Tony (January 1998)
Jason,
How's it
going? Still out there? Well, I hope so. This letter is long overdew.
I'm writing to thank you. To give you thanks for being in my life.
The time
I did in LA for my regretfull drug abuse and hustling was my lowest.
You and the LAYSS van gave me shelter and security for a couple of hours.
That was enough to help me the rest of the night to deal with my problems.
Your services was something someone like me looked forward too. When
the streets were too unbearable, you where there to help me reflect
on the things that I was doing and on my life. Needing someone to talk
to? You where there, understanding and listening without passing judgement
on my stupidity. Thank you for listening.
I'm doing
good. I'm working. I'm a security officer with an international company.
I have my own apartment and my own things. I've been clean, off drugs,
for a year and going to NA meetings. I live in a small town in Texas.
Everything is going very well. Thank you.
I hope
you and LAYSS continues. I believe it's important. There are other Tonies
out there on the streets wanting to step out of the gutter and become
something of worth to themselves.
Very Gratefull,
Tony
Edward O. (June 1996)
Dear Jason
Wittman,
I am writing this letter to give you thanks for everything you've done
for me. I think without you I wouldn't be where I am now, and that is
living back at home with my family, attending school and getting decent
grades, and gaining control of my life. I'm now able to set goals and
plan my future because I always had you by my side. I believed every
word you said and when I was ready to change my life you were there
to guide me on the right path. I think or should I say, I know I'm never
going to forget you Because you were always there for me even when I
was in deep trouble. I know I never thanked you for visiting me in Juvenile
hall, so that's why, I'm writing this letter to thank you for everything
you've done. I know I keep repeating myself, but I just can't thank
you enough for everything you've done for me. I hope you keep on doing
outreach because there is a lot of people who need you in the streets
who are going through some real bad problems. Well this is all for now.
Thank you,
Edward O.
Carlos (April 21,
1995)
Jason Wittman
M.P.S.
L.A. Youth Supportive Seivice
922 N. Vine St., Suite 207
Hollywood, CA 90038
Dear Jason
Wittman, M.P.S.,
I write
you this letter to give you my gratitude for the professional service
that you rendered to me in time of most need when for whatever thecircumstances
I ended up on the corners of Santa Monica Bi., selling not only my body
but my dignity also. Thanks to you and your dedication I have been in
foster home for almost five months, and have rediscover the real me,
which is to be a productive citizen, and go to school so that I can
get a good education and go to college to become what I'm meant be,
which is a lawyer.
I will never
forget the first night when I met you in the youth supportive van which
parked in the corner of Santa Monica Bi, and La Brea, which at that
time I had been in the streets for about a week. The reason I went to
the van was simply because people told me that you gave free bus tokens,
but who would have known that the beginning of a revolution in my life
was about to take root.
The greatest
thing that has happen to me was to have met you because you have not
only been a social worker to me but like a father also.
I'm glad
to tell you that all my plans are coming out as I want them, and specially
my grades which are at their highest point. I can't start to tell you
of all the uncountable things that you did for me, but there are some
that I will never forget, like when you helped me get that job at Williams
Sonoma which was the second most successful after the foster home to
keep me of the streets.
I now that
I can continue to write about so many things that you have done not
only for me but for many, but I do remember one night when you talked
to me about making up my mind about the going into the foster home.
To tell you the truth I wasn't planing to hang on to the idea of a foster
home, but that night you told me something that was so powerful that
changed my life for ever, you made me realize that the life that I was
living was unrealistic, and reminded me about my real goals which are
to be you could be, not the army but a lawyer
It may just
be that I can't thank you enough for all your time and dedication that
you took to help me reshape my life, but I do now one thing that you
are the greatest!
Sincerely,
Carlos
Bobbi & Chris (6/18/96)
Dear Jason
Wittman,
We wanted
to write ou a letter of thanks to let you know just how much Cris &
I really appreciate all you're hard work and dedication to not only
us but all of our friends on the street also. You've always been there
to talk to us when we were at our lowest, to give us food when we had
nothing to eat, to give us good advice when you thought we were making
the wrong decisions, to give us your last bus token when its all you
had just to make sure we made it home okay.
If this
world had more Jason Wittmans there would be a least amount of kids
on the streets.
Once again
thank you always, Jason. We love you!
Thanks
Always,
Bobbie & Cris
Shadow (5/1/95)
Dear Jason,
I just wanted
to leave you with this letter to let you know that if it were not for
you and your organization, I probably would not be getting the good
life I am about to live.
When I first
came to you I had nothing. I wasn't able to save any money because I
kept spending it, but because you offered your service to me I was able
to save enough to get off the streets permanently.
Now I'm
off to N.Y.C. with enough savings to help me create a new life for myself.
Granted, it will be rough, but I have confidence.
So thank
you and you'll here from me soon.
Shadow P.
Scott (May 5, 1995)
Dear Jason,
I am writing
this letter because I have so many things to say. First, I want to thank
you for all the support and advice you have given me in the last year.
You caring attitude and generous spirit is more than I could ever have
asked for. You've spent countless hours with me that you could have
spent contributing to your own life. Yet you spent the time with me
to help me better mine. I don't know how I can repay you. I hope this
letter will serve as a reminder of just how much I appreciate your ongoing
contribution to my life.
I remember
first meeting you. I was a street hustler; a person with little respect
for ones self. When you first saw me on the street you opened your arms
and welcomed me. You did not criticize me yet gave me a sense of comfort.
Your understanding of my situation and problems helped me to build an
enormous amount of trust that I hadn't had in anyone in a long time.
When ever I had a problem or even a question, you were always there.
So many times I called you at awkward hours, instead of asking me to
call you at another time, you stopped what you were doing and dealt
with my issues. Many times you gave me advice and you know as well as
I do that I had a tendency to ignore your suggestions. But when I decided
to open up my ears I began to realize that your ideas were not so bad
after all. Contrary to what I thought at the time they were and are
still suggestions that help me deal with everyday life.
You've helped
me to understand myself more than anyone has ever done before. I've
gone to may counselors you name them Social Workers, Psychologists and
yes even Psychiatrists. Many of these individuals just caused me to
become even more frustrated and less open to positively in my own life.
I thought I would never understand why I do the things I do. Yet I think
I now have a better understanding of my life and the issues that surround
my everyday decisions. I know that I am responsible for my own judgements
and that others should not be blamed for my mistakes. I had a hard time
admitting that I was wrong but now I know that I have control over my
own life.
Jason you
helped me to get off the streets as well as many other people. You've
pushed me to better myself and I have. I'm returning to college and
have separated myself from the many negative factors that were previously
apart of my everyday life. You made me realize that I am someone special.
I hope you can continue to help others as you have already helped me.
No one could ever replace you. May you grow stronger in you abilities
and continue you life long committment to helping others. Without your
insight into my life I don't think I would ever be as strong as I am
today. From the bottom of my heart I wish you nothing but the best.
I will never forget you as long as I live. THANKS... YOU ARE TRULY ONE
OF A KIND..
Sincerely,
Scott Jaome