Photo: Corine Solberg for Average Socialite
Deets: Celebrities and supporters gathered tonight at The Beverly Hilton for the 10th Annual Thirst Gala to benefit the world’s largest youth-led water nonprofit, Thirst Project. The evening was hosted by Angela Kinsey with the help of her “The Office” alums, Kate Flannery and Jenna Fischer. Angela brought her zest for comedy to the evening when graciously thanking the audience for clearing their schedules, hiring a sitter, putting on Spanx and attending the Gala instead of the Pasadena Model Train MuseumOpen House. Adam Sandler and Bryce Dallas Howard joined together to discuss the power of young people to affect change and presented the Power of Youth Award to this year’s winner, high school student Diana Baliscao. Recording artist Gavin Degraw rocked the house with his songs “Soldier” and “I Don’t Wanna Be," with the audience singing along to his hit single.
The night wouldn’t have been complete without Thirst Project CEO/Founder Seth Maxwell’s powerful speech discussing the accomplishments over the last ten years. There was not a dry eye in the house when Maxwell spoke about his friend and longtime Thirst Project supporter Cameron Boyce. “It has to be said that Cameron did more with 20 years than almost anyone does with much more time,” said Maxwell. “…a person who knew no bounds in giving of his time and energy.” Seth then directed the audience to watch the moving Cameron Boyce tribute video, honoring his legacy and dedication to the organization. Maxwell also thanked Disney for their donation to build eight wells to bring clean water to people in need, which will help to continue the work of Cameron. Karan Brar and Sophie Reynolds, Boyce’s best friends, also took the stage to discuss The Cameron Boyce Foundation and to announce the renaming of Thirst Project’s Pioneering Spirit Award to the Cameron Boyce Pioneering Spirit Award. The recipient of the 2019 Cameron Boyce Pioneering Spirit Award is Craig Thompson (Mini Ladd), and YouTube stars The Ace Family accepted this year’s Board of Governor’s Award.
HONOREES: 2019
Cameron Boyce Pioneering Spirit Award - Craig Thompson (Mini Ladd)
Board of Governors Award - YouTube stars, The Ace Family, Austin McBroom Catherine Paiz and Elle McBroom
ABOUT THIRST PROJECT
Thirst Project started when a then 19-year-old Seth Maxwell organized a small activation on Hollywood Boulevard to spread information about the global water crisis. Today, Thirst Project is the largest youth-led water activism organization in the world, which travels extensively throughout the United States to educate and empower students to end water scarcity. 100 percent of all student and public donations raised by Thirst Project go directly to funding freshwater wells in developing nations and impoverished communities to provide people with safe, clean water.
Thirst Project is committed to ending the global water crisis and has made a bold commitment to do what no organization has ever done before in its effort to give the entire Kingdom of Eswatini safe, clean drinking water within a decade. Eswatini has the highest-density HIV/AIDS population of any country in the world, and water plays an incredibly critical role in effectively treating and managing AIDS.
Spotted: Host Angela Kinsey (“The Office”); Live stream hosts Nick Viall (“The Bachelor”) and Ashley Iaconetti (“The Bachelor); Presenters Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic” franchise), Kate Flannery (“The Office”), Jenna Fischer ("The Office"), and Laura Marano (“Austin & Ally”); Adam Sandler, Live auction hosts Johnathan Bennett (“Cake Wars”) and Missi Pyle (“Impulse); Landon McBroom (THIS IS L&S YT Channel), Shyla Walker (THIS IS L&S YT Channel) AND MANY MORE!
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