Richard Maize, Philanthropy
Richard Maize, a native of sunny California, is a philanthropist and supporter of the poor and hungry throughout the world, as well as in his hometown of Los Angeles.
Richard Maize actively promotes ecologically sound practices in his own home and provides useful information on "going green". He avidly supports the nation of Israel and is one of the first to be on the spot to lend a helping hand when disaster occurs around the world.
Richard Maize is dedicated to supporting worthwhile non-profit organizations in the US and Israel that give people “the chance to live healthier and happier lives,” according to Richard Maize.
Richard Maize generously contributes time and financial resources to community organizations that cover health, welfare, young leadership, the environment, art and culture. These include the Los Angeles Police Foundation, American Cancer Society, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, Camp Harmony, Greystone Mansion and many others.
“We are trying to facilitate an appreciation and understanding of the role that creativity plays in our lives, alongside support for vital institutions,” Richard Maize stated.
As an example of the activities of Richard Maize is the generous support of the Sheryl Weissberg Lymphoma Research Foundation. Richard Maize funded research for clinical trials and research conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and Tower Cancer Research Foundation.
“We wholeheartedly support research and treatment for lymphoma, one of the most devastating cancers,” said Richard Maize. “Together with partner organizations and individuals, we want to be able to say that this disease has been eliminated and is now a disease of the past,” he added.
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Rochelle and Richard Maize Foundation
Richard Maize, through his foundation, Richard Maize Foundation, also provides support for a major benefit for the Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles.
The Guild of Big Brothers Big Sister of Greater Los Angeles and the Inland Empire (BBBSLA) hosted a luncheon and fashion show to benefit the organization’s founding mission of helping children reach their potential through one-on-one mentoring relationships. The event featured a boutique with high end items including clothing, jewelry and other fashion accessories with the latest trends and celebrity-inspired collections presented by models from Tyra Banks’hit show “America’s Next Top Model.”
“With the increasing demand for essential children’s services that the BBBSLA provides, we are pleased to support their efforts on behalf of our youth,” explained Richard Maize.
“The event was an enjoyable experience and made even more rewarding knowing that all that shopping would raise funds which will help provide young people with a solid foundation for achieving future success,” Richard Maize added.
“Pizza Hut Day,” was a special treat for the elementary school students at Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services of Los Angeles during May 2008.
Held in the campus gymnasium, Richard Maize and his volunteer team served up pizza to hungry students.
The Richard Maize Foundation has been a long-time dedicated and ongoing supporter of Vista Del Mar’s programs, faculty and students. It has regularly contributed time and financial resources to Vista Del Mar and other various programs to help children and families in need.
“We are extremely proud to be a supporter of these young people so that as they experience adolescence and adulthood, they can step confidently into the future and further foster the spirit of giving,” explained Richard Maize.
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Women Making a Difference
Later in the year, Rochelle, the wife of Richard Maize was named among the prominent award recipients of the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2008 “Women Making a Difference”.
The magazine listed more than 200 prestigious nominees making up a diverse group of Los Angeles-based women “who lead by example, making a difference both in the world of business and in the communities they serve.”
Recognized as a true philanthropist, Rochelle Maize spends many hours supporting charities personally, through the Richard Maize Foundation as well as in her work as a realtor. In this sense, she partners with each client to dedicate a portion of each and every sale to a charitable cause either chosen by the client or to one of the many non-profit organizations Richard Maize supports.
In another prestigious event, Rochelle Maize joined Entertainment Tonight host Mary Hart at the inaugural Women of Distinction luncheon in support of the Greater Los Angeles/Orange County Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). At the CCFA Inaugural Women of Distinction Luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Rochelle Maize, a member of the Women of Distinction Committee, gathered along with event Co-chairs Caryl Golden and Cathy Greenly to celebrate the honorees with luncheon host Bobbie Thomas, contributing editor for In Touch Magazine, correspondent for The Today Show and E! Red Carpet host for the Academy, Emmy and SAG Awards.
The event honored four women who have achieved distinction in their careers and who have generously supported the mission of the CCFA. They are: Claire Levine, philanthropist and Chair of the Board of Specialty Merchandise Corporation; Helene Galen, philanthropist and community leader, Jaye Hersh, entrepreneur and owner of Los Angeles boutique Intuition, and Mary Hart, host of Entertainment Tonight.
