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Los Angeles – (March 31, 2015) The Independent School
Alliance for Minority Affairs (The Independent School
Alliance) honored outstanding members of the Los Angeles
community at its annual Impact Awards gala March 17,
2015 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. E-commerce
entrepreneurs Brian and Mira Lee and Irwin Gold, Executive
Chairman of Houlihan Lokey, were honored at the 30th
Anniversary Gala. Actress, author and Honest Company
Founder Jessica Alba presented; Fox 11 News anchor Jeff
Michael emceed and Nina Shaw, founding partner, Del, Shaw,
Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano, chaired.
Entertainment featured singer, songwriter and actress Lisa
Loeb.
Students from the Brentwood School Madrigals vocal group
ushered the more than 500 guests to their seats. Event
chair Nina Shaw welcomed guests and acknowledged the
organization’s landmark anniversary, “Three decades of
looking after the education of our most deserving
students…access to knowledge, fostering creativity and
curiosity…giving students the tools they need to create a
bigger and more powerful future…assuring our community that
we are nurturing a future generation of bold thinkers and
problem solvers…what could be more important, more vital to
the continued health of Los Angeles and our country?”
The evening’s emcee, Fox News anchor Jeff Michael, touched
on the many world changes that had occurred since the
Alliance was formed in 1985, capturing a few laughs as he
waxed nostalgic about “…enormous shoulder pads, red jackets
covered in zippers and, tragically, even the occasional
mullet.”
Executive Director Keishia Gu thanked the evening’s
co-chairs, Alliance Board of Directors, staff and supporters
before noting, “We know that our economy and our society
works best when we harness the energy, talents and vision of
all of our people. At the Independent School Alliance, we
want everyone to have a chance to ‘play’ at the highest
levels so that everyone wins…we open those doors to
opportunity.”
Tim Corcoran, Board of Director’s President, presented the
Alliance’s 2015 Founder’s Awards…crystal keys, representing
the keys of opportunity and doors to the future that the
awardees open on behalf of all Independent School Alliance
families. Awardee schools, each of whom have been with the
Alliance since its formation, included: Brentwood, Buckley,
Campbell Hall, Chadwick, Chandler, Crossroads School for
Arts & Sciences, Flintridge Prep, Harvard-Westlake, John
Thomas Dye, Marlborough, Mayfield, Jr., Oakwood, Pilgrim,
Polytechnic, St. James, St. Matthew’s, Westridge, Wildwood
and Windward.
A spirited live auction, led by Grant Snyder of Snyder
Auctions, included luxury getaway packages, a private Single
Malt Scotch Master Class and a family photo shoot with
renowned photographer Tierney Gearon, including the services
of A-list celebrity stylist Elizabeth Stewart and hair and
make-up preparation.
Following dinner, 11 year-old Maya movingly shared her
journey with the Alliance to her final acceptance at the
Archer School for Girls, “It was like Cinderella’s glass
slipper…just the perfect fit!” A straight “A” student,
she’s “torn” between a career in medicine or fashion design,
noting that because of the Alliance, “I have been given
choices in my life. The future is much more positive for me
and I promise, whatever I decide, I will make you proud of
me.”
Neima Patterson, granddaughter of Alliance founding
Executive Director, Manasa Tangalin, described what the
organization had meant to her, culminating in her current
stint at UCLA. “Thanks to the Alliance and their caring
staff, I know kids studying at Harvard, Yale and
Northwestern who might otherwise have made it no further
than a local community college.”
Brian Laibow, Managing Director at Oaktree Capital and a
member of the Alliance Board of Directors, and Mary Beth
Barry, Head of Admissions for the Brentwood Lower School and
Chair of the Alliance Board of Directors presented the
Alliance’s 2015 Impact Award to Irwin Gold, Executive
Director of Houlian Lokey. Each noted Lokey’s commitment,
both philanthropic and personal, to education. “For many
years,” said Laibow, “Irwin has been a big advocate of the
Alliance’s mission to enhance diversity and provide talented
kids great educational opportunities.”
Actress, author and Honest Company founder Jessica Alba
presented the Alliance’s 2015 Visionary Award to Brian and
Mira Lee, calling them “great people…great parents…and great
citizens of Los Angeles.” Alba noted how invaluable Brian
Lee was in guiding her through the formation of her own
company, noting that he is “a legend at starting
companies…including legalzoom.com and shoe-dazzle,” and
calling Mira Lee “an inspirational entrepreneur and
award-winning broadcaster. I love her because she’s always
positive, always thinking of ways to make the world a better
place.”
Established in 1985 by a group of Southern California school
heads, The Independent School Alliance is an organization of
54 private, independent elementary and secondary schools
that endeavor to increase their diversity. It is the mission
of The Independent School Alliance to inform members of
racial communities presently underrepresented in independent
schools of the option of independent school education; to
identify applicants from these communities and assist them
in the application process; to provide on-going support
programs for students and their families; and to act as a
resource to member schools assisting them in their
individual efforts to address issues of racial diversity and
multicultural education. Over the past 14 years, The
Independent School Alliance students have received nearly
$70 million in financial aid from member schools. For
further information on The Independent School Alliance,
please visit
independentschoolalliance.org. |