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EXTRAORDINARYFAMILIES
HONORED
SHANE BRENNAN, STACIE &
PHILIP D’AMOUR AND
JASON PEERS & ERIC
PELOVELLO
AT FIRST ANNUAL AWARDS
GALA
LOS ANGELES, CA (April
21, 2016) – ExtraordinaryFamilies (EF), a nonprofit
dedicated to improving the lives of children in child
welfare, hosted its first annual Awards Gala, Wednesday,
April 20, 2016 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly
Hills. The evening honored Shane Brennan, creator and
executive producer, NCIS: Los Angeles, with the
2016 Visionary Award. Stacie & Philip D’Amour and Jason
Peers & Eric Pelovello were presented with the 2016
Sylvia Fogelman Founder’s Award.
Hosts Renee Ridgeley and
Sheila Chalakee welcomed the 500 guests and introduced
Sarah Boone, EF Chief Executive Officer. Boone provided
a brief history of the organization and acknowledged
foster parents, staff and co-mentors in attendance.
“Commitment. Integrity. Compassion. Unconditional
love. Those are the qualities embodied at
ExtraordinaryFamilies and in our supporters and staff,”
said Boone who introduced board member and gala event
chair, Brooke Kaufman Halsband. Kaufman Halsband
thanked the Gala Committee: Rosanne Ziering, Sean Reese
and Arsine Gaboyan and the Honorary Gala Committee:
Mayor Eric Garcetti, First Lady of Los Angeles Amy
Elaine Wakeland, Supervisor Hilda Solis, Supervisor Mark
Ridley-Thomas, Darla Kim and Julia Kim.
A highlight of the
evening was a segment entitled “unique voices” featuring
young adults and former foster youth Margarita Vargas,
Shari Walker and Demontray Thompson. The trio each
spoke poignantly about their journey through the foster
care system. Demontray’s twin brother, Demontae,
performed an impactful spoken word piece he wrote
entitled, “Mother Where Were You.”
EF Chief Policy Officer
Andrew Bridge, who grew up in the foster care system in
Los Angeles, introduced presenter Chris O’Donnell, “who
portrays a former foster child with sensitivity, grace,
talent and kindness on the hit CBS series, NCIS: Los
Angeles.” O’Donnell’s character, Callen, grew up in
37 foster families. Said O’Donnell, “Sadly, 37 families
is not an outrageous number for foster children. I hope
we’ve shed some light on the unusual path that so many
foster children are forced to walk.” O’Donnell
presented the 2016 Visionary Award to “my friend, my
boss, the head of the NCIS: LA surrogate family –
Shane Brennan.”
Shane Brennan, creator
and executive producer of the hit CBS series, NCIS:
Los Angeles, explained why he chose to spotlight a
foster child on the show, how he developed the character
and the important work being done by everyone at EF.
Board member Sean Reese
presented the first of two 2016 Sylvia Fogelman Founders
Awards, (named for the woman that created the legacy
that continues today at EF), to Jason Peers and Eric
Pelovello. Peers and Pelovello became an ‘Extraordinary
Family’ in 2013. They live in Los Angeles with their
two sons, Justin and Kamil who were on hand to accept
the award with their parents. Because of the loving
care provided by their fathers, the boys are thriving.
Justin now performs opera and appears in commercials and
Kamil is a budding athlete.
Foster parent, EF
Trustee and First Lady of Los Angeles, Amy Elaine
Wakeland, presented the second of the 2016 Sylvia
Fogelman Founders Awards to Stacie and Philip D’Amour.
The D’Amours have fostered children who needed a family
in Los Angeles and recently adopted a baby girl through
the organization. “Their approach to parenthood, their
loving care and devotion embody the EF mission,” said
Wakeland. Stacie and Philip provide support to families
just getting started on their foster care and adoption
journeys by supporting the development of resources for
current and prospective families, and sharing their own
story to prospective families during the new family
orientation meetings and training.
The evening ended on a
high note with an uplifting and inspiring performance by
NPG Records recording artist and star of The Voice,
Judith Hill.
ABOUT
EXTRAORDINARYFAMILIES:
ExtraordinaryFamilies
was formed in 2015 with the merger of two robust
nonprofits: Southern California Foster Family and
Adoption Agency (SCFFAA) and Child Welfare Initiative (CWI).
Both organizations were well-established, innovative
nonprofits in Southern California that shared the vision
of improving the daily lives and long-term outcomes of
children impacted by the child welfare system. The
merger of the two organizations resulted in gained
synergies, improved efficiencies, reduced costs,
complementary services and in-field learning that
significantly leveraged resources and greatly increased
the organization’s impact on the community. For more
information, please visit
www.ExtraordinaryFamilies.org. |