Gettlove Benefit Raffle a Huge Success

Jan 04, 2012

Brian Folb speaks about his passion for helping the homeless and how much Gettlove means to him and to Hollywood.

Everyone knows the name Getty, but not many are aware of the dedication founder Aileen Getty has to helping eliminate the homeless situation in Los Angeles through her Gettlove organization. Aileen’s approach is to respond to the homeless as individuals and human beings whose circumstances have led them to a desperate situation rather than as statistics or faceless forms on the streets. Gettlove is committed to bringing loving, personal, and individual recognition and communication to each person who has no home regardless of the reason they find themselves on the street. Aileen Getty was recently honored as Woman of the Year in L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s district for her continuing work with the homeless, and PCD congratulates her on this well earned honor.

Last year Aileen Getty organized a warm jacket and gloves giveaway for the homeless, and PCD was an enthusiastic supporter. Her “clients” were given insulated warm jackets, gloves, and sack lunches from Gettlove.  When the warm jackets and gloves she had brought were all dispersed, the staff of PCD brought out warm jackets that they had gathered to donate to supplement the ones Aileen had brought, and with the huge turnout they came in very handy.  The line of people in need wrapped around the corner, but all were welcome and left with a new source of warmth and smiles on their faces. Brian Folb of PCD was so inspired by the event that he decided to do something more to help Aileen in her efforts. He wanted to raise money for Gettlove, and decided that he would combine the annual PCD tenant mixer with a fund raising raffle. Brian has been passionate about helping solve the homeless situation in Hollywood for over twelve years, and is always looking for new ways to help.

Elizabeth Williams of Tax Credit Company accepting the grand prize package on behalf of the company.

On Thursday, December 15th, the raffle was held in the lobby of the 6464 building. Brian spoke of how inspired he was by the warm jacket giveaway last year, and how once the raffle idea occurred to him he networked to get people involved to donate prizes and buy raffle tickets for this wonderful cause. The main prize was a Hollywood Holiday Package, comprised of four tickets to Iris, the Cirque Du Soleil show at Hollywood and Highland; dinner for four at the Hard Rock Café Hollywood; and a bowling party for ten people at Lucky Strike Hollywood, including food and beverages and Lucky Strike tee shirts. Representatives of the companies who made these most generous donations were on hand for the drawing.

PCD as usual outdid themselves with tables of pastries, cookies, holiday treats and lots of coffee, orange juice and other beverages. Festive decorations enhanced the lobby setting and helped everyone get into the holiday spirit.

Other prizes donated included gift certificates to local restaurants, new V-MODA Crossfade M-80 headsets from tenant Val Kolton of V-Moda, ten complimentary classes to Cardio Barre Hollywood, and VIP tickets to Madame Tussauds Hollywood,  among others. PCD is very grateful to their tenants and friends who joined them to assist with this worthwhile cause, including Tax Credit Company, V-Moda, World Wide Wadio, Clevver Media, Famous Hollywood Dental Care, SAE Los Angeles, 51 Minds, ROM Investments, Cirque du Soleil Hollywood, the Hard Rock Café Hollywood and Lucky Strike Hollywood. Their generosity even in this difficult financial climate is amazingly generous and most appreciated.

The climax of the fundraiser had Brian Folb tearing the concealing paper from an oversized check to reveal the donation of $10,000 to Gettlove, an amazing contribution to a cause dear to PCD’s heart. Brian would like to make this the start of an annual event that not only brings together tenants, neighbors and friends in a social setting but also contributes to making Hollywood a better place in which to live and work for everyone. Involving local businesses in this community outreach effort invites everyone to become a part of an exciting new holiday tradition. From the enthusiastic responses it generated it will be an annual event that inspires people to support charitable efforts close to home.

- LQ

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