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	Laura Lizer (Biography)

	As founder and president of Laura Lizer & Associates, Laura has built a company from an initial loan of $700 into one of the most respected business management firms in the entertainment industry, with almost a half billion dollars under management. A third-generation native of Los Angeles , Laura began her philanthropic work on behalf of children when she was a child herself. At the young age of 11, she volunteered as a “candy striper” at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center . Laura's adult charitable service began in earnest after she toured a children's hospital in the 1980's that was being funded by the Osmond Foundation. Inspired by the way the foundation distributed 100% of its donations directly to the local hospital in the town from which a particular donation was made, Laura spent the next decade working on behalf of the Children's Hospital, helping to raise $100 million. At the same time, Laura became involved with Women In Business, where she served 4 years as Treasurer. She was elected President of the Women In Business Foundation, and during her tenure, she organized the first fundraiser which successfully established scholarships at UCLA for lower income women who want to go into business. More recently, Laura served 4 years as Treasurer of SHARE, a well-known organization in Los Angeles that, for over 52 years, has raised more than $40 million, all of which has gone to children's causes. In 2003, Laura decided to increase her commitment to children by founding the Mort Viner Scholarship Foundation at Temple Israel of Hollywood Day School to honor her late friend and mentor, talent agent Mort Viner. The foundation provides scholarships to children of single parents who normally might not be able to attend the elementary school. Laura's leadership has enabled the foundation to provide 5 scholarships annually for the next 20 years. Pleased with the results, this year Laura pledged to build the Word Children's Library at Temple Israel . She believes reading is vital to a child's development, and that a better educated world is a better place. Her own child inspired her with his love of reading and learning. Amid all the philanthropic works, Laura's most rewarding charitable involvement has been the years she sat on the “support council” of the Stuart House, a center that serves child victims of rape and sexual abuse. The center combines police reporting, medical and psychological treatment in one location as a way to lessen the trauma to the victims and their families. Stuart House became the model on which other centers across the country are based and Laura feels there is nothing more noble than trying to protect defenseless children, a cause she will continue to pursue. Married to television executive Rob Word, Laura and her husband have an eight-year old son, Robby.