The event’s honorary committee members also include Pierce Brosnan, Jamie Gertz, Lucy Liu, Madeline Redstone, Mindy Weiss, Laurie Konheim and many other dedicated individuals who donate their time and efforts to this very worthy effort.
As a special presentation, luncheon honorees, organizers and attendees enjoyed a fashion show featuring the Pre-Fall 2008 Collection by celebrated fashion designer Carolina Herrera. Proceeds raised at the luncheon enabled hundreds of children with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis to attend the CCFA Camp Oasis summer and family camp programs.
The Jewish Federation’s Real Estate and Construction Division’s Evening of Gratitude was underwritten by the Richard Maize Foundation. Donors were recognized for their generosity to the Federation, as Richard Maize said, “We appreciate the generosity of those who make a difference every day in the lives of those in need.”
In November, at the Rising Stars Gala, they, joined host and comedic actor Fred Willard and guests to honor producer Paula Wagner, actress and academy award nominee Abigail Breslin and publicist Michael Sitrickat at an event, that was the largest fundraiser event for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of greater Los Angeles and the Inland Empire (BBBSLAIE).
Among other philanthropic activities undertaken by the Richard Maize Foundation during the year were support for the California Spirit XXIV for the American Cancer Society; support for Friends of Greystone Mansion, an historic home in Beverly Hills and major activity on behalf of the Jewish Committee of 18 in support of the 18th Maccabiah games in Israel during July.
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Los Angeles Committee of 18
"Committee of 18" members are among Los Angeles` business, entertainment and community leaders who commit to raising $1.5 million to elevate the games globally and enabled 350 qualifying athletes who otherwise would not be able participate, a chance to compete in Tel Aviv in this years` Maccabiah Games.
"It is truly an honor and privilege for me to be an active working member of this group of renowned leaders who have come together as a small, but powerful force, to highlight the importance of the 18th Maccabiah Games," said Richard Maize, co-founder of the Richard Maize Foundation.
"I am firmly committed to do everything I can, personally and through the Richard Maize Foundation, to support the committee in its mission to raise awareness for the Maccabiah games and ensure that deserving athletes are afforded the opportunity to compete in Tel Aviv," Richard Maize added.
"This was one of the most exciting events at the 18th Maccabiah," says Richard Maize. "The game was fought hard by both sides and went into overtime. The fact the US won was overshadowed by the warm smiles and embraces displayed by both the players of Israel and Team USA."
“The Maccabi Games instill an appreciation of Jewish values, competitive sporting experiences and the spirit of community involvement in a memorable and rewarding environment,” said Richard Maize, co-founder of the Richard Maize Foundation.
Richard Maize, who was responsible for the largest mortgage banking company in the US, continues: "The US and Israel have so many good, solid democratic and family values in common. It was great to see this friendly match between the Jews of Israel and the US. I can only imagine how well the Israel Defense Forces and the US military cooperate when they get together in fighting terrorism in this region."
As a young and ambitious graduate from California State University, Northridge, Richard Maize began his business career investing in Southern California real estate. In 1988, he co-founded a mortgage banking company that has grown into one of the largest and most respected mortgage brokerage firms in the US. With an entrepreneurial spirit and tireless effort, Richard Maize expanded his business and became known as an industry expert, regularly appearing as a commentator for KCAL-TV news sharing his insights about real estate trends, marketing and finance.
An engaged and involved member of his local community in the US, Richard Maize continues to be involved professionally and personally in relevant causes. Through the foundation, Richard Maize contributions focus on working with various non-profit organizations, charitable endeavors and finding ways that will have the greatest ability to positively impact the lives of others.
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Leader, Mentor, Dedicated Mortgage Professional
A leader, mentor and dedicated mortgage professional, Richard Maize resides in Beverly Hills along with his wife and foundation co-founder, Rochelle Atlas Maize and their two daughters, Amanda and Ally.
Richard Maize has volunteered to be a mentor for the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles` Real Estate and Construction Division`s Young Leadership Development Institute.
The Young Leadership Development Institute (YLDI) is an intense, two-year program, offering young real estate professionals high level leadership training, networking opportunities, mentoring and Jewish Federation education.
"As a second year mentor, I am proud to again be among such a distinguished group of seasoned real estate professionals committed to educating and empowering young philanthropic leaders," said Richard Maize.
