Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy invites you to experience a deeply moving and powerful morning at our first Women’s Speaker Series event of the year. Featured guest Diane Shader Smith, decorated author and cystic fibrosis advocate, will share the story of her extraordinary daughter Mallory, candid and upbeat cystic fibrosis activist and author. In relating Mallory’s story, Diane will encourage us all to follow in her exceptionally brave daughter’s footsteps and “Live Happy,” leaving us with a renewed appreciation for our lives — no matter what each of us is faced with.

Don’t miss this intimate opportunity to meet the mom who is bringing her daughter’s story to the big screen — read the exclusive story from The Hollywood Reporter!

 

This event is open to all of the women in your life. El Cab membership is not required.

All attendees will receive a free copy of Mallory’s book, Salt in My Soul: An Unfinished Life.

Seating is limited — RSVP by March 15th.

For more information, please contact Sylvia Crump at (323) 761-8225 or SCrump@JewishLA.org.

Diane Shader Smith has been a publicist, professional writer, and speaker for 25 years. She has many years of agency experience working with Rogers and Cowan, first as the director of a large department and now on call when the agency has challenging clients that need senior counsel. She also works independently with numerous clients.

Over the years, Diane has represented many household names and brands, worked red carpet events, and handled A-List celebrities on behalf of her corporate clients.

Her skill set includes media relations, writing and editing, media training, event planning, marketing alliances, red carpet, strategy, and execution. She is often asked to edit books and short films and oversee social media.

Current and past clients include: The Beverly Hills Hotel; Microsoft; Robert S. Anderson, author of The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows — The First 100 Years; PEN Center USA; Audubon California, Byer California; Angie Schuller/Crystal Cathedral; Marcus Buckingham; Tourette Syndrome Association; actress Sela Ward; National Wildlife Federation; Emmy Award-winning host Christopher Lowell; Baja Fresh Mexican Grill; Veggie Grill; Foster Care Counts; Friends of Ballona Wetlands; Godtube; Youtoo TV; Motive Marketing; The G2 Gallery; Gynecologic Cancer Foundation; A Squared Marketing Group; Schlegel Sports; Hope 4 Paws; The Richlin Caster Eye Center, Red Swan, Beverly Hills Centennial book, Beverly Hills — The First 100 Years; and MCLE 4 Lawyers.

Diane's writing includes the books Undressing Infidelity: Why More Wives are Unfaithful, Mallory’s 65 Roses, Stevie’s Secret, A Test of Will, and an anthology — A Dialogue with Cancer. She was on the writing staff of the popular ABC-TV Show General Hospital and has co-authored a chapter for the best-selling book Everyone’s Guide to Cancer Therapy. She has written for many newspapers and magazines including The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The San Diego Union Tribune, The Ann Arbor News, The Jewish Journal, Writers’ Digest Magazine, The Burbank Leader, and Star Magazine.

A UCLA graduate, Ms. Shader Smith has given talks on a variety of topics and has been interviewed by The Today Show, The Los Angeles Times, National Public Radio, and more than 40 other media outlets.

Mallory Smith was a writer and environmental journalist with a passion for sustainability and social change. A 2014 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford University, Mallory studied human biology with a concentration in environmental anthropology. During her time at Stanford, Mallory produced radio documentaries for Green Grid Radio as well as short news features for NPR at its Santa Monica affiliate KCRW and a documentary film Silver Bullet. She also played club volleyball for Stanford and was a three-sport athlete in high school, serving as captain on each.

After college, Mallory's first book, The Gottlieb Native Garden: A California Love Story, was published to wide acclaim. It is her final book, Salt in My Soul: An Unfinished Life, however, that will define her legacy. Though Mallory is not here to celebrate its publication, her voice and spirit are with us in her unflinching look at the joy, love, and loss that comprised her life.

A fierce advocate, Mallory launched the viral social media campaign Lunges4Lungs with friends and raised over $5 million with her parents for cystic fibrosis research through the annual Mallory’s Garden event. She passed away at the age of 25 on November 15, 2017, two months after receiving a double lung transplant. Mallory’s Legacy Fund has been established in her memory at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

REMARKABLE WOMEN.
REMARKABLE GATHERINGS.

By signing up to attend this event, you agree to irrevocably grant to The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles — and to their employees, agents, and assigns — the right to take your photograph, record you, or use your image, silhouette, and/or other reproductions of your physical likeness, as well as your voice and/or words, for all purposes related to marketing and promotion of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, across all media. These rights are granted in perpetuity. You hereby certify and represent that you are of at least 18 years of age and have read the foregoing and fully understand the meaning and effect thereof.