About us
Who we are. What we do. Why we do it.
Who we are
Child First is a Los Angeles-based organization that assists local patients and families during medical crises. Our driven staff cater to three leading hospitals: CHLA, Kaiser Permanente Sunset, and Hollywood Presbyterian. Child First is a place of absolute love, warmth, and acceptance, and we pride ourselves on providing personal and individualized care to those that are hospitalized; we are your family.
What we do
At Child First, the well-being of patients and their families is our top priority. We strive to ease the burdens of hospitalization by offering support and assistance to all.
Child First offers an extensive array of hospital services, including provisions of homemade Kosher meals, an off-site food pantry, hospitality suites for Shabbat and Yom Tov (Jewish holidays), as well as daily hospital visitations. We place a significant emphasis on assisting hospitalized children, helping them cope with, at times, prolonged and difficult treatments. Our goal is to accommodate every patient in any and every possible way.
Why we do it
Child First is associated with Chabad of Greater Los Feliz, a Jewish community center dedicated to promoting and strengthening Jewish awareness, pride, and observance to all Jewish individuals and families regardless of background or affiliation. Inspired by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, O.B.M. Child First loves and assists every individual throughout the steps of their life, with the belief that every person deserves to feel cared for and supported.
History
Child First was created in the memory of Rebbetzin Leah Raichik. Rebbetzin Raichik, known as the “Bubbe of the Golden State,” was the beloved wife of the esteemed Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Raichik, the first Lubavitch emissary to the West Coast. She and her husband were the champions of Jewish life in California; laying the groundwork for the Jewish communities flourishing in California through the ensuing decades.
Rebbetzin Raichik generously fed the the poor, the lonely, and the wealthy from her modest home; she was famed for her Shabbat challah and roasted chicken. She also taught classes on Torah and Jewish law, hosted communal meetings, and gave valuable advice on marriage and education. She was someone who personified the qualities of kindness, constantly going out of her way to help someone else.
In 2007 Mr. Frank and Mrs. Lynn Menlo established Child First in the memory of Rebbetzin Raichik under the auspices of Chabad of Greater Los Feliz, and they continue to be the institution’s backbone.