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Maccabiah Games
Richard Maize was involved in a totally different aspect of Israeli life last year when he was appointed a member of the Committee of 18 which supported the 18th Maccabiah World Games that took place in Israel earlier this year.
The Committee, composed of 18 members, committed themselves to raising sufficient funds for the Maccabiah Games. The important group’s members include representatives from the entertainment industry, leading businessmen and well-known community leaders. With the goal of raising the status of the Maccabiah Games, they agreed to work towards the goal of raising more than $1.5 million. The available funds were divided between the 350 athletes who would not have been able to participate in the games without aid from the Committee of 18.
Even though the youth had trained for quite a long time for the Games, their families did not have the funds involved in traveling to Israel and participating in the events. The money raised by the Committee of 18 sponsored delegates from communities in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union Republics, India and Latin America.
“It was truly an honor and privilege for me to become an active working member of this dedicated group of renowned leaders who came together as a small, but powerful force, to highlight the importance of the 18th Maccabiah Games,” said Richard Maize.
Richard Maize continued: “I am firmly committed to do everything I can, personally and through my Richard Maize Foundation, to support the committee in its mission to raise awareness for future Maccabiah games and ensure that deserving athletes are afforded the opportunity to compete in Israel.”
Membership to the Committee of 18 is by invitation only. Every one of the 18 members hold equal status, so they are all said to be a co-chair of the committee that holds no elected officers.
The Committee of 18 and Richard Maize were able to increase the exposure for the Games by obtaining commercial sponsors, finding sources of television opportunities with large agencies in Los Angeles and landed some brand name clothing sponsorships and endorsements.
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Teenagers Tour Israel
Teenage athletes from Diaspora countries came together for over two weeks of sports competitions, traveling around Israel, meeting Israelis and hanging out with their fellow athletes as participants of the Maccabiah Games.
The general experience was the trip of a lifetime for these young sportsmen. They were guided around to vital sites in Israel including the Western Wall, Yad Vashem, Masada, the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee, making the Maccabiah Games a large tourism campaign for Israel. The events attracted close to 18,000 supporters and tourists, increasing Israel's economy by approximately $80 million.
Deemed as the largest display of international Jewish fellowship and solidarity, the Richard Maize Foundation was a generous supporter of these young athletes and Richard was happy to support positive public relations for Israel.
As members of the Committee of 18, each of the co-chairs were invited to attend the Maccabiah Games with their families as VIP guests, tour Israel, and enjoy the festivities. Each member enjoyed viewing the sporting events from the grandstands, cheering each of the youth on to do their best.
The Committee of 18 also served as an official advisor to Mr. Eyal Tiberger, Director-General and Executive Director of the 18th Maccabiah Games during the games, offering well respected professional assistance and advice concerning entertainment, media, digital public relations, marketing and advertising for the event. The Maccabiah Games are a quadrennial sports, educational, and cultural event that occurs in Israel. This past year Israel played host to some 3,000 young athletes in what is said to be the third largest sporting event in the world. The sportsmen, aged 15-18, included 2,000 masters, 5,000 open athletes and Paralympics, with more than 2,000 Israeli athletes on the team. More than 400,000 Jews in 400 different organizations located in 60 countries take part in the Maccabiah Games.
Before leaving the U.S. to attend the Games in Israel, Richard Maize hosted some of the members of the Committee of 18 at his home in Beverly Hills. One of those attending was Los Angeles resident and entertainer Kirk Douglas. As Douglas related, “I am very excited about these games, because sport is an international language that brings people together, not tears them apart.”
During their time in Israel, Richard Maize and the Committee of 18 also joined Israel Defense Forces pilots and soldiers from the Israel Air Force at the Tel-Nof Air Force Base in Israel.
“This was my first visit to Israel, and I was amazed by the warmth and strength of these Jews who built a Jewish state and turned a barren desert into a green paradise. But what struck me more than anything was how tiny and resilient this democratic state is. That the people of Israel have suffered and bled from hundreds of barbaric Islamic terror attacks. The Richard Maize Foundation is now exploring how we can provide assistance to the victims of Islamic terrorism both in the U.S. and in Israel,” said Richard Maize.
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Richard Maize and Family Supports Chase Child Life Services Golf Day Fund Raiser
The Richard Maize Foundation has rallied to the support of the Chase Foundation's Child Life Program a non-profit organization which addresses the social, emotional, and developmental needs of children dealing with the stress of illness and hospitalization.
