Beverly Hills, Calif. – June 10, 2004 – More than 600 people packed the International Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton on May 20th to attend the 7th annual “Strictly Business” fundraising luncheon and show their support for JVS – one of Southern California’s largest nonprofit career counseling organizations.

The luncheon is an important source of funding for JVS, and has grown to become one of the Los Angeles region’s foremost annual business-oriented networking events.

“Like many non-profits, JVS relies on major fundraising events such as the Strictly Business luncheon to fund outreach programs and day-to-day operations,” said Vivian Seigel, JVS’ CEO. “The money raised and the awareness generated by such events is essential, but more is needed, particularly in light of widespread budget cuts at the state and local level.”

The May 20th event honored Los Angeles biomedical entrepreneur and philanthropist Alfred E. Mann as JVS’ Business Leader & Humanitarian of the Year. During his acceptance remarks, Mr. Mann discussed his life’s work developing breakthrough medical devices ranging from pacemakers and insulin pumps to cochlear implants and even an artificial pancreas. He also discussed the soon-to-be-introduced spinal cord stimulator – the first in a family of neurostimulation devices that hold the promise to treat conditions ranging from chronic back pain to epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and paralysis.

In recent years, Mr. Mann has donated significant portions of his personal fortune to establish research institutes at some of the world’s premiere academic centers. Donations have included $100 million gifts to both USC and The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.

“I don’t understand people who wait until they die to give away their money,” Mr. Mann told the Strictly Business crowd. “Money is only worth what you do with it. It’s a tool that if not used properly, has no inherent value.”

Also honored at the event were four very diverse individuals who, with JVS’ assistance, were able to overcome significant obstacles to achieve success in today’s tough job market. Their incredibly inspiring stories of personal courage were portrayed in a video shown prior to their taking the stage to accept JVS’ “Employee of the Year” awards. The four individuals ranged from a former gang member who turned his life around to a suddenly unemployed executive caught in the “mid-life squeeze” who found work just in time to put his child through college and care for elderly parents.

Eleanor Hoskins, director of Los Angeles-based Career Planning Center (CPC), was recognized for her lifetime of dedicated service including more than three decades at the helm of CPC. Earlier this year, JVS acquired CPC and assumed management of the organization’s five job training and counseling centers. Also recognized was STAPLES, Inc., which received the Corporate Citizen of the Year Award.

Emceed by broadcast journalist and former CNN entertainment news anchor Jim Moret, this year’s Strictly Business luncheon and VIP networking reception was attended by several dignitaries including Los Angeles City Council Members Tony Cardenas and Jack Weiss, California Employment Development Department (EDD) Director Herb Shultz, staff members representing U.S. Congressional representatives Lucille Roybal-Allard and Howard Berman, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, California State Assemblyman Paul Koretz and City of West Hollywood Mayor John Duran.

“Events like Strictly Business enable JVS to continue to help the nearly 15,000 people we assist every year to find jobs, change careers, overcome disabilities and, in general, learn how to triumph over barriers to achieve self sufficiency,” said Steve Hirsh, JVS Vice President and Strictly Business’ Event Chair.

Strictly Business sponsors included event underwriter Wells Fargo; Anita Hirsh and the Cooper Design Space; Los Angeles Business Journal; Ashjer, LLC; Prospect Medical Group; SHOUT! Factory; Robert Zarnegin and The Peninsula Beverly Hills/Graciela Burbank; Zenith Insurance Company; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; City National Bank; Diagnostic Products; Maxine and Art Fink; Peter Morton; and the Wallis Foundation, to name a few.

About JVS
Founded in 1931, Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) is one of Los Angeles’ oldest and largest nonprofit organizations dedicated exclusively to employment issues. While its original mission was to provide employment assistance to the first wave of refugees fleeing Nazi Europe, it is a non-sectarian organization that helps people of all faiths and backgrounds. Its West Hollywood WorkSource Center is part of a network of assistance centers throughout the Greater Los Angeles region that have been described by Speaker of the California Assembly Herb Wesson as “an antidote to economic dependency and youth gang activity.” Many of JVS’ youth programs are based at the Center, which helped more than 3,000 adults and 500 adolescents in 2003 alone. In addition to providing career counseling to individuals, JVS offers a wide range of corporate training and consulting services. Next year the organization will celebrate its 75th anniversary. More information about JVS and the upcoming Strictly Business Luncheon is available at www.jvsla.org.

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Note to Editors: Photos from JVS’ Strictly Business event are available. Please contact Katherine Moore or Melissa Jarvis-Prieto at (323) 761-8888 x8904 for more information.