J&Y Law Donates 100 Copies of Different Is Still Us to Shriners Children’s Southern California

Key Takeaways 

• J&Y Law donated 100 copies of Different Is Still Us to Shriners Children’s Southern California in Pasadena. 

• The children’s book was written by J&Y Law co-founders Jason Javaheri and Yosi Yahoudai and illustrated by Marketing and Communications Strategist Dan Moyer. 

• Los Angeles nonprofit Booksustain helped connect J&Y Law with Shriners Children’s Southern California. 

• The Pasadena medical center provides specialty pediatric care for children with orthopedic conditions, burn scars, cleft lip and palate, sports injuries and other complex medical needs. 

• Families interested in helping can volunteer directly with Shriners Children’s or support Booksustain’s work expanding access to books throughout Los Angeles. 

J&Y Law recently visited Shriners Children’s Southern California in Pasadena to hand-deliver copies of our children’s book, Different Is Still Us, for young patients and their families. The book was created to help children navigate major changes at home, especially after a parent suffers a serious injury, which made Shriners a meaningful place to share it. 

A Children’s Book Written by Attorneys 

Different Is Still Us was written by J&Y Law co-founders Jason Javaheri and Yosi Yahoudai and illustrated by Dan Moyer, the firm’s Marketing and Communications Strategist. 

The story follows a young lion whose father is seriously injured and can no longer play soccer with him the way he once did. Their relationship remains the same, even as parts of daily life change and they find new ways to spend time together. 

The idea grew in part from Javaheri’s own childhood experience with a chronically ill parent, along with years of conversations our firm has had with families adjusting to life after serious injuries. The book is also available in Spanish as Diferente, Pero Siempre Nosotros. 

“When Jason and Yosi first shared the story with me, I knew the illustrations had to make every kid feel like they could see themselves somewhere in the book,” said Moyer. “The kids at Shriners have already had to deal with things most children never have to think about. We wanted to give them a story that felt familiar and hopeful.” 

An Introduction by Booksustain 

The road to Pasadena started with Booksustain, a Los Angeles nonprofit focused on literacy and keeping usable books out of landfills. 

Booksustain collects gently used books and redistributes them to schools, literacy programs and community organizations serving people with limited access to books. The nonprofit says it has donated more than 11,400 books since 2021, including donations to Reading Partners Los Angeles, UCLA Head Start, Hope the Mission and other organizations throughout the region. 

When J&Y Law began looking for additional organizations that could put Different Is Still Us directly into the hands of children and families, Booksustain connected our team with Shriners Children’s Southern California. 

“Too many families still don’t have books in the home, which is why Booksustain’s mission is so inspiring,” said Moyer. “Getting books of all kinds into as many kids’ hands as possible can make such a difference, and we were grateful they helped us find the right home for this one.” 

The visit is also part of a growing literacy effort at J&Y Law. Earlier this year, Attorney Stacy Thumsuden brought copies of Different Is Still Us to the KPBS San Diego Book Festival, and the firm has also worked with Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California to connect with schools and literacy programs throughout Los Angeles. 

A Visit to Shriners Children’s in Pasadena 

Moyer visited the Fair Oaks Avenue medical center to make the delivery and learn more about the hospital and the families it serves. 

“When you’re sitting in a waiting room, recovering from a procedure or spending a lot of time around doctors,” said Moyer. “Having somewhere else to go for a few minutes can mean a lot. We hope some of these kids see a little bit of themselves in the story.” 

The visit also gave the J&Y Law team an opportunity to learn about other ways individuals and businesses can get involved with Shriners Children’s, including volunteering and supporting future events. 

More Than 70 Years of Caring for Children 

Shriners Children’s Southern California has served children in the Los Angeles area since 1952. The organization opened its current Pasadena medical center in 2017, adding an ambulatory surgery center, rehabilitation services and Pediatric Orthotic and Prosthetic Services. 

Today, its Pasadena team provides specialty pediatric care for orthopedic conditions, sports injuries, burn scars, cleft lip and palate and other complex medical needs. Shriners Children’s says its care is available regardless of a family’s ability to pay or insurance status. 

That work connects closely with many of the families J&Y Law serves. Serious injuries can change routines, relationships, and daily life for an entire family, including children who are often trying to understand what is happening around them. 

How to Volunteer and Get Involved 

Shriners Children’s relies on volunteers to help patients and families throughout the year. Those interested in volunteering at the Pasadena location can contact its Volunteer Services team directly, while the hospital also welcomes support for fundraising, special events and certain in-kind donations. 

For people who want to support literacy specifically, Booksustain accepts book donations and works with volunteers to collect, sort and redistribute books throughout the Los Angeles area. 

Getting Different Is Still Us Into More Hands 

This donation is part of a larger goal for Different Is Still Us: getting the story into schools, hospitals, literacy programs and other places where children may be adjusting to a difficult change at home. 

We’re grateful to Booksustain for making the introduction and to the team at Shriners Children’s Southern California for welcoming us and giving the books a home with the families they serve. 

Different Is Still Us is available in paperback and Kindle editions on Amazon. J&Y Law clients can also contact our team to request a complimentary copy.