The program was originally established by the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital nearly 40 years. In 2000 it was renamed in honor of Chase Richards who died from cancer at the age of two-years-old. His parents, Susan and Robin Richards, co-founded the Chase Foundation with the aim of ensuring that the Child Life Program was available at no cost to patients under the age of 21 and their families.
Through the Chase Foundation Annual Golf Tournament, held for the past 12 years to raise funds in support of the Chase Child Life services, the Maize family has generously participated in the sponsorship effort.
This year's tournament was held on November 9 at the El Caballero Country Club. Thousands of dollars were raised to ensure that every child admitted to Los Angeles Children's Hospital will be able to participate in and benefit from its Child Life program.
Richard Maize commented: "We were honored to be able to support the efforts of the Chase Child Life Services through our participation in this fun event ... the event may be fun, but the intent behind it is deadly serious - We are talking about improving the lives of hospitalized children and their families."
According to Susan and Robin Richards, the Chase Foundation’s sole mission is to support the Chase Child Life Program which operates on the principle that the best medical care alone isn’t enough. The Child Life Staff addresses the emotional, social, and developmental needs of children. The Chase Child Life Program strives to promote optimum development of children and their families, to maintain normal living patterns and to minimize psychological trauma. Their moving story is related in their web site: (www.chasefoundation.org)
"We lost our son, Chase, shortly after his second birthday. Cancer relentlessly took his life, but his last few weeks were spent in a hospital where, remarkably and thankfully, he was given the chance to be a child. In between procedures, Chase and his siblings met with Child Life Specialists who helped them learn how to deal with this terrible situation. They were able to play, draw, be with other children and forget about his illness, even if for only a few minutes, thanks to the Child Life Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
After Chase passed, we learned that only a fraction—about 25% of the hundreds of children at the hospital each day—had access to the program due to limited funding. We were determined to help secure the financial resources to see that every child at the hospital gains access to the Child Life Program and its art, play, therapy and interactive programs. We started a nonprofit organization—The Chase Foundation—to generate significantly more financial support for the Child Life Program and to create better play spaces for the children on every patient floor.
"When we founded the Chase Foundation there was one playroom and two specialists working with the kids. Because of our foundation's support there are now six playrooms, one Teen Lounge and 20 specialists. We will always remember how the children enjoyed playing at the hospital, and are determined to see that more children each year gain a few more moments of peace, fun and childhood in their incredible young lives and incessant battles with illness," said Richard Maize.
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Richard Maize Sponsors Archer Dads, L.A. Works, Children Uniting Nations
Despite his dedicated involvement in the world of business, initiating and sponsoring international human rights advocacy Web sites and being involved in major national support programs, Richard Maize and his family is very grounded in the local Los Angeles community and is very active and visible in supporting and working for local events and charities.
Witness his involvement in two major local events – and the heart-warming story of a lost puppy.
Since the beginning of this month, and particularly this past weekend, the Richard Maize Foundation initiated a call for volunteers to help with “The Great Pumpkin” a drive to raise funds through Pumpkin Patch for Charity.
Local organization, Archer Dads, in association with the L.A. Works, City Year and Rock the Classroom, held a Pumpkin Patch and Halloween Carnival in conjunction with the Archer Fall Festival this past weekend. In making the call for volunteers, Richard Maize said he felt a strong need to be involved with local community events and dedicated himself and his family to community service at a grass-roots level.
“This is our community, this is where we live and work, and this is where our friends and associates are," said Maize. "We are committed to helping the local community apart from all the apparently significant national and international events and organizations in which I and my family have been and are involved, we see the local community as a prime target of our humanitarian work.”
As a further example of this approach, Richard Maize and his family are instrumental in sponsoring Children Uniting Nations (CUN), a proactive organization created to bring attention to the plight of “at-risk” and foster youth.
The goal is to reach as many children in out-of-home care by offering role-model support, guidance, and a sense of community and to promote the importance of education.
“The support services, awareness and advocacy provided by CUN have resulted in large-scale community involvement successfully proliferating positive achievements in the lives of children in foster care. CUN brings to the table a strong community collaborative designed by regarded experts in the foster care and mentoring communities,” said Richard Maize. "In support of the organization to raise funds for the organization, a day of the child, has been organized for Sunday, November 22, at the Santa Monica airport."
Day of the Child is a free, one-day event benefiting foster and at-risk youth that features live entertainment by chart topping music groups, celebrity appearances, food and festivities.
