Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 14, 2012

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com

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AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

Mountain Views News Saturday, January 14, 2012

“What’s Going On?” 

News and Views from Joan Schmidt

Grants Funding Information at Your Fingertips

at Flintridge Center’s Philanthropy Resource Library


Judy Chu and Mike Eng:

The Dynamic Duo of the San Gabriel Valley

PASADENA, Calif.—Flintridge Center’s 
Philanthropy Resource Library is a special 
library offering free access to comprehensive 
grants research tools and extensive resources 
geared to the nonprofit sector. Located at 236 
West Mountain Street, Suite 118, in Pasadena, the 
Library is open to the public and professionally 
staffed.

The collection includes online databases where 
nonprofit organizations and other grantseekers 
can quickly obtain detailed information 
about funding opportunities from private 
and corporate foundations and government 
grants. Individual donor prospects can also be 
researched using the Library’s four computers or 
via WiFi. Expert assistance is always available for 
those needing help researching grants or locating 
specific reference materials.

“Organizations in the San Gabriel Valley have 
access to a wealth of information in a convenient 
location—right here in Pasadena,” says 
Flintridge Center program director Lisa Wilson 
who oversees the Library collection, as well as 
Flintridge’s educational programs for nonprofits.

“Our goal is to help nonprofits and individuals 
find the funds and information they need 
to support their essential services for the 
community. We make the research process easy.”

As a Cooperating Collection of the New 
York-based Foundation Center, Flintridge’s 
Library offers access to the Foundation Center’s 
specialized databases: Foundation Directory 
Online Professional profiles more than 100,000 
U.S. grantmakers. The helpful search tool can 
pinpoint potential funders who are a strong 
match. The 990 Finder provides access to more 
than one million IRS returns for foundations and 
nonprofits. The Foundation Center’s Grants to 
Individuals Online database features grants for 
students, artists, researchers and other individual 
grantseekers.

The Philanthropy Resource Library also 
contains print directories, proposal writing 
guides and hundreds of books, periodicals and 
electronic resources covering a wide spectrum 
of topics of interest to nonprofits. The complete 
catalog of titles can be viewed online at www.
Flintridge.org.

Flintridge’s Library, one of only four 
Cooperating Collections serving the greater Los 
Angeles area, has been called “one of the most 
significant in the Western United States” by the 
Foundation Center. The Library is open Tuesday, 
Wednesday and Thursday from 10 am to 6 pm 
and on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 10 am 
to 1 pm. Introductory orientations take place on 
the 3rd Saturday from 9 to 10 am.

In addition, Flintridge presents ongoing 
educational workshops, trainings, Library 
webinars and one-on-one consulting services for 
nonprofits at affordable rates. The Calendar of 
Events is at www.Flintridge.org.

For more information about the Philanthropy 
Resource Library or Flintridge Center programs, 
contact Barbara McKinzie-Slater, Librarian, 
626/449-0839, x118.

Upcoming free Library webinars:

Fundraising Planning for Nonprofits w/ 
Lunchtime Networking

Thursday, January 19, 2012, 12 noon - 1:00 pm

236 W. Mountain St., Suite #118, Pasadena, CA 
91103

The live broadcast webinar is an introduction 
to fundraising planning and how to diversify your 
organization’s support. Learn from the experts 
how to conduct an assets inventory, develop a case 
statement, identify funding partners and prepare 
a fundraising plan and calendar to generate 
diversified funding streams. Handout materials 
are included. Come early, bring your lunch, and 
network with other attendees. Register online 
at www.Flintridge.org and select Calendar of 
Events or contact 626/449-0839, x118.

Introduction to Corporate Giving w/ 
Lunchtime Networking

Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 12 noon - 1:00 
pm

236 W. Mountain St., Suite #118, Pasadena, CA 
91103

Seeking to target companies that might fund 
your organization? Need to get beyond the 
Yellow Pages? The live broadcast webinar is an 
introduction to corporate support for nonprofits 
and some funding research tools to help you 
identify corporate prospects. We’ll answer such 
questions as:

· What are the motivations behind corporate 
giving?

· What is the difference between a direct 
corporate giving program and a company-
sponsored foundation?

