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Contributions Bring Humanitas Closer to Challenge Grant Goal WHEN FORMER NEUTROGENA FOUNDER and CEO Lloyd Cotsen established the Humanitas Leadership Challenge his intent was to encourage others in the community to support an initiative, within the public school system, that is having a measurable impact on teaching and learning involving over 10,000 students and 500 teachers in the LAUSD. Humanitas is a classroom curriculum centered on a theme created by a team of teachers. This unique approach teaches integrated humanities disciplines, including art, history, literature, philosophy, social studies and English to ninth through twelfth graders at approximately 40 Los Angeles-area high schools. Humanitas, which was recognized as "One Of The Top Ten Outstanding Innovations in State and Local Government," by the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, engages students in a program that emphasizes self expression and social awareness. On June 23 Sidley & Austin Partner and LAEP Board member Johnny Griggs hosted a luncheon for over 50 guests, in the firm's board room, to hear a presentation on the Humanitas Program and related "Leadership Challenge". Participants included LAEP President Peggy Funkhouser, Humanitas Leadership Challenge Co-Chair and CalArts President Steve Lavine, LAEP Board Member and President of the Council For Aid To Education Dr. Roger Benjamin, Sidley & Austin Managing Partner Ted Miller and Johnny Griggs. The presentation included a recent KNBC news feature video on Humanitas at Cleveland High School, an ARTS Online and Humanitas Website Tour and a panel discussion, led by Co-Chair Steve Lavine, entitled "Humanitas In The Classroom" featuring Humanitas teachers and students. Additional events are scheduled for September and October at the California Club and The Rand Corporation with a larger entertainment industry presentation slated for the fall. The primary objective of the Humanitas Leadership Challenge presentations is to build awareness of the program and create a broad base of individual support to meet the "Challenge" goal of $600,000.