He spent his life giving Skid Row's homeless access to music. His family wants to carry on his legacy.

""Music is a universal language," Avila reasoned, according to his family. "It really calms you down and puts you into a different state."

""Paul worked so hard and we're just going to continue and keep it going," said his older sister, Linda Sideri, who serves as the organization's treasurer and is on its board."

""He was their family," Butler said. "Remember that for these people, no one looks at them, no one acknowledges their existence ... Every time we went out for outreach, he would say, 'OK guys, we're in their neighborhood. Acknowledge them, say hello, touch them, just talk to them like a"

In 2013 Paul Avila noticed a blind man on Skid Row enjoying music, which reminded him of his blind, nonverbal autistic son, Pauly. Avila believed music could calm and shift emotional states and began Pauly's Project to distribute headphones and radios to Skid Row residents. The nonprofit expanded to serve about 20,000 people annually, adding food, outreach services and workplace mentoring alongside music accessories. Pauly sometimes helped with distributions. Avila died on July 1 at age 48. Family members including sister Linda Sideri and executive director Catherine Butler are continuing the organization's outreach and emphasis on acknowledging residents' humanity.

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