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Since their incorporation in 1981, Valley Oasis has been dedicated to protecting victims of domestic violence in the Antelope Valley and beyond. Throughout their years of service, Valley Oasis has expanded their offerings to help all victims of assault and other forms of trauma. For example, Valley Oasis’ Sexual Assault Response Services (SARS) is a program that is dedicated to helping sexual assault victims in a number of ways.

SARS works with hospitals throughout the Antelope Valley 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to support sexual assault victims that come to the emergency room. In addition, this program is present on many college and high school campuses throughout the Antelope Valley, ensuring that campus policies and procedures are up to date and in compliance with federal laws, as well as making their resources easily and readily accessible.

When a trained SARS advocate responds to a call from an emergency room, they often find the victim feeling vulnerable and alone. The advocate stays by the victim’s side throughout every stage of the investigation and recovery process. They provide emotional support, one-on-one counseling, resources, and follow-ups.

One of the most important ways SARS helps the victim is by providing them with loose-fitting clothing for when they leave the hospital. The victim often comes to the hospital in the clothing they were wearing during the assault. Because of this, their clothes are taken away and stored as evidence. Oftentimes, victims are forced to leave the hospital in nothing but a hospital gown – greatly increasing their feelings of vulnerability and loneliness.

Last year, SARS advocates responded to over 300 male and female victims ranging in age from 3 months old to 89 years old. While sexual assault can happen to anyone, the largest victim group consists of young women ranging in age from 14 to 22 years old. With this in mind, they need clothing for men, women and children of all ages. Below is a list of items SARS needs the most:

– Sweats
– Slippers
– Socks
– Coats
– Hats
– Mittens
– T-shirts
– Sweaters
– Stuffed Animals

Along with the loose-fitting clothing, these victims need calming and comfort during this hard time. Being able to hold onto a stuffed animal during the invasive tests and procedures brings much needed comfort; even to the older victims.

Please join PARRIS as we collect as much clothing and stuffed animals as possible for SARS. The program will take new or gently used items. We are collecting donations until December 29, 2017, so feel free to stop by PARRIS Law Firm and drop off any items you would like to donate in the bins located in our lobby. We are located at 43364 10th Street West in Lancaster.

We here at PARRIS work hard every day to restore the lives of people who have been harmed through no fault of their own. We will do whatever we can to make sure you are taken care of, and we know Valley Oasis and SARS will do the same.

R. Rex Parris, President and Chairman of the Board of biotech company CarthroniX, announced that he and his wife Carrol would be donating $50,000 to Denis Evseenko, MD, Ph.D. of the Keck School of Medicine of USC to support continued research in the field of human longevity.

Dr. Evseenko was recently awarded a $1.69 million research project grant from the National Institutes of Health to address how to slow arthritis in aging joints. He has helped develop breakthroughs in molecular studies that identified and characterized the unique cell populations that form the superficial human joint cartilage zone.

Dr. Evseenko is one of the world’s leading medical researchers of arthritis and how gene activity drives cartilage development. “The CDC reports that 23% of all adults, or 54 million people, have some form of arthritis and are limited in their activities due to severe joint pain,” said Mr. Parris. “Dr. Evseenko’s work will help tens of millions of people in this country and many more worldwide living with arthritis’s daily struggle. Now there is evidence that it will also extend the quality of life and human longevity.”

CarthroniX is comprised of scientists and surgeons with expertise in regenerative medicine and stem cell research. Their research is focused on creating novel small molecules to stimulate the regrowth of healthy cartilage. Dr. Evseenko’s work fits seamlessly with CarthroniX’s goals of extending the quality of life for millions of people. Osteoarthritis is one component of the aging process as cartilage degenerates over time, especially after injury and wear and tear.

Recently it was discovered that some of the small molecules studied to treat arthritis also reverse the aging of human cells in vitro. This gift will enable Dr. Evseenko’s lab to advance to the next stage of research. The CX-1 small molecule will hopefully slow the aging of mice. If this is confirmed, CarthroniX will seek FDA approval of human trials to investigate CX-1’s effect on human longevity and regeneration of vital organs. “This gift will help us explore some fundamental and transformative questions related to life span extension,” said Dr. Evseenko.

CarthroniX novel technologies are proven to preserve, repair, and regenerate cartilage in joints and suppress inflammation in large animals. CarthroniX is developing two types of drugs: one that is both regenerative and anti-inflammatory, and a second that is solely anti-inflammatory.

On November 3, 2016 California Highway Patrol Captain Jesse Holguin and Lieutenant Eric Browneer stopped by PARRIS to thank the law firm for their support of CHP Day 2016 and their continual support throughout the years.

