McMillen Family Foundation Grantees

Thelma McMillen Center at Torrance Memorial

Torrance Memorial Medical Center has been committed to helping people live clean and sober lives since 1991. In 2003, Torrance Memorial expanded this program with the establishment of The Thelma McMillen Center for Chemical Dependency Treatment of Torrance Memorial Medical Center. The center honors the memory of Thelma McMillen and was funded by her husband Karl B. McMillen Jr. This greatly expanded program is made possible through McMillen’s generous gift of $5.3 million.

Founded by the Vasek and Anna Maria Polak Charitable Foundation, Inc., the Vasek Polak Research Program (“Program”) is a research program operated by Torrance Memorial Medical Center. The purpose of the Program is to conduct high quality clinical and health services research.
The Vasek Polak Research Program serves the public interest by:

– Developing and conducting meaningful clinical and health care services research aimed at improving the health and/or quality of life of members of the community.
– Providing administrative and technical support to investigators as they identify and develop research proposals.
– Assisting researchers to find the clinical resources and funding necessary for proposed studies.
– Educating the community regarding the research findings, and whenever possible working with the community to implement changes based on new information.

For more information, please visit: http://www.torrancememorial.org/

House of Hope

Founded in 1955, House of Hope provides a safe, nurturing environment for substance abusing and substance dependent women. Our mission is to help them regain self- awareness, integrity, and dignity, and learn how to live life without alcohol and drugs. We also seek to help them become financially responsible, re-establish family ties and be reunited with their children when possible.

The House of Hope team provides a distinctive, successful program that embraces the 12-step philosophy. Included in the program are personal counseling, family group counseling, and interactive groups such as anger management, relapse prevention, domestic violence education, and parenting. Our classes in yoga, meditation and self-awareness nourish the holistic side of recovery.

Together the components of our program provide a structured residential environment, which acts as a bridge to a new and independent life – a life of grace and dignity.

For more information, please visit: http://www.houseofhopesp.org/

The Beacon House

The mission of the Beacon House Association of San Pedro is to assist men who are seeking recovery from the disease of Alcoholism or Addiction The Association will provide food and shelter, counseling and the time to build a foundation in the program. of Alcoholics Anonymous and to return to normal, useful lives.

For more information, please visit: http://www.beaconhouseassociation.com/

First Step House

The First Step House of Orange Co., Inc. is a non-profit organization that oversees the operation of Charle Street and McMillen House. They are both recovery and transitional social model facilities in Costa Mesa, CA. The two residences serve the local communities by assisting indigent men suffering from severe drinking problems.

For more information, please visit: http://www.charlestreet.org/

South Bay Alano Club

The South Bay Alano Club is an organization to aid and assist in the rehabilitation of alcoholics and the families of the alcoholics.

It maintains and manages a club and club rooms as meeting places for the rehabilitation and recreation of its members, friends, and family. The life of the Club is guided by the spirit of the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous in order to insure our mission.

For more information, please visit: http://www.southbayalanoclub.org/

Garden Grove Alano Club

A non-profit club self-supported by recovering people, their families, and friends whose primary purpose is to promote the recovery and rehabilitation of alcoholism.

The Garden Grove Alano Club is a safe refuge for many of us who have suffered the devastation of alcoholism and have found through mutual support a better way to live.

For more information, please visit: http://ggalano.org/

SHAWL

SHAWL’s mission is to provide comprehensive services to homeless women who are affected by drugs and alcohol addiction, physical and emotional abuse. Our residential program provides a safe environment where a woman can heal and thrive as they move forward towards a serene and productive life.

For more information, please visit: http://www.shawlwomenshouse.org/

USC Marshall School of Business

Kenneth L. Trefftzs, 89, economist at the USC Marshall School of Business. Born in Sparta, Ill., he earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Illinois and taught two years at what is now Carnegie-Mellon University before joining the USC faculty in 1941. Trefftzs headed the finance department and the board of the USC Faculty Center Assn., helped establish the Troydale faculty housing development and campaigned to establish Coliseum Street School near the campus. He earned awards for excellence in teaching and in 1988 was named distinguished professor emeritus. Former student Karl McMillen funded the Kenneth L. Trefftzs Chair in Finance in his honor. Trefftzs was president of the Western Economics Assn. in 1955-56 and founding president of the Western Finance Assn. a decade later. On April 10 in San Diego.

For more information, please visit: http://articles.latimes.com/2001/may/02/local/me-58367

Pathways to Independence

Pathways to Independence’s mission is to assist young women in getting an education and becoming independent, self sufficient members of society by providing the love, support and resources they require to heal emotionally and live productively. Many of our clients come from alcoholic families. Many have experienced years of incest or other forms of abuse. Some spent years in foster care or even became indigent.

Pathways commits to helping our clients with:

– Weekly interactions with a mentor and weekly counseling with a licensed therapist
– A monthly stipend to help cover housing expenses
– Full payment for the costs of tuition and books
– Access to over 120 health care professionals who provide their services for free
– Access to 4 mechanics, who donate all of their labor while the foundation reimburses for parts
– Access to a wide variety of local professionals (lawyers, accountants, cosmetologists, etc. who donate their services)

For more information, please visit: http://www.pathwaystoindependence.org/