtis Cohen
Corinna Cotsen & Lee Rosenbaum
Beth & Rodney Freeman
Beth & Josh Friedman
Jean & Jerry Friedman
Mark Itkin
Larry Kohl
Karen & Nathan Sandler
Dara & Charles Schnee
Patricia & Stanley Silver
Josh Simms
Julie Simms
Vicki & Ron Simms
Carol Brennglass Spinner & Arthur Spinner
Ruth/Allen Ziegler Foundation
The Max & Pauline Zimmer Family Foundation:
Edith & Jack Flier
Rosanne Keynan & Jonathan Flier
David Krems
Evelyn & Nathan Krems
Charles Lieberman
Ruth Lieberman
We are pleased to announce these recent gifts:
Naming of the Ross Roberts Children’s Synagogue
by Milton & Brindell Roberts Gottlieb
Naming of Our Special Home by
Gloria & Jerry Lushing
Grants:
Chais Family Foundation
Joseph Drown Foundation
Leo S. Guthman Fund
City of L.A. Cultural Affairs
Claire & Theodore Morse Foundation
Bruce & Nancy Newberg
Ornest Family Foundation
David & Lucille Packard Foundation
Leo Rosner Foundation
Dwight Stuart Youth Foundation
Herman P. and Sophia Taubman Foundation
Corporate Sponsor:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
7

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wendy Moss Klein, Chair
Jean Friedman, Founding Chair
Esther Netter, Chief Executive Officer
Susan Amster
Jeffrey H. Cohen
Jennifer Cohen
Lisa Cohen
Barbara Fisher
Beth Freeman*
Rodney Freeman*
Beth Friedman*
Eve B. Greenfield
Lisa Hofheimer
Mark Itkin
Larry Kohl
Lance Rosenzweig
Dara Schnee
Annette Shapiro
Josh Simms
Laura Stein
Stuart Tochner
Sheryl Wachtel
Barbara Yaroslavsky
*past chair
BOARD OF ADVISORS
Allison Berg
Sandy Candiotty
Wrenn Chais
Phyllis Coblentz
Elissa Czuker
Susanne Czuker
Adine Forman
Jerry Friedman
Noralee Gold
Susan Greer
Cari Mars Hanelin
Josh Hofheimer
Fortuna Ippoliti
Jean Kaplan
Karen Lehmann-Eisner
Caroline Moser
Daniel Nazarian
Sharona Nazarian
Alex Nehorai
Atoosa Nehorai
David Nimmer
Barbara Prober
Julie Simms
David Soleymani
Carol B. Spinner
Jonathan Swerdlow
Deborah Taubman
Jan Weiss
Alice Weit
Andrew Zicklin
Jodi Zicklin
PRESIDENT’S ADVISORY BOARD
Tom Barad
Adele Binder
Gordon Binder
Jona Goldrich
Bram Goldsmith
Brian Henson
Andy Heyward
Arthur Hiller
Gary E. Knell
Norman Lear
Gloria Lushing
Jerry Lushing
Jeanne Newman
Charlie Rivkin
Ellen Sassa
Scott Sassa
Nellie Seddigh
Harold Williams
Bud Yorkin
Bryce Zabel
Richard S. Ziman
6505 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 100
Los Angeles, California 90048-4908
(323) 761-8989
www.zimmermuseum.org
www.youthink.org
The Zimmer Children’s Museum
of Jewish Community Centers
of Greater Los Angeles is a
beneficiary of The Jewish Federation
Public Hours:
Tuesday, The Zimmer Wednesday, Children’s Thursday Museum and
Sunday is a beneficiary 12:30pm agency – 5:00pm of
For The group Jewish visits Federation call: 323 761-8994
Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Mercury Mailing
Systems Inc.
Zimmer Honored with L.A. Parent
Readers’ Choice Award
The Zimmer was
recently chosen Best
Children’s Museum in the
2004 L.A. Parent Readers’
Choice Awards. Our handson
exhibits, including a
towering 2-story neon-lit
Tzedakah pinball machine,
offer life lessons through
role-playing. “We are
especially proud of this
award, since it was voted on
by families who have enjoyed our
museum and its programs,” commented
CEO Esther Netter. “We will continue
to provide high quality, innovative
family programming for the city and
the region.”