Stars Gather to Support Children of South LA: Dream Believe Achieve Gala Brings Hundreds Together for a Common Cause

Hosted by Don Cheadle and featuring musical performances by Jackson Browne, Earth Wind & Fire, Smokey Robinson and others, the Gala will benefit three non-profit organizations who work together to provide educational, recreational and cultural opportunities for the children and families ofSouth Los Angeles: Challengers Boys & Girls Club, ICEF Public Schools, and the Success Through the Arts Foundation.

The Dream Believe Achieve Inspiration Gala, presented by Citi will be held at the Ahmanson Ballroom in the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.,Los Angeles on Tuesday, October 21. Red Carpet arrivals begin at 5:30 PM followed by a cocktail reception from 6:30 to 7:30. Dinner and a live auction from 7:30 PM to 9:00 precede the live entertainment from 9:00 to 10:30 PM. In addition toLos Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Alfre Woodard, other luminaries slated to attend include Herbie Hancock, Halle Berry, and Louis Gosset