· Are there different pathways to partnership 
with a company?

· How can I match my organization’s needs 
with a corporation’s interests?

· What resources are available to help locate 
corporate funders?

A case study of a corporate-nonprofit 
partnership and handout materials are included. 
Prior experience with foundation grantseeking is 
strongly recommended. Come early, bring your 
lunch, and network with other attendees. Register 
online at www.Flintridge.org and select Calendar 
of Events or contact 626/449-0839, x118.

To build hope and resilience in the lives of 
youth and their families in Northwest Pasadena 
and West Altadena, Flintridge Center works 
in partnership with the community to provide 
life-changing services and to act as a catalyst 
for pragmatic solutions that reduce community 
violence, improve academic achievement, and 
launch career paths for the benefit of the greater 
Pasadena/Altadena area.

In 2001, I attended 
the Los Angeles County 
Sheriff’s Department’s 
“Know Gangs, No Gangs”, 
Asian Gang Violence 
Prevention and Awareness 
Conference. This much-
needed program lasted 
several hours, featuring 
many guest speakers from the Sheriff’s 
Department, and various agencies that provided 
services and programs to aid youths. Attorney 
Mike Eng was the sponsor and that impressed me 
because I sat in a room with over 100+ attendees 
from several enforcement agencies besides LASD. 
These 100+ attendees would take back many 
ideas-tools, options and programs how to deal 
with an arising problem. Assemblywoman Judy 
Chu was there and presented special certificates 
to the sponsor and keynote speakers. That also 
was noteworthy because Judy HERSELF attended 
and presented the certificates.

 It was until several months later that I 
learned that Judy Chu and Michael Eng were 
married! I thought that was neat and appropriate 
as they seemed like two caring people committed 
to help others.

 Back in the 1970’s, Judy Chu was a math 
major at Cal State Santa Barbara and pursuing 
a career in computer science. One day as Chu 
was walking across campus, someone handed 
her a flyer about an Asian American Course, 
and Chu decided to check it out. She recounts 
the incidence, “It was like a light went off in 
her head”. She listened to the history of Asians 
coming to America. Times were tough for them-
discrimination and stereotypes-but that didn’t 
hold them back. They made many contributions 
to American life and culture. One day, there was 
a guest speaker, Pat Sumi. This third generation 
Japanese American had helped voters to register 
in Mississippi and organized protests against the 
Viet Nam War. Ideas began in circulate in Chu’s 
head, “Perhaps an Asian-American woman 
could be a leader”. Chu then transferred to 
UCLA, changed her major to Clinical Psychology 
and met her husband, Michael Eng, a student 
attending UCLA at that time!

In 1978, the couple married. Chu who holds a 
doctorate in psychology continued to teach-first 
at Los Angeles City College and then at East LA 
College. Eng continued to practice immigration 
law.

By the 1980’s, the couple had settled in the City 
of Monterey Park. Because many Asians were 
settling in the community, longtime residents 
sought a ban on Chinese language storefront 
signs and the City Council voted to support 
a resolution endorsing English as the nation’s 
official language. Judy Chu and Mike Eng helped 
form the Coalition for Harmony in Monterrey 
Park and started “Harmony Days” to celebrate 
various cultures.

Chu’s political career began as a member of 
the Garvey School Board. She was elected to the 
Monterey Park City Council and served from 
1988-2001, setting a record for longest time in 
office by a Council Member! From 2001-2006, 
Chu served on the California State Assembly 
until she termed out. Then her husband Mike 
Eng was elected to fill that position. Judy was a 
member of the Board of Equalization until 2009. 
I was the recipient of many news e-mails during 
that time and appreciated the update on key 
issues. In 2009, Chu was elected to Congress in 
a special election to replace Hilda Solis who had 
accepted the position of Secretary of Labor in the 
Obama Administration.

