by Kevin Cody
“If you want a miracle in your life, join us,” Rabbi Yossi Mintz said to the several hundred people invited to attend the topping off ceremony for the Friendship Campus last Wednesday, May 8.
As evidence, he offered up the Friendship Campus itself, a $50 million vocational school on three acres in south Redondo Beach for special needs high school graduates. The campus broke ground in early 2022 on the site of the former Franklin Elementary School, on Inglewood Avenue in south Redondo. The first students will arrive on campus in fall 2025
Rabbi Mintz arrived in the South Bay 28 years ago with a vision for what he called Friendship Clubs. Developmentally disabled high school students would participate in traditional high school social activities with non disabled Friendship Club classmates.
Since the first Friendship Club was founded at Mira Costa High School 15 years ago, the clubs have spread to 76 schools in 22 school districts.
Which has created a quandary. What happens to the Friendship Club members with special needs after they leave high school. They need a place to learn job and independent living skills.
Rabbi Mintz acknowledged his miracle campus received some worldly assists over the past few years. Most were from people like Skechers CEO Michael Greenberg, who had a personal interest in the developmentally disabled. Greenberg participated in a program similar to Friendship Clubs when he was in high school.
But some, like attorney Robert Aronoff, of Hermosa Beach, just wanted naming rights.
Rabbi Mintz recalled Aronoff asking him what room naming rights were available.
“Robert, whatever room you want,” the Rabbi recalled answering,
“He told me he wanted his name on the restrooms because he knows everyone goes to the restrooms,” the Rabbi said. ER
