Pictured here are highlights from this celebrated event made especially poignant by the presentation of an honorary award to the USAR team, Belt, the dog trainer Deresa Teller, and the members of the Los Angeles Fire Department who were deployed to the World Trade Center disaster site. Fire Chief William Bamattre, Supervisor of LA. Emergency Services was honored along with members of the Urban Search and Rescue Team. It was thrilling to meet these brave heroes recently returned from New York. Chief Bamattre has earned national praise and recognition for these teams.

Other honorees were Gerald Katell for L.A.'s Best, an after-school enrichment program curriculum for underprivileged children and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Monsignor Kevin Kostelnik received the plaque from Rita Illig Liebelt on behalf of the archdiocese of Los Angeles for the new downtown religious landmark. The Cathedral will constitute a spiritual center, a cultural treasure and a tribute to religion, the arts and architecture.

The invocation was given by Rabbi Lee Bycel, Brandeis-Bardin Institute who spoke movingly about these times of honor, courage, outreach and creativity tying in all of the awards to be presented that afternoon.

Thanks to all who attended, all of those who collaborated to make this event an outstanding success and to the individuals and corporations who hosted tables, the students and the firemen. Special thanks to Barbara Trister who once again chaired this outstanding lunch and to Bob Taylor, Exhibits Chair.

Spirit of Los Angeles Award Recepient Architect Frank Gehry accepts the beautiful statuette from Board Member Chris Modrzejewski who stepped in at the last minute for out-of-town Tim Leiweke to make a beautiful presentation. President Sharon Kaplan looks on.

(Portions of this introduction are on page 4)

Fire Chief William Bamattre reflects the pride everyone shared in the Los Angeles Fire Department as his team was honored at the luncheon.

(tea. photo below)

Congratulating Gerald Katell on receiving an honorary award for his efforts with L.A.'s Best is good friend and immediate past president John Stern.

The crowd pleasing LARD Bagpipe Band played stirring music as the guests took their seats.

AC Martin Partners

Altoon + Porter Architects

Cannon Design

Citadel Environmental Services, Inc.

Dept. of Water & Power

EPT Architects

Gensler

Gordon & Williams

HLW International

Illig Construction Company

Interior Space International

International Parking
Design, Inc.

John Cotton Architects, Inc.

Johnson Fain Partners

Karcher Companies

KCET

Langdon Wilson

Matt Construction

McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners, Inc.

Morley Builders

Nadel

PCI, Construction Services

PSOMAS

Ratkovich & Company

RTKL Associates, Inc.

Swinerton Builders

Utah Street School

W.E. O'Neil Construction

Wet Design