PARRIS is no stranger to CHP as PARRIS Attorney Robert A. Parris alongside PARRIS investigators, Mike Miscione, Doug Sweeney, and Andy Hernandez are all retired California Highway Patrolmen. Rob Parris was a CHP officer for 16 years and during this time he earned the rank of Captain. Of the visit and support of CHP, Rob says, “We’re both in the business of protecting the people of the Antelope Valley so we’re always happy to support the efforts of the California Highway Patrol.”

PARRIS has been supporting California Highway Patrol for many years and CHP Day specifically, since 2010. CHP Day is an annual gathering of the All Southern Division CHP officers to recognize and award the officers who have earned the distinction of Officer of the Year, Non-Uniform of the Year, and Senior Volunteer of the Year. You can see more of their event on their Facebook.

Go to the PARRIS Facebook page (facebook.com/ParrisLawFirm), and find our giveaway post. LIKE our FB page, and comment on the post with the name of the public elementary school located in the City of Lancaster or Quartz Hill that you want to have win $1,000.

Each person may vote one time. The five schools with the most votes will each win $1,000. Please share with your friends so they can vote too! Voting ends on January 31 at 1:00 p.m.

Improving Child Literacy

PARRIS will be donating this money to the elementary schools with the designation that the money be used to improve student literacy.

According to the Literacy Project, students who don’t read proficiently by the 3rd grade are four times likelier to drop out of school! It also noted that, in a study of nearly 100,000 U.S. school children, access to printed materials was the key variable affecting learning how to read.

Strong reading and communication skills are so valued to us here at PARRIS. It is the foundation of our work. We believe that it is also important for our community’s future to ensure that we give our students more access to reading materials and increase the awareness of the important of reading.

Eligible City of Lancaster and Quartz Hill Elementary Schools

Columbia Elementary, Del Sur Elementary, Desert View Elementary, Discovery Elementary, Eastside Academy – Transitional Learning Center, Eastside Elementary, El Dorado Elementary, Enterprise Elementary, Jack Northrop Elementary, Joe Walker Elementary, John and Jacquelyn Miller Elementary, Joshua Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Linda Verde Elementary, Mariposa Computer Science Magnet, Monte Vista Elementary, Nancy Cory Elementary, Quartz Hill Elementary, Sierra Elementary, Sundown Elementary, Sunnydale Elementary, Tierra Bonita Elementary, Valley View Elementary, and West Wind Elementary.

Vote Today

Please join us in encouraging the love of reading throughout Lancaster. You can vote in our current giveaway here. Happy holidays from all of us at PARRIS!

It’s Earth Day! As you may have heard, we are passionate about environmental protection over here at PARRIS. Lancaster Mayor and PARRIS Founding Attorney R. Rex Parris helped Lancaster, California to become the first net-zero energy city in the US. Lancaster produces more power from the sun than it uses from the electrical grid!

We want to encourage everyone in the Antelope Valley to take part in at least one environmentally friendly activity this week. We’ve put together a few ideas for earth-friendly inspiration.

Mascara and Donations

The theme of Earth Day 2019 is “Protect Our Species.” The world is facing the mass extinction of millions of species at an alarming rate. You can view some quick facts about this problem here.

To help a wildlife rescue provide small and injured wild animals with medical care and wound treatment, you can donate your old mascara wands! Instead of throwing your used mascara wands away, clean them with soap, place them in a Ziploc bag, and mail them to a wildlife refuge that accepts them. These wands will clean oil, mites, infections, mud, and other contaminants from the wildlife.

Appalachian Wildlife Refuge is one rescue organization that accepts used mascara wand donations. You may even be inspired to host a “Wandraiser” and collect from your family and friends!

Educate Yourself on Earth Day Issues

Earthday.org invites you to test your knowledge of the Earth with quizzes on various environmental topics. You’ll see how much (or little) you know about the Earth, and learn useful facts. As you finish each section, you’re rewarded with a choice of a free downloadable poster.

Upcycle Gently Used Clothing and Toys

Reduce waste by donating your gently used clothing and toys to Grace Resources. You can embrace spring cleaning and sort through closets to find a home for those items that you don’t need or use anymore.

Reduce Your Resources Intake

For the entire week (and hopefully longer), stop using disposable plastics like single-use water bottles, bags, and straws. Use cloth towels instead of paper ones, go paperless on your bills, and take shorter showers. We know this is all easier said than done, but small changes from all of us will create big change.

Experience Nature

What better way to feel gratitude for the earth than to get out and spend time in nature! It’s the perfect time of year to wander the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, observe the magnificent fields of poppies, and get some fresh air.

Happy Earth Day!

In the words of the writers at earthday.org, “When we come together, the impact can be monumental.” PARRIS is hopeful that we can each strive to make the earth a better place for all. If you’ve found this article useful, please share it with those in your community!