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The unofficial cause celebre of L.A. television news talent is cute animals, and KTLA reporter Lu Parker has been one of the more active of the on-air activists. Now she has launched her hinted-at Lu Parker Project, it has a website, a logo and a flack, boyfriend Mayor Villaraigosa is taking part in the kickoff event, and there's a story on the L.A. Times website. Next we can expect, say, an entry by Parker at the Huffington Post L.A. page and maybe even some coverage on Channel 5. Not to be too cynical: she's doing good things with it. From today's LAT item:
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is scheduled to appear Monday at an event launching his girlfriend’s fledgling charity to help animals and at-risk young people.The Lu Parker Project, created by the KTLA news reporter who has been dating the mayor since early last year, is organizing young community volunteers to repaint the lobby at the city’s South Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
It is the first in a series of events and fundraisers the group hopes to sponsor, according to representatives at It Girl Public Relations, which handles publicity for Parker.
While the mayor is scheduled to appear with Parker at Monday’s kickoff event, he has no role in the organization, said Juliette Harris, It Girl’s chief executive officer.
Villaraigosa appointee and Animal Services Commission President Melanie Ramsayer is on the board of directors. Federal tax-exempt status is pending, but donations are being requested in the meantime.