Eagle & Badge Blotter - November 2011

All Medal of Valor winners, specifically Dets. Ralph Acosta and Daniel Hanabusa and Ofcrs. Custodio Ponce and Benny Aguilera, were recognized at the gala.

All Medal of Valor winners, specifically Dets. Ralph Acosta and Daniel Hanabusa and Ofcrs. Custodio Ponce and Benny Aguilera, were recognized at the gala.

August and September were very busy months for the Eagle & Badge Foundation. On August 30, the foundation held its 10th Anniversary Gala at the new JW Marriott and welcomed over 900 guests.

Among the guests were Leo Politi Elementary School students and their principal and officers from the Mounted Unit, all of whom took the stage to thank the foundation for its continued support of the Mini Mounties program.

Also on hand were Det. Ed Wilson and his family, along with their service dog, Bones, to acknowledge the foundation and its help in getting Bones for their autistic son Luke. Det. Wilson had previously shared that with the help of the service dog, “[he’d] seen that Luke is living a better life with Bones, and it’s those little improvements that add up.”

Two motor officers and their shiny bikes met guests at the top of the escalator.

Two motor officers and their shiny bikes met guests at the top of the escalator.

Sheriff Lee Baca and Thomas Girardi presented “In the Line of Duty” awards to Warren Beatty and Annette Bening; KCBS Sports Director Jim Hill presented an award to Jim Buss, who was accepting on behalf of the Buss family and the L.A. Lakers, and to new Lakers Coach Mike Brown; and James Gianopulos, president of 20th Century Fox, recognized Dean Metropoulos and the Metropoulos family, along with Pabst Brewing Company, which was also the underwriting sponsor of the dinner.

In addition to the entertainment and awards presentation, silent and live auctions offering over 100 items raised $48,000 alone for the foundation. All the monies raised will directly help officers, their families and children in Los Angeles communities.

We thank all of this year’s gala sponsors, including Pabst Brewing Company, the Los Angeles Police Protective League, JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. Live, Herbalife, Thomas V. Girardi, Esq., Jason Wallace, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars of Beverly Hills and the Beverly Hills Courier.

To view more photos of the gala, click here.

Recent activity

Director John Mumma and his daughter Rachel with Det. Lance Jurado and his wife, Rose.

Director John Mumma and his daughter Rachel with Det. Lance Jurado and his wife, Rose.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we were recently able to approve funding for several programs:

  • 32nd Annual Police Officers, Firefighters and Paramedics Recognition Luncheon honoring outstanding officers, firefighters and paramedics
  • North Valley Family YMCA’s youth development efforts promoting healthy living and social responsibility
  • Makayla’s Haven Foundation (www.makaylas-haven.com), assisting mothers and their newborn babies suffering from a medical condition called pre-eclampsia
The Wilson family and their service dog, Bones.

The Wilson family and their service dog, Bones.

  • William H. Parker Los Angeles Police Foundation (www.lapdfoundation.com), which raises funds for training and equipment for the men and women of the LAPD
  • Topanga Area station fund in memory of fallen LAPD Ofcr. and U.S. Marine Joshua J. Cullins; funds raised are divided between the Joshua J. Cullins memorial, Royal High School in Simi Valley and the Topanga Area station fund.

If you know of an officer’s family or community program supported by LAPD that needs the foundation’s assistance, please click here for funding guidelines and an application for funds.