Community Corner
CASA of Los Angeles’ 2nd Annual Evening to Foster Dreams Gala To Honor Bill Cosby
CASA of Los Angeles has announced that it will honor comedian, actor and philanthropist Bill Cosby at its 2nd Annual Evening to Foster Dreams Gala. The fundraising event, which takes place on May 6th at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, is held to honor community leaders who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to foster children. Mr. Cosby will perform during the evening’s festivities and receive the Robert Morrison Community Service from CASA to recognize his dedication to helping children in need.
Bill Cosby has a long history of philanthropy and a strong commitment to young people. Cosby says, “There are things that money cannot buy. As long as you have a ‘thank you,’ you have given. As long as you think of sharing, you are giving.”
“Bill Cosby has been an outspoken and acknowledged voice for children in need, using his unique talents to raise awareness and provide funding where others could not,” said Lou Lucido, Gala Chair and COO of DoubleLine. “We are very happy to be able to say ‘thank you’ to a man who has made such a massive impact on so many young people.”
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The gala will be hosted, as the inaugural event was, by Dax Shepard, who stars as Crosby Braverman in the popular NBC series “Parenthood.”
The CASA Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Harriet Zaretsky. Ms. Zaretsky has been a Court Appointed Special Advocate since 1996, and besides giving her CASA children her expertise in court, is active in trying to provide leadership in changing a flawed system that services abused, abandoned or neglected children. Harriet is President of the Dillon Henry Foundation, which honors the memory and passions of her son who died tragically in 2007.
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The Foundation has partnered with other non-profits to work locally and around the world to improving the lives of others, as well as working on environmental issues affecting our planet with the Surfrider Foundation. Ms. Zaretsky also serves on the Board of Jewish World Watch, a non-profit organization which is dedicated to stopping genocide, currently focused on Darfur and the Congo.
CASA will present the Bob Franzel Memorial Award to the Glamour Gowns Committee and to the sponsors who have supported Glamour Gowns for many years, including Chinese Laundry, Jenette Bras, Masquerade, SHARE, Inc., and Studio DNA. Now in its thirteenth year, Glamour Gowns and CASA distribute new prom dresses and accessories at no cost to 350 high-school aged foster girls in Los Angeles County each year. The 2014 Glamour Gowns was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Saturday, March 29. Glamour Gowns seeks to create lasting, positive memories for milestone events like proms, in the lives of young ladies who have often endured and overcome difficult circumstances.
The feature film, Short Term 12, will also be recognized, along with its director/writer Destin Daniel Cretton, for spotlighting the moving stories of transition age foster youth in group homes.
All proceeds of the event benefit CASA’s programs of advocacy and support for abused and neglected children in Los Angeles County’s foster care system.
Additional information, tickets and sponsorship packages for the 2nd Evening to Foster Dreams Gala are available through CASA/LA’s website: http://www.casala.org/casa-of-los-angeles-evening-to-foster-dreams-gala/
