A scholarship to USC, diamond rings for the auction. These are two examples of the generosity the Manhattan Beach community has extended to two young men after their mom died from injuries she sustained when the motorcycle she was driving collided with a car in Manhattan Beach on Dec. 23, 2011.
When Jennifer Jensen, a 53-year-old Redondo Beach resident was pronounced dead in the emergency room at Providence Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance, few knew of her family's struggles.
Now, thanks to an outpouring of community support led by the MB police officer first to deliver medical aid to Jennifer, Sergeant Steve Kitsios and an MB resident, Russ Varon, the Jensen brothers, Alex, 25, and Shaun, 23, are learning how to live without their mother.
On Tuesday night, the MB community held and attended a fundraiser at Shade Hotel in downtown MB to add to the already in-progress fundraising the MB Police Officers Association started the day after Jennifer's death.
Indeed, life has changed for the brothers with the passing of their mom, who was their sole financial support.
The two are slowly rebuilding a life minus their mom, say friends.
Tuesday night's gala featured food from local restaurants, including Darren's Restaurant and California Pizza Kitchen in Manhattan Beach.
The light rain showers that evening did not keep the crowd home and MB business owners, residents, real estate agents, the president of Skechers, the vice president of Body Glove International and others turned out to support the brothers.
It's more of The Goodness in MB.
Editor's Note: This article was updated at 1:04 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8. Shaun is still attending school; he has not dropped out and just earned an A on an exam the other day, according to Pam Drake, a friend of Jennifer Jensen's.
