Upward Bound House, a county-wide non-profit serving homeless families, has added two new board members:

• Albert Vera, owner of Sorrento Italian Market and the first candidate to declare for April’s City Council election, and
• Russell Whittenburg, Senior Vice-President–Finance and Chief Financial Officer for Forest Lawn

“We know Russ and Albert will make a significant contribution to our on-going efforts to help children and their families get off the streets,” said Executive Director Christine Mirasy-Glasco.

Mr. Vera, a lifelong Culver City resident, was born in 1965 to Italian and German immigrants, Albert and Ursula Vera.

Schooled in Culver City, he graduated from St. Bernard High School in 1982. While growing up, Mr. Vera spent much of his spare time and and after school working alongside his parents at both their family business – Sorrento Italian Market, and in the family-owned olive fields north of Bakersfield.

He graduated from the South Bay Police Reserve Academy in 1985 and spent 15 years as a reserve officer in the Culver City Police Dept. Along the way, Mr. Vera was married and had a daughter, Alexandria, in 1994.

Mr. Whittenburg has rejoined the Upward Bound board after several years as president of the Advisory Board.

He is a member of the First United Methodist Church of Santa Monica, which founded Upward Bound House Family Place and Senior Villa as part of its mission to serve those in need. He also serves on the board of directors for the church’s foundation.

Mr. Whittenberg is a past president and board member of the Westside Food Bank, which serves 40 social service agencies.

He grew up in Oklahoma and Texas but has lived in Santa Monica home for 35 years.