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Larry Meyer during the Great Wall of China marathon in 2007.
Antarctica Marathon …on what is known as the coldest, windiest, iciest and most remote continent on earth.
Larry and his wife, Isabelle, in a hot air balloon over the Serengetti in 2007.
The Spirit of Light Award
Lawrence F. Meyer
Lawrence F. Meyer is a genuine philanthropist. He is generous, compassionate, and a true humanitarian. In addition to the Blind Childrens Center, he has served on the Board of Big Sisters of Los Angeles, and, with his wife Isabelle, was a founding member of The Glendale Historical Society. This society was formed to preserve one of only two Victorian homes in Glendale as a museum. Isabelle has been the volunteer Curator of the Doctors’ House Museum for the past 18 years. After graduation from USC, Larry attended Cambridge University, where he met Isabelle. They were married in her home country of Switzerland in 1971.
After graduating from Notre Dame Law School in 1972, the couple moved back to Los Angeles — Larry is an eighth generation Californian — where he has been with the same law firm ever since. They are the proud parents of Carole Meyer-Rieth and Serena Meyer, and doting grandparents of 4 year-old Adam and 2 year-old Norah.
Philanthropy became a big part of Larry’s life after 1988 when he suffered a spinal chord injury that partially paralyzed him below the neck. After surgery in 1989 and a long period of rehabilitation, Larry regained most of his mobility. By 1992, Larry was able to finish a marathon in celebration of his recovery, raising money for spinal chord research in the process.
His charitable pursuits led him to the Blind Childrens Center in 1992, where it has been a labor of love for him ever since. Once, while visiting the Center, a little girl named Louise captured Larry’s heart. She came walking in with her cane during a meeting at the Center. From that moment on, Larry has been a devoted and passionate member of our family, supporting the children through many marathon runs, founding and chairing the Planned Giving Committee as well as holding the office of Board Treasurer for seven years.
Larry is especially proud of being instrumental at having the Center become an Official Charity of the Los Angeles Marathon, and having personally raised over $77,200 through his Seven Continents Marathon Challenge for the Center.
For Larry, not only is each marathon a celebration of life and his own personal thanksgiving, but a way to share his love of life and to continue to be inspired by the children of the Blind Childrens Center and their families.