Universal Love Foundation lunch celebrates moms, raises funds

HATS OFF—Alexis Campbell, left, joins Manzar Amini, founder of the Universal Love Foundation, at the group's annual luncheon. Angela Campbell, right, was recognized as this year's Parent of Distinction. A "Hats Off to Mothers" fundraiser, sponsored by the Universal Love Foundation in Agoura Hills, combined food, shopping, art and music to raise funds for the nonprofit's House of Hope Center for Grief and Loss.

The money will benefit programs for single parents and grief counseling.

The May 3 luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel began with a shopping boutique and silent and live auctions featuring highend jewelry. An art exhibit included paintings by Hessam Abrishami and Goli Mahalati.

Guest speaker Dr. Nehzat Farnoody, a specialist in crosscultural psychology, discussed the foundation's purpose, the different stages of grief and the importance of a support system for families dealing with loss.

Through the foundation, Farnoody will offer other free seminars in the region in Persian and in English, said Manzar Amini, founder of the Universal Love Foundation and House of Hope.

Agoura Hills resident Angela Campbell was presented with the foundation's annual Parent of Distinction award. Campbell demonstrated "strength and determination" in raising her children since her husband died of cancer 12 years ago, Amini said.

In Campbell's speech she thanked the foundation for its work.

"We are all very lucky that such an organization is available to single parents that are in life's most challenging situations," she said. "My family is very thankful to everyone in Universal Love Foundation and everyone whose donations keep it going."

In a subsequent interview, Campbell talked about her struggle to raise children in the aftermath of her husband's death.

"We had done counseling through the years," Campbell said. "A few months ago, my daughter came to me and shared that she would like to go back to counseling."

Campbell said she learned about the foundation, which connected her 15-year-old daughter with a counselor who "helped her with this present stage of grief."

"Now that she comprehends more . . . and (only) remembers her dad through photos and videos, it was just an empty feeling inside," Campbell said, adding that the foundation has helped her daughter sort out her feelings.

"Of course the pain never goes away," Campbell said. "Most of my grief has been dealing with my children's pain."

Entertainment was provided by violist Navid Mostafapour and Brazilian singer Bianca Rossini. A fashion show of evening and wedding gowns was presented by Richard Bowman and Xavier Orthon.

The event was an "unexpected success, especially in this economy," Amini said. The foundation raised $19,000 during the event.

Since opening nine years ago, the foundation has provided single parents with educational scholarships, disaster relief, referral and legal assistance programs, and grief and loss counseling with licensed psychologists. All services are free of charge. The group has offered a supportive environment for people of all ages, from toddlers to grandparents, Amini said.

The foundation supplies toys, Mother's Day gifts and money to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles' Chase Child Life Foundation.

The group also has produced two documentaries, one about the challenges of single parenting and another about how a mother dealt with the grief of losing a child, Amini said.

A free single parents' group for people whose spouses have died is now forming.

For further information, call (805) 231-3618.