In December, 1989, Nathaniel died of AIDS. Determined that Nathaniel's memory
and short life would not be forgotten, Mollie co-founded Project Chicken Soup.
1st Annual Awards Brunch Honoring Mollie Pier PCS Co-Founder, Board Member and Volunteer since 1989 November 11 | 11 am - 3 pm Temple Beth Am | 1039 South La Cienega, Los Angeles, CA 90035
Featuring a collaboration of the most celebrated Jewish chefs in Los Angeles who will honor Mollie Pier with a showcase of their signature dishes in recognition of her work cooking for people with HIV/AIDS.
Mollie Pier
Project Chicken Soup Co-Founder, Board Member and Client Services/ Kitchen Volunteer
An extraordinary woman was born in NYC on August 6, 1920. After moving to CA in the early 1950s, Mollie raised three sons with her husband, David, and began her life in service to others, working for the L.A. school district for 25 years, before retiring in 1981. In the late 1970s, Mollie’s son, Nathaniel, told his mother he was gay. Mollie joined PFLAG and became an activist for gay civil rights; work that Mollie continues today in myriad ways including: advocating for marriage equality, talking to youth at the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center and supporting the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. After graduating from Albert Einstein Medical School, Nathaniel became one of the first doctors to treat people with AIDS in NYC. Dr. Pier was widely recognized for his knowledge, skills and compassion. In December, 1989, Nathaniel died of AIDS. Determined that Nathaniel’s memory and short life would not be forgotten, Mollie co-founded Project Chicken Soup. 23 years later, Mollie still spends 4 hours twice each month calling clients prior to meal deliveries and leading a team in the PCS kitchen. Mollie continues using her cooking skills to nurture people with illnesses in memory of her own son who used his medical knowledge to help people with AIDS.
Participating Guest Chefs: Susan Feniger Susan Feniger’s STREET www.eatatstreet.com Eric Greenspan The Foundry www.thefoundryonmelrose.com Evan Kleiman Author, Restaurateur, Consultant, Radio Host www.evankleiman.com
COURTESY BREAD AND BUTTER PR
Alex Reznik
Akasha Richmond Akasha www.akasharestaurant.com Suzanne Tracht Jar www.thejar.com Micah Wexler Mezze www.mezzela.com plus Classic Catering by Pnina with Kosher supervision by Rabbi Yonatan Benzaquen
Who We Are Project Chicken Soup is a non-profit organization that prepares and delivers free, nutritious, kosher meals to people in the greater Los Angeles area living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses. These services are provided with love and compassion to all persons regardless of faith or religious belief. PCS currently prepares and delivers meals to 125 clients two Sundays a month, providing grocery bags containing 10 meals per delivery. The Executive Director is the only paid staff, with approximately 1,500 volunteers annually accomplishing the mission to prepare and deliver over 30,000 meals. With sufficient resources, PCS plans to double its capacity and provide kosher meal delivery services to additional clients in need. In addition to providing nutritious meals to clients, PCS offers information and referral services to prospective and enrolled clients and works with community partners to implement long term solutions to illness, hunger and poverty.
Board of Directors Rod Bran Paul Chitlik Susan Higgins Robert R. Johnson Mark Miller Mollie Pier Arthur Zweig Executive Director Cathryn Friedman
Medical Advisor Mark Katz, M.D. Founders Board Martin Bernstein Rod Bran Sherry Elkin Carole Lazarus Mollie Pier Myra Shapiro
Event Committee Cathryn Friedman Steven Friedman Arthur Jablon Mady Jablon Barbara Javitz Shuki Moran Michael Opell Lauren Schlau Arthur Zweig
Mollie Pier Sustainer Program Project Chicken Soup is launching the Mollie Pier Sustainer Program, a monthly giving program that will help to ensure the future of PCS. With your help, we will be able to plan ahead, knowing your gift will be there to ensure that Project Chicken Soup can always prepare the most nutritious meals to deliver to our clients living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses. We plan to honor Mollie at the November 11th Annual Awards Brunch with an announcement of the total amount pledged to date. A contribution of $100 per month, or $1,200 per year provides 1 client with 20 nutritious, kosher meals each month for the year. Please consider making a pledge now, for a monthly contribution of: • $100 per month • $50 per month • $____per month Thank you for helping to ensure the future of Project Chicken Soup.
Thank You Thank you to our sponsors, guest chefs, brunch guests, volunteers and everyone who helped to make Project Chicken Soup's 1st Annual Awards Brunch in honor of Mollie Pier, such a success! Event photos are posted on the PCS Facebook page, along with several articles written about Mollie and the Awards Brunch. Thanks again for joining us for this very special event, and we'll look forward to seeing you next year!
BOOH SCHUT
KOLODNY & ANTEAU
PAUL CHITLIK AND BETH MCCAULEY
ROD BRAN STEVEN AND GAIL FRIEDMAN
Wine donated by Herzog Wine Cellars | www.herzogwinecellars.com Services donated by Jannis Swerman & Company Culinary and Winery Public Relations | www.jannisswerman.com Services donated by Ronna Sundy, Events Coordinator and Beverages, Appetizers, Dessert and Bread donated by Classic Catering by Pnina Produce donated by West Central Produce Event Photography by Gabe Lane
Entertainment Provided in Mollie's Honor by David Silverstein Cantor Juval Porat, Beth Chaim Chadashim Cantor Magda Fishman, Temple Beth Am Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles For over 33 years, GMCLA has built an international reputation for musical excellence while remaining deeply rooted in service to the community. Hailed by the L.A. Times as “one of the last important links to a glorious tradition in music,” GMCLA tours nationally and internationally and donates over 60,000 volunteer hours annually. GMCLA’s Alive Music Project brings music education and anti-bullying workshops to L.A. schools. GMCLA’s original production It Gets Better just began a U.S. tour, giving hope and support to LGBT youth and furthering their mission to change hearts and minds through the power of music. Mollie Pier is a fond part of GMCLA’s history. She started attending GMCLA concerts in the early 1980s, and began baking for ‘select’ members of the chorus. Following the death of her son in 1989 to HIV, Mollie took it upon herself to bake up to 400 cookies per performance! The cookies would magically appear between Acts 1 and 2. Newer members of the chorus assumed they were purchased at the local bakery, never realizing that the tiny lady sitting in the front row—always with a loving expression—had personally made each treat.
