Couple’s gift offers hope to kids at risk

As criminal defense attorney Alvin Michaelson walked through a southwest Los Angeles neighborhood, mothers told him they worried about their children not making it home from school at the end of the day, and the children spoke frankly about their daily struggle to resist joining gangs.

Michaelson was interviewing witnesses in a lawsuit brought by the family of 20-year-old Jerry Eugene Wright Jr., who died in police custody after being the victim of an assault and robbery near his home.

Paramedics mistook Wright for a drug addict, and he was arrested. While Wright lay handcuffed in the street, he suffered an acute attack of sickle-cell anemia and died while family and neighbors watched helplessly.

Nearly 11 years after Wright’s death, Michaelson helped the Wright family collect more than $3 million in damages in 1990. At the time, it was one of the largest wrongful death awards in the history of Los Angeles.

“It was a very unusual result for an African American kid dying in an African American neighborhood,” said Michaelson, 66. “These kids are overwhelmed by the influence of gangs and are frightened. They’re in danger every day; every time they walk out of their home they could get killed.”

Michaelson’s wife, Lisa, has also witnessed the devastation caused by gang violence in Los Angeles. As a nurse working at UCLA Medical Center, she remembers treating an 18-year-old youth, chastising him about the tattoos covering his body.

“How are you going to get a job when you have all those tattoos?” she asked.

“Lady, I’m not worried about being professional,” he countered. “I ain’t living past 25.”

The Michaelsons realized that giving underprivileged children the chance to get away from the threats of drugs and gangs could be a life-changing opportunity.

The couple began donating to the Los Angeles Times Summer Camp Campaign, giving $350 per year, which this summer has paid for two underprivileged children to go to camp.

“A lot of kids have nowhere to turn; some don’t know this even exists,” he said, pointing to the ocean through the apartment’s expansive bay windows. “Some have tough households, with no father influence, and camp at least gives them some structure. And they can be inspired to do something by someone they meet there.”

About 12,000 children will go to camp this summer, thanks to Alvin and Lisa Michaelson and almost 9,000 other donors who helped raise $2.1 million in the Los Angeles Times Summer Camp Campaign last year. Donations this season will ensure that just as many deserving children get the camp experience next summer.

The annual fundraising campaign is part of the Los Angeles Times Family Fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, which this year will match the first $1.2 million in contributions at 50 cents on the dollar.

Donations are tax-deductible. For more information, call (213) 237-5771. To make donations by credit card, go to latimes.com/summercamp.

To send checks, use the attached coupon. Do not send cash.

Unless requested otherwise, gifts of $50 or more will be acknowledged in The Times.