By CHRIS YOUNG Special to the Daily Press
Homelessness is an obvious problem in Santa Monica. But unlike many residents, Karen Bauer is doing something about it.
Bauer this month won the Santa Monica Jaycee’s Distinguished Service Award for her tireless community activism.
“Someone said, there’s two kinds of people; the first complain how tough life is, the second say it’s tough but do it anyway,” Bauer said. “But there’s a third type that says life is tough, but they try hardest to make life easier for those whose life is toughest.”
The DSA annually honors a person in Santa Monica, aged 21-39, who has made a significant impact in the community in the past year. An independent group of judges elects the winner.
Bauer is noted for volunteering with the Chamber of Commerce, mostly raising money through the Homeless Task Force for homeless programs in Santa Monica.
“Past winners have gone on to be prominent business owners, city council members, and citizens, and it’s truly an honor to be in the company of past winners,” said Bauer.
Bauer has volunteered for the chamber for nine years. She represented local business interests to city government and served on the chamber’s executive committee for five years. She served as president of the chamber last year and also worked on the political action committee, raising funds to support specific issues.
“Karen Bauer has done a lot for the chamber and is very involved with helping other people and supporting Jaycee events,” said Nicole Swirsky, president of the Santa Monica Jaycees.
When Bauer’s travel agency moved to Santa Monica in 1993, panhandlers and aggressive transients would approach the business and enter occasionally, she said. To address the issue, Bauer learned about the Homeless Task Force and joined. She co-chaired the group for five years.
“Self-education is a good first step,” she said. “But you need to back it up, too.”
Services for the homeless in Santa Monica include a drop-in center, mental health counseling, emergency housing, assistance with longer-term housing, work counseling, and an annual graduation program for homeless people that successfully get off the streets with housing and jobs of their own.
Bauer said residents’ attitude towards the homeless has improved and the number of homeless in Santa Monica has decreased in the past nine years.
Kathleen Rawson, executive director of the Bayside District Corporation, worked with Bauer on a number of committees, including the Homeless Task Force and the dolphin change program. “(Bauer) was simply tireless, running meetings with incredible enthusiasm, always going to talk with the media or school lectures about the program,” Rawson said. “If there was anything to be done, she’d personally do it.”
Bauer also organized five of the six annual Super Bowl-A-Thons — “the only beer and pizza event the Chamber of Commerce does,” she said. Companies around Santa Monica assemble teams for a day of bowling to benefit the Homeless Task Force. The event raises about $15,000 a year. About 50 teams of five employees each participated this year.
Bauer helped organize a road rally for “Night Light,” an outreach program for youth on the Third Street Promenade and Westside. A van with staffers hit the streets to make contact and give information to runaways.
“When (these kids) need help, food, or medical attention, Night Light is the first step for them,” Bauer said.
Additionally, social service agencies in Santa Monica benefit from grants from the Dolphin Change project, co-chaired by Bauer. Five dolphin sculptures around Santa Monica accept money that has yielded $85,000, which has been put towards homeless programs since 1993. “She goes into things with a lot of enthusiasm and it’s contagious,” said Donna Gentry of the chamber board of directors.
The two women met through the Homeless Task Force and Dolphin Change project.
“She is a very good example to young people about getting involved with their community and in showing commitment toward volunteerism,” Gentry said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 23, 2003. Read the original PDF.