Contact Us
Contact Us
Please send all mail correspondence to:
Mablean Ephriam Foundation
P.O. Box 39A60
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Telephone: (323) 445-6669
Fax: (323) 664-5325
E-Mail: efromfoundation@aol.com
Visit us our websites @
www.hufawards.com
www.mableanephriamfoundation.com
www.judgemablean.com
About Us
Mablean Ephriam Foundation – Our History
The Founder and President of Mablean Ephriam Foundation is Judge Mablean Ephriam, who presided over the Fox television show, Divorce Court from 1999-2006. She is a mother of four, grandmother of ten. She was born in Mississippi and raised in South Central Los Angeles. She has been admitted to the practice of law almost forty years.
MEF was birthed as an outgrowth of Judge Mablean’s personal and professional experiences. She is keenly aware of what is destroying our communities. The alarming rate of illiteracy and the declining quality of our educational system, especially in the inner-city schools. This compounded with the lack of adequate and affordable housing, high rate of unemployment, the dissipation of the family and declining moral values. Judge Mablean observed that these plagues result with the increased rate of fatherless homes, divorce, unwanted pregnancies, drug abuse and suicide, especially in African-American and Latino-Hispanic families. She witnessed the widening gap between the haves and have-nots, the advantaged and disadvantaged. Fed up, she decided to do something to address these conditions and hopefully change the circumstances.
In 2003, Judge Mablean decided to host a brunch and awards program to celebrate fathers. She believed that if the positive is accentuated and the negative de-emphasized; more fathers would become involved in the lives of their children, thus strengthening families. Within three months of that decision, she became the founder and host of the Honoring Unsung Fathers (H.U.F.) Awards and Brunch. This inaugural brunch was held June 15, 2003 in San Pedro, California at the Hilton Marina Hotel. Eight extraordinary fathers were personally selected by Judge Mablean to receive these inaugural awards. The Committee prepared for 250 attendees. Over 400 individuals came. Some even had to be turned away. Due to the overwhelming support for the event, she then decided to make the H.U.F. Awards and Brunch an annual affair.
Judge Mablean used her own funds for the inaugural H.U.F. Awards and Brunch. However, desiring to expand, she decided to apply for non-profit status in order to seek corporate sponsorship and the financial support of other business leaders who shared her concern for better communities. The Foundation applied for its non-profit status in February, 2004 and was granted the same on May 17, 2004.
Given the enthusiasm of the fathers who received the first awards and their families, Judge Mablean decided to open the nominations to the public to allow mothers, wives, children, co-workers, relatives and friends to nominate a father in their lives who deserved to be honored. In 2004, over 75 applications were received. Nominations are now accepted each year in five standing categories: Solo Warrior (single father), Love Cares (married father), Fatherhood Forever (divorced father), Village Dad (non-biological father) and Living Legacy (the elderly role-model father).
Christmas Toy Drive
OUR MISSION
The mission of the Mablean Ephriam Foundation is to build stronger families, educate minds, increase economic power among disadvantaged and lower economic persons and thus create better communities
OBJECTIVES & SERVICES
Strengthening Families
We believe that the development of good parenting skills and the inclusion of fathers, especially, in the parenting process, serve to strengthen families. We place a lot of emphasis on encouraging fathers to be active in the lives of their children.
Educate Minds
We educate minds through the provision of college scholarships for lower socio-economic and disadvantaged inner city youth in Los Angeles County. We assist in preparing our middle school youth for college and to become tomorrow’s leaders. Guidance is given for SAT testing and college selection. The youth are given cultural enrichment by participating in college tours and other social events to expand their minds and world views. We provide tutorial programs, mentors and role models for the youth of our communities.
Financial Empowerment
We economically empower urban-city families through education and assistance in first time home ownership, home retention, refinancing, reverse mortgage, banking, investments and savings.
Judge Mablean Ephriam
Watch “Justice with Judge Mablean”
IN LOS ANGELES:
FOX-KCOP 13 | 11:30am & 12 Noon
(Please Check Local Listings in all other markets)
Judge Mablean Ephriam is one of the most recognized jurists in America. She attributes her success to God, her family and close friends. Her faith, religion and trust in God keeps this mother of four and grandmother of ten, meek and humble.
Born to Robert and Mable Ephriam in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, Judge Mablean has called California home from a very young age. She is no stranger to achievement. Since a child, she has always had that “spirit” of excellence and liberality about her. At the age of 13 years, she knew she wanted to become a lawyer. She attended Thomas Jefferson High School in South Central Los Angeles, graduating with honors. She received a four year academic scholarship to Pitzer College, Claremont, California, for her undergraduate studies. Becoming married and mother of four, she took a break from school holding many jobs before receiving her Juris Doctor degree from Whittier College school of Law in 1978. She was admitted to the state Bar of California in November, 1978, having successfully passed the State Bar examination the first time.
In October 1998 Twentieth Century Fox sought out this experienced & distinguished law practitioner and mediator to sit as Judge on their newly revised show “Divorce Court”. Judge Mablean presided there 1999 – 2006. She is truly grateful to have had this experience to begin a career in entertainment. Judge Mablean returned to the bench in 2014 and is presiding on “Justice with Judge Mablean”. She knows it is God’s Divine Will that as allowed her to use her passions for law, advocating on behalf of others with an emphasis on domestic violence and gift of unselfishness.
Additionally, she actually works tirelessly doing the mission of her nonprofit foundation, is a much sought after public speaker and an entrepreneur. Judge Mablean is most thankful to have been given the opportunity to provide day-to-day care to her mother, Mable Ephriam, until her death, at the age of 98 years, on February 9, 2010.
Through hard, consistent and dedicated work, Judge Mablean strives to perform and do her God-given best.
Board of Directors
Our Great Team
Board of Directors
Judge Mablean Ephriam
Frank Ephriam
Bonita Pilgram-Perkins
President/CEO/Founder
Entertainer, Speaker, Author, Mediator
Vice-President
General Contractor (Retired), Elder Care Advocate
Treasurer
Account Manager, Strategic Sales, Pacific Region, UPS
Marcus Tyson
Ann-“Maria” Rice
Secretary
Board Member
Business Development Relationship Manager: Major Account Executive: Konica Minolta Business Solutions
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mario Ephriam
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Byron K. Reed
Chair
Sr. VP- Community Development,
CIT/One West Bank
Anita Carothers
Retired Judge – Cook County, IL.