When I met Mike Eng, he was an attorney 
who supported the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s 
Department in its mission to deal with the 
Asian Gang problem, work against more youths 
entering gangs by providing awareness courses 
and offering prevention and alternative courses. 
When Mike Eng decided to run for State Assembly, 
Bob and I attended the kick-off campaign and 
I learned a lot about Eng. He was the recipient 
of awards for his work with literacy programs 
and the library besides helping immigrants. 
Most recently, he introduced Assembly Bill 11-
56, “Tabitha’s Law”. This is the anti-bullying 
legislation which will have gone into effect by the 
time you read this! Three important components 
are (1) The bill EXPANDS the definition of 
bullying. Previously the gravity of bullying was 
not recognized. EVERY DAY, 160,000, children 
across America are bullied! Eng revealed that as 
a youth, he was locked in a locker at school and 
to this day has a problem with claustrophobia, 
and must always ride on an aisle seat on a plane. 
(2) Every school district MUST have a school 
safety program that deal with bullying. Schools 
have fire drills and earthquake drills/ prevention 
within school problems- but there has to be some 
program of action to address bullying. (3) The 
child being bullied MUST be allowed to transfer 
to a new school district. The policy has been to 
ship out the perpetrator but that does no good. 
The child being bullied is left in that school 
and the perpetrator usually has several friends 
that continue to bully and sometimes it’s worst 
because they are angry their friend is gone.

Mike Eng recently held his Day of Inclusion 
which we attended. Eng works tirelessly to make 
ALL Americans aware of how many diverse 
groups came to this country and continue to 
come bringing so much culture and diverse 
contributions to our society. He wants to end 
prejudice against any American and bring 
awareness and appreciation of ALL contributions 
by so many great diverse peoples.

Yes, Mike Eng and Judy Chu are truly the 
Valley’s “Dynamic Duo”.


NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS IN GUATEMALA

Thoughts on the Death of My Brother


By Christopher Nyerges

I was sitting in a bus, driving 
through the Guatemalan countryside 
when I got the call that my Richard 
had died. I was troubled, and upset, 
and saddened that I’d not see Richard 
again. I began to think over some of 
our life together. I thought mostly of 
childhood incidents, and they mostly 
made me laugh.

-- The haircuts Richard and I would 
get from our father. My father would 
sit us up on highchair in the garage 
and the whole neighborhood could 
watch the spectacle of a poor haircut.

-- Or our early morning Pasadena 
Star News paper routes when we were out in the 
neighborhood on our bicycles when everyone 
else was asleep. 

-- I was often surprised when Richard was 
overly protective of me as his younger brother. 
Once, while walking home from school, an older 
boy said something to me, and I just ignored it. 
But Richard went over to this boy and punched 
him more times than I could count, and the boy 
limped away, and I was shocked at his reaction. 
Yet, I gained a new respect for him.

But mostly, when I heard of his death, I was 
sad. He’d not be around anymore, even though 
we probably only talked once a month or so. 
The last time I saw him was at his son Jonny’s 
memorial, just two months earlier. I realized 
that life is short and precious, and we don’t 
always get all the time we think we need, or 
deserve. 

I remember many years ago when I felt bad, 
or had some problem, I could always call my 
parents and talk. I would talk for an hour or 
so with my mother, and it always made me feel 
better, and hopeful. Then both parents were 
gone, and I discovered that I could Still talk to 
them, which I do almost daily. I just don’t get the 
same responses anymore.

We could do the same with Richard too, and 
he will feel your support. Even if you don’t 
believe this, you can talk to him still and feel 
better yourself.

The following two days in Guatemala were 
particularly painful, not entirely but partly 
because of thinking about Richard. One 
night I spoke with a friend, Doug, and Doug 
told me many things, including that my pain 
wasn’t because of Richard’s pain, but because 
of my own fears about life, and that was very 
insightful. Doug told me that night that Richard 
would appear to me in my dreams. I went to 
sleep anticipating Richard’s appearance, but he 
did not appear to me that night.

The following day, I was participating in our 
class on the meaning of certain Mayan glyphs, 
and later did a meditation while light music was 
playing.

When I closed my eyes, I found myself on a 
large flat mountaintop, not unlike the top of one 
of the many pyramids we were visiting. Richard 
was there with me, smiling. He didn’t say 
anything, but we held hands and began to dance 
in a circle, slowly at first. We smiled and laughed 
as we held hands and twirled. We laughed, and 
Jonathan joined the circle, as we talked lightly 
about how much fun it was. Dolores joined, 
and my mother and father joined, smiling. My 
mother said, “Aren’t you going to invite us to 
dance?” and we all laughed and continued to 
dance in this circle. 

