The Founders

Judith Kogan and Eric Weingrad founded California Advocacy Group, LLC to share their vast knowledge of the world of IHSS, Medi-Cal, CCS, and Regional Centers and, more importantly, to help parents navigate the complicated world of special services and get results that will make a difference in their family's lives forever. Both special needs parents, Judith and Eric have not only personally been in the trenches fighting for their respective children's rights, they continue to advocate on their children's behalf today. 

Judith Kogan

Judith Kogan is passionate about helping people. Growing up in Los Angeles, from an early age Judith enjoyed participating in community social action events such as volunteering at soup kitchens and visiting hospitals and nursing homes. After graduating from the University of California at San Diego, she worked at a non-profit, charitable foundation in Santa Monica where she focused on improving teacher quality in public education. Her commitment to helping others continued after she graduated from Loyola Law School in 2005 and began her career working as a litigator protecting and defending civil rights.

On her wedding day, Judith and her husband vowed together, among other things, to "leave this earth a little better" than they found it. At that time, Judith thought that she was already doing her part while working as a civil rights attorney. Little did she know that years later advocating for the needs of her disabled son would inspire her to advocate for all children with developmental disabilities throughout California. 

When she isn't advocating for others, you can usually find Judith with her husband and three children. In their free time, the Kogan family loves going on cruises and taking road trips up and down the California coast. (Yes, you can do this with a special needs child!) Judith enjoys singing nursery rhymes while driving carpool, playing board games, and picking up Legos so that she can avoid stepping on them. 

Eric Weingrad

When not advocating for special needs parents in Southern California, Eric Weingrad fills his time with his wife, two children, a chihuahua named The Colonel and close friends.

Eric also co-founded Holton's Heroes nonprofit along with his wife Angela, exactly one year after their son suffered a traumatic and anoxic brain injury. Holton's Heroes' mission is to provide assistance for families dealing with pediatric post-birth brain injuries by helping them acquire in-home therapy equipment often denied by insurance and government programs. The foundation is thriving today and, to date, has helped over 30 children and their loved ones around the country.

Beyond Eric's philanthropy—and before becoming a full-time advocate after his son was hurt—he's produced and directed hundreds of hours of nationally broadcasted entertainment for a multitude of channels like Discovery, History, MTV, CBS, NBC, and many more. He even spent over two years overseeing the Howard Stern Show's editorial team for all associated digital media. 

While Eric's passion to work in entertainment originally brought him to Los Angeles almost 20 years ago, it was the heart-wrenching day he almost lost his son forever that put him on the path to his true calling: Advocacy. 

It is his honor and privilege to serve the families and children that hold such a close and personal space in his heart, whether through his work or his charity.