Among the more than 450 people attending the 20th annual St. Joseph Center Dinner Dance and Auctions at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Mother’s Day Eve, which raised over $385,000 for the center, were longtime Santa Monica residents Blase and Theresa Bonpane of the Office of the Americas.
The Bonpanes have provided significant support for the center for the past 29 years and were honored with the Hope Through Empowerment Award.
Also recognized by St. Joseph Center with its Community Service Award was the international law firm of Latham & Watkins LLP, which has donated over $750,000 in pro bono hours to guide the Center through the 18-month approval process of its new building project.“It is with the support of people like Blase and Theresa Bonpane and the attorneys at Latham & Watkins that we are able to provide our ongoing continuum of services for disadvantaged families,” said Rhonda Meister, St. Joseph Center’s Executive Director.