6th Annual Unstoppable Gala, LA
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| Malcolm-Jamal Warner | Photo: Erin P. for AverageSocialite |
Affair: 6th Annual Unstoppable Gala
When: Saturday, March 21, 2015 @ 6:30PM
Hot Spot: Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Los Angeles, CA
Deets: Celebrities, authors, and business leaders attended the 6th Annual Unstoppable Gala Saturday night at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, supporting the Unstoppable Foundation’s mission to ensure every child receives access to an education.
Cynthia Kersey, founder and CEO of the Unstoppable Foundation, greeted some of Hollywood’s brightest stars including Ernie Hudson, Dyan Cannon, Edward James Olmos, Shawn King, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Leigh Steinberg, super-agent and inspiration for the movie Jerry McGuire; and athletes including Olympic Medalist Lindsey Berg, Nick Ferguson (NFL Cincinnati Bengals), Dwight Freeney (NFL San Diego Chargers), and Marcedes Lewis (NFL Jacksonville Jaguars). Lisa Garr, television personality and host of Aware Show, served as the official red carpet correspondent.
ABC7 sports anchor Curt Sandoval opened the festivities, featuring performances by the LA Inner City Mass Choir & House Band under the direction of Jeffrey Coprich, Choir Director, and Brandon Forte, House Band Director. The Gala’s co-hosts were Shawn King and Malcolm-Jamal Warner. CBS Sports Analyst Tony Gonzalez presented the 2015 Unstoppable Achievement Award to NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback Warren Moon.
The Unstoppable Foundation also celebrated their first graduating class from the Kisaruni All Girls Secondary School in the Maasai Mara in Kenya. These girls are among the very first in the entire region to be able to attend and graduate from high school.
Susan Mabet, one of the graduates, came all the way from Kenya to meet the attendees first hand, and demonstrate what an education makes possible. The audience gave Susan a standing ovation after being introduced by Cynthia Kersey.
The goal of the Gala was to bring Laila, the newest community of 2,000 men, women, and children in the Maasai Mara, all 5 pillars necessary to bring education and sustainability to the entire community for five years.
The evening was a huge success. The Proctor Gallagher Institute received the 2015 Unstoppable Hero Award and Gina Hayden, VP of Operations, pledged their continued partnership by announcing they will match 100% of all employee and client donations up to $500K with the goal of raising $1M in 2015.
Unstoppable started the evening with $350,000 pledged towards the Laila community, and raised an additional $600,000 that evening of which 100% will go directly towards the implementation of the 5-pillars. The evening ended with a total of $1 million pledged towards the completion of the Laila Community.
Free the Children is the Unstoppable Foundation’s implementing partner for the “Sponsor a Village” 5-pillar development model in Kenya. This model not only funds schools, but provides the entire community with access to clean water and sanitation, food and nutrition, healthcare, and income training for parents.
Founded by Cynthia Kersey in 2008, the Unstoppable Foundation has funded 70 schoolhouses, bringing an education and a warm nutritious meal to over 7,000 children every day. More than 25,000 people now have access to healthcare, clean water and sanitation, and over 3,000 adults have received training to generate an income so that the project is self-sustaining. For more information visit: www.unstoppablefoundation.org.
Spotted: Warren Moon, Tony Gonzalez, Shawn King, Malcom Jamal Warner, Pat O'Brien, Marc Watts, Nick Ferguson, Pete Shaw, Byron Chamberlain, Jim Trotter, Chris Hale, Cree Morris and Vencie Glenn and Olympic Gold Medalist Richard Lambourne, Olympic Silver Medalist Lindsay Berg and Christa Harmotto
Hint For The Average Socialite: Tickets were available here. 100% of the price of your tickets went directly to helping the work of the Unstoppable Foundation grow.
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