Past celebrities and entertainers include Stevie Wonder, Black Eyed Peas, WyclefJean, Chaka Khan, Colby O’Donis, Maria Conchita Alonso, Miguel Nunez, Christina Milian, Aaron Carter, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, The Power of Three, DJ Spinderella, Slade Smiley and Erik Estrada.
This is the organization’s largest mentor recruitment event, consisting of over two thousand attendees including foster children, mentors and volunteers,” Richard Maize quoted the event’s organizers as saying.
“A huge promotion of public awareness to the needs of foster and at-risk children, through extensive media coverage is needed.”
Support by individuals, organizations and companies and will pay for the mentoring of hundreds of children in Los Angeles for a day of filling hopes and dreams. Sponsorship also provides support for training of permanent mentors for foster children.
But sponsorship and organizational support aside, Richard Maize has a soft spot for animals – particularly lost animals.
Richard tells of a recent incident, a “doggy dilemma”, in which he and his wife found a stray dog.
“As we were walking our two dogs in our neighborhood, we found a lost dog wandering on the streets. We bent down do find that the dog had no collar around its neck. In fear that the dog would either be taken – or worse – we picked it up and took it home, which was about three blocks from where we found it wandering. The dog was a cute female Shih-tsu."
“As seen many times in the past when dogs are lost, there are many signs posted on trees and lamp posts describing lost dogs with a phone number. There were no such signs anywhere,” Richard recounts.
“I went traveling up and down the streets stopping other dog walkers and neighbors showing them this dog and asking if they knew who owned it. No one knew."
“The third day of caring for this dog, we decided to plaster the neighborhood with our own signs. After three more days there were no calls. We even went to the local veterinarian hoping the dog carried a computer chip and we could thereby identify the owners. There was a chip that was under the dog’s skin that was probably there at birth, but it was not activated with any information. We called the local dog pound in hopes someone was looking for their dog."
“Now, we had boarded this dog for six days doing everything responsibly to find its rightful owner. Having a third dog in our house is something we really didn’t want in our lives. I needed to find a caring family to take this dog as their own.”
Richard Maize continued: “I found this lonely, yet capable elderly couple to care for this dog. The dog and the couple fell instantly in love with each other.
“I learned that the couple canceled their evening plans to go to dinner to care for this dog. They went to the local pet store to buy the proper food and gave their new dog a bath and haircut. The couple made a special place on their bed for the dog to sleep.
“Yesterday, I got a call from the supposed owner. He had seen a sign on his street. I told him that after I had acted in what I believed was a totally responsible way, I gave the dog to an elderly couple who love the animal and will give it a good home."
“I added that he had now put me in a very uncomfortable position. Most importantly, this could break the hearts of a nice couple to whom I had entrusted the dog," said Richard Maize.
“Why did it take him eight days to call or even seriously look for this dog? Is he a good owner of the dog? Does he even care? Was it my responsibility to house this dog for six days while searching for the owner? Did he lose the right to the dog? It is now 24 hours since he called me, and had yet to follow it up with another call. If it was one of my dogs, I would not sleep until I found my dog doing everything I could to find it."
“This is a real dilemma – we believe we acted responsibly, notifying the entire neighborhood about the stray animal, he took either days to respond but do I have the right to decide how long is the right amount of time to take a dog away from its owner?
“One last thing I didn’t mention - the elderly couple are my mom and dad.”
The Richard Maize Foundation generously supports foundations and causes such as the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, the American Cancer Society, Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, Hurricane Katrina, Big Brothers / Big Sisters (BBBS) of Greater Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Board of Governors, Los Angeles Police Foundation and the Jewish Maccabi Sports Games, one of the world’s largest annual summer sporting competitions for Jewish youth.
Most recently, The Richard Maize Foundation sponsored the UN Goldstone Israel Gaza War Report and the Israel Human Rights websites to illustrate how a free and open democracy such as Israel has the basic right to defend herself against unprovoked Islamic terrorism from Gaza.
A leader, mentor and dedicated banking mortgage professional, Richard Maize resides in Beverly Hills along with his wife and foundation co-founder, Rochelle Atlas Maize and their two daughters, Amanda and Ally.
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Haiti
Richard Maize sponsored media coverage of the Haiti earthquake disaster illustrating the humanitarian efforts of the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Flying Aid.
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