AMM Featured Philanthropist: Barbara Lazaroff
Ms. Barbara Lazaroff, A.S.I.D., is an interior and product designer, restaurateur, author, radio host, philanthropist and mother of two college-aged sons. She is the co-founder with Chef Puck of the Wolfgang Puck brand. Barbara was inducted into the Platinum Circle Hall of Fame for her innovative restaurant concepts and designs of her acclaimed restaurants such as the former Spago Hollywood, Granita, Eureka, Spago Beverly Hills and Chinois Santa Monica, as well as many establishments nationally and abroad. In addition, she has received acknowledgments for her business acumen with a NAWBO-LA Hall of Fame Award and received an honorary Ph.D. from Johnson and Wales for professional management in hospitality.
“As a business if you want the community to be interested in you, you have to been interested in the community.” Barbara is highly recognized for her life’s mission as a community activist and philanthropist. She has been acknowledged for her 33 years of community service by: Alliance for Housing & Healing/Serra Project/Aid for Aids, APLA, DIFFA, Shanti, and Project Angel Food. She is the national recipient of the James Beard Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year award for her 29 years of co-founding and organizing the American Wine & Food Festival for Meals on Wheels, raising over 25 million for the homebound. Barbara was also honored with NAWBO-LA’s Legacy Award for a life in philanthropy for her Meals on Wheels work and efforts for MAZON, which aids hunger relief. Concurrently she co-founded the California Spirit event for the American Cancer Society for 29 years, raising millions.
Barbara is a strong advocate for women’s education, scholarships and protection. She is dedicated to her support of AVIVA Family and Children’s Services for which she raised a million dollars of in-kind donations and other funds to remodel the home for abused girls. She is one of the founders of NEWH-LA and Women Chefs & Restaurateurs.
“Live your life in full color, with exuberance and purpose and passion – be a person of integrity, resilience and generosity.”
“Our children truly are the future of this planet; as a parent we have the ability to change the condition of the world for good long after we are gone – if we raise our children to be conscious citizens, and by helping others to raise theirs.”
Barbara also supports Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Fulfillment Fund scholarship program, the Zimmer Children’s Museum’s inner city arts programs, Cleveland’s University Hospital and various programs within Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Because Barbara is resolutely committed to the importance of cutting edge research to find avenues of prevention and new protocols and cures for those afflicted with cancer she serves on the board of Friends of Sheba Medical Center in Israel and the Israel Cancer Research Fund which shares its groundbreaking discoveries with the world. As a designer, Barbara created her “Flame of Life” Dinnerware, available online at Amazon, to support a variety of her charities. Her tagline is fittingly “Plates that Serve the Community.” Funds are distributed to charities that support medical research, women and children’s causes, veterans, hunger relief, education, the environment and animal causes.
“There is no greater legacy than that of leaving others richer in spirit, body or mind for having touched their lives; whether they are aware that you have been there or not.”
Recently, Barbara co-founded FGI: Filmanthropic Group International, a studio that works with brands causes and A-list talent to create mainstream film and media. To raise awareness about bullying, FGI hosted the “White Rabbit” 2015 release party screening and donated to various charities. Barbara is one of the women selected for a newly released book by Dale Griffiths Stamos entitled: RenWomen: What Modern Renaissance Women Have to Teach Us About Living Rich, Fulfilling Lives. www.BarbaraLazaroff.com