It was such pure, child-like enjoyment, and 
others, seeing our delight, quickly joined. Helen 
joined the circle, and my other brothers Tom and 
David and Gilbert quickly joined. Pam, Michael, 
and Jeffrey joined. Spouses and children joined 
and the circle got bigger and louder and we were 
singing and smiling and it was like a Michael 
Jackson “We are the World” songfest, except 
the music was more like the Jewish folk song 
Hava Nagilah. [If you don’t know this song, you 
should listen to it right now on YouTube to get a 
feel for my dream].

We went round and round and friends began 
to join – I saw the neighborhood friends join 
with Richard, and I saw the many family friends 
join the dance. People kept joining, friends of 
Richard and friends of his friends and the circle 
got larger and larger, and the music was like this 
celestial angelic music and we moved as one and 
we smiled and we felt a oneness that you just 
want to feel on earth but you rarely do. 

The circle got larger and larger and as we 
danced and moved we all began to see that 
we were all one family, one organism, and we 
recognized that if I hurt you, I hurt myself, and 
that if I steal from you, I steal from me, and that 
if I cause pain to you, I cause pain to myself. 
We were all moving and there was no fear, no 
pride, no lies, no prejudice, no Democrats, no 
Republicans, and Richard in his bright green 
shirt, was smiling broadly.

As the circle continued and everyone felt their 
oneness with each other, and with Richard of 
course, I saw flashes of bright white light all 
around us – believe me, this would make a great 
music video!

While we danced, Richard was on the far side 
of the circle and he said, “Don’t cry for me.” I 
said, “People are sad. Why not cry?”. He said, 
“Don’t cry. Just live better. Live your life, and 
be good. Live better and respect each other and 
be good to each other. Do that in my memory.” 

My meditation ended. I smiled, and I mentally 
thanked everyone who was – and is – part of this 
great circle. 

[Nyerges is the author of many books, who 
broadcasts a weekly podcast on Preparedness Radio 
Network, and who writes a Blog at his website, www.
ChristopherNyerges.com. He can also be reached 
about his books and classes at Box 41834, Eagle Rock, 
CA 90041.]

 

Pet of the Week

Daisy Mae: Animal ID #A4380399

Meet a really mellow sweetheart, the adorable 
Daisy Mae (A4380399). Daisy Mae is a timid, 
loving, two-year-old black and white female 
Longhaired Chihuahua who was found in 
Rosemead on December 27th and brought to 
the Baldwin Park shelter. Weighing thirteen 
pounds, she walks okay on the leash and has 
probably had some training. She is good with 
other dogs and we think she will be good 
with kids. Poor Daisy Mae is terrified at the 
shelter, and will be even more affectionate and 
adorable when she gets into a safe, loving home. 
Daisy Mae will be the perfect indoor pet for 
anyone in any living situation whatsoever, and 
would be a great companion for a senior. To 
watch a video of Daisy Mae interacting with 
a volunteer, please visit: www.youtube.com/
watch?v=gGkMVKY0zpc

To meet Daisy Mae in person, please see her 
at the Baldwin Park Shelter, located at 4275 N. 
Elton, Baldwin Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-
430-2378). She is currently available now. For 
any inquiries about Daisy Mae, please reference 
her animal ID number: A4380399. The shelter 
is open seven days a week, 12 pm-7 pm Monday-
Thursday and 10am-5pm Friday-Sunday. 
This is a high-intake shelter with a great need 
for adoptions. For more information about 
Daisy Mae or the adoption process, contact 
United Hope for Animals Volunteer Adoption 
Coordinator Samantha at samanthasayon@
gmail.com or 661-309-2674. To learn more about 
United Hope for Animals’ partnership with the 
Baldwin Park Shelter through its Shelter Support 
Program, as well as the many dogs of all breeds, 
ages, and sizes available for adoption in local 
shelters, visit http://www.unitedhope4animals.
org/about-us/shelter-support-program/.