Pauline Polintan and Rommel Valerio, Pastry Chefs from La Provence Patisserie & Cafe, display their hand-made pastries during  Planned Parenthood LA's 29th Annual Food Fare at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on Thursday, March 12, 2009. Food Fare 2009, the annual fundraiser for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles featured sampling of cuisine from 150 of the finest Los Angeles restaurants, wineries and caterers. Started in 1979 with a cooking demonstration by Julia Child, Food Fare has become the oldest and most celebrated culinary event in Los Angeles. Food Fare 2009 offers guests a unique opportunity to sample the finest food and drink that the city has to offer. Some of the participating restaurants include: A.O.C., Ammo, Border Grill, Clementine, Lucques and Drago. Several local chefs signed copies of their cookbooks.

Food Fare is produced by the Planned Parenthood Guild, a group of 200 women dedicated to providing financial and volunteer support for Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles (PPLA). PPLA is the largest provider of essential reproductive health care services in Los Angeles County.

The Mission of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles is to provide convenient, affordable access to a comprehensive range of quality reproductive health care and sexual health information, through patient services, education and advocacy.

(1) David Snow, Upward Bound House (UBH) Executive Director, welcomes guests during Upward Bound House' Ground breaking Ceremony of its new Emergency Family Shelter in Culver City on Thursday, March 12, 2009. (2) Santa Monica Councilmember Bobby Shriver and Los Angeles Councilmember Bill Rosendahl discuss the rendering of the future Upward Bound House  family Shelter. (3) (left to right) Culver City Mayor Scott Malsin, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, and UBH Executive Director David Snow hold a shovel while posing for a portrait during the ground breaking ceremony. (4) UBH President of the Board, Booker Pearson, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and UBH Executive Director David Snow during the presentation. (5) The artist rendition of the future Upward Bound House Emergency Family Shelter.

The UBH Family Shelter will provide 18 units for children and their families, plus 2 units for on site staff. The facility will serve approximately 210 children and their parents each year.

About Upward Bound House: UBH is a community-based 501 (c) (3) nonprofit social service agency located in Santa Monica California that provides affordable housing for homeless families with children and very low-income seniors. Founded in 1990, the non-denominational agency fulfills its mission through three programs. Family Place, a transitional housing facility for homeless families with minor children has graduated over 850 individuals, including over 525 children from the program into permanent, independent housing since opening in 1997. Senior Villa, an affordable housing facility for the very low-income elderly houses 90 individuals every night. And the S. Mark Taper Intergenerational Center, which brings together the three generations housed at Upward Bound House, where they interact and receive services that enable each resident to lead an enriched, empowered, and independent life.

World Champion Big Board Surfer, Garrett “GMac” MacNamara, 41, who hails from Hawaii, autographs a "9:Fish" Barracuda model surfboard on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, at the Santa Monica Red Cross chapter. GMac is a big wave tow surfing champion who has rode the waves in Tahiti, South America, Northern California and the freezing waters of Alaska’s glaciers. The surfboard was donated by 9:Fish and is worth $700.00. GMac will throw in private surfing lessons to complete the package going up for auction at the Santa Monica Red Cross Red Tie Affair fundraiser. The surfboard and surfing lessons will be auctioned off during a live auction at the 3rd annual gala which is being held at the Fairmont-Miramar Hotel, Saturday evening, March 28, 2009.

A surfer paddles around the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, March 7, 2009.

(1) Ms. Linda Goldfinger, 53, Activity Director of the Fireside Convalescent Hospital, portraying Haman, the evil & egotistical advisor to the king in the play 'The Purim Story' performs to a group of children from Garden of Angels on Tuesday, March 10, 2009. (2) Mr. Tony Simpson, 48, (portrays King Simpson), and Ms. Catherine Chardon, 97, (portrays Vashti) perform during the play. (3) Actors/Residents from left to right are Ms. Lorraine Pasternack, 90, (portrays Queen Esther), Ms. Sindy Hawke. 64, (portrays Mordechai), Mr. Tony Simpson, 48, (portrays King Simpson), and Ms. Catherine Chardon, 97, (portrays Vashti). (4) Children rattle the Purim gragger, also called "ra'ashan" (noisemaker), when Haman's name is mentioned during the play, as tradition dictates, to blot out the name of evil.

Purim is the most festive of Jewish holidays, a time of prizes, noisemakers, costumes and treats. The Festival of Purim commemorates a major victory over oppression and is recounted in the Megillah, the scroll of the story of Esther. Purim takes place on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar, the twelfth month of the Jewish calendar. This year (2009) Purim begins at sundown on the 09th of March.

Gaby Schkud, President of the Santa Monica Breakfast Club, honors Raymond and Alice Carriere with an award during Santa Monica Breakfast Club's 60th Annual Diamond event at the Marina del Rey Hotel on Sunday, March 8, 2009. The Santa Monica Breakfast Club honor is for Extraordinary Commitment and Dedication to the Dental Needs of the Children of Santa Monica.

(top) Children bounce on O2 MAX's Bosu Balls during the Third Annual Unity Resource Festival at Virginia Avenue Park on Sunday, March 8, 2008. (above) The Rock Climbing Wall was a popular attraction at this years fair. The fair was presented by the City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College and the Santa Monica – Bay Area Human Relations Council. This year’s festival theme was “Promoting a Strong and Sustainable Community” and featured information on city, business and nonprofit agencies that strengthen the community with supportive resources.

LA County Fire Department's team 'Pee Wee's Gang' walk along the Santa Monica Boardwalk during Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research’s Second Annual California Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk on Sunday, March 8, 2009. Pee Wee's Gang were walking in memory of Steve "PEE WEE" Herman, a firefighter who fell victim to Pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth deadliest of all cancers.

http://www.lustgarten.org/