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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/
-- Children's Institute (CII), the social impact organization
dedicated to transforming the lives of children exposed to
adversity and poverty in Los Angeles, honored Netflix's Channing
Dungey and long-time supporters Bridget Gless Keller & Paul
Keller at last night's 2nd Annual Cape & Gown Gala at the
Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica.
The event, emceed by actress, activist and
philanthropist Holly Robinson Peete, raised $1.2 million for
CII's early education, behavioral health and family
strengthening programs.
Channing Dungey, Vice President, Original Series
at Netflix, is deeply committed to advocating for educational
resources and life changing services on behalf of disadvantaged
children and families in Los Angeles. Her Children's Champion
Award was presented by Academy Award-Winning Actress Regina King
(Watchmen, If Beale Street Could Talk), while friends and
family praised Dungey's commitment to giving back to her
community in a moving tribute video.
"It takes an incredibly selfless person to see
what is needed and then act upon that need. Channing does
everything so quietly without fanfare. She is one of the most
powerful women in the industry but she doesn't use her power for
self-promotion. She actively tries to empower those that need
precious resources," King said.
"As an entertainment executive, I am an advocate
for the creative process and am fortunate to be able to tell
stories that often provide a voice to the underrepresented.
Similarly, Children's Institute and all of us here tonight are
advocates for children who lack a voice, children who are
exposed to trauma, poverty and adversity," Dungey said.
Bridget Gless Keller, CII Watts Building
Committee Chair, and Paul Keller, Chairman of Mack Real Estate
Development, were honored for their longtime support of CII's
mission. Together, they have led charge on CII's new, Frank
Gehry-designed Watts campus, slated to break ground in early
2020.
"My hopes for kids in the Watts community is that
the new Children's Institute campus provides them with a place
to dream, and dream big, and this becomes a foundation for them
to grow into the next generation of leaders," Gless Keller
said.
The Kellers' commitment to Los Angeles was
praised in a tribute video that
included Mayor Eric Garcetti, Carolyn Clark Powers, President,
Board of Trustees, MOCA, and Marc Nathanson, Chairman, Mapleton
Investments.
"Bridget and Paul Keller are truly angels in this
city of Angels…And they're always asking, 'what can we do to
give back to this city?' that they've given so much to already,"
Mayor Garcetti said.
CII Parent Partner Raul Aguirre shared his
personal story of growing up in South LA, and how he has devoted
the last eight years working to help children and families in
the community.
"There are a lot of people out there that are
lost, some embarrassed to ask for help, and some who just don't
know that there's help out there," Aguirre said. "There's an
organization down the street that is here to help the community
and that gives you something to hope for – that is Children's
Institute."
The event also included a virtual reality
experience of the new Frank Gehry-designed Watts Campus, a live
auction hosted by Billy Harris and musical performances by L.A.
Inner City Mass Choir.
#CIIGALA
Founded in 1906, Children's Institute (CII) is
the largest agency of its kind working to transform the lives of
children exposed to adversity and poverty in Los Angeles. By
providing early education, behavioral health and family
strengthening services, CII reaches 26,000 children and families
annually in communities where support is needed the most. Learn
more at https://www.childrensinstitute.org/. |