Jason Isaacs, Charlotte Ross, Kathryn Joosten and Garrett Morris Spotlighted Honorees at CNN Hero Susan Burton’s A New Way Of Life Charity Gala
The Sheraton Universal twinkled with stars, celebs and supporters of Susan Burton’s A New Way of Life (ANWOL) charity at the “Catching Falling Stars” fundraising gala on Thursday November 17th.
The red carpet sparkled with celebrities including presenters Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter), Charlotte Ross (Glee) Kathryn Joosten (Desperate Housewives) and SNL legend Garret Morris (2 Broke Girls).
Special guest celebrities showing their support included: Nia Peeples (Pretty Little Liars), Lennie James (HBO’s Hung), Tony Denison (The Closer), Iqbal Theba (Glee), Cedric Sanders (All Things Fall Apart), Kaya Jones (original Pussycat Dolls), Mimi Lesseos (America’s Next Action Diva) and Jennifer Gimenez (Sober House).
Guests arrived to live performances by Malik Pointer and Chuck Negron (formerly of Three Dog Night) and dined on exquisite cuisine while watching the moving video of Marisa Tomei present the CNN Hero award to Susan Burton.
The night featured a heartwarming awards presentation, where Jason Isaacs presented the Synergy Teamwork Award to Vinny Green for her work with the Children of the Wilshire Boulevard Temple School. Charlotte Ross presented Dr. Nina Gray with the Community Partner Award, for providing free dental services to the charity’s women residents. Kathryn Joosten awarded the Community Champion Award to Kimberle Crenshaw, a Professor of Law at UCLA, for helping the charity launch its legal clinic in 2007 and continued support.
Finally, comedian/actor Garrett Morris gave a lively and memorable presentation to LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas, a lifelong champion to the charity’s community and fearless ally to the cause.
The event full of inspiration, hope, and generous giving could not have been produced without Gavin Keilly and Carla Domen of GBK Productions, Presenting Sponsor Harvard Kennedy School, Center for Public Leadership, Media Partner Reelz Channel, Corporate Sponsors DUB Publishing and V-DAY, a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls and Los Angeles County, Second District Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas’s office.
Additional sponsors included: Castillo de Molina Wine, Jackson Limousine Service, Las Alamandas Mexico Resort, Fit Diet, Dr. Barton Goldsmith, Company Napoleon, Farrise Law Firm, The California Endowment, McKinney & Associates, Affordable Housing CDC, Thomas Blalock, Mortgage Loan Consultant, Kinecta Federal Credit Union, Jolson Creative PR, and more. A special thanks also goes out to the many volunteers that helped make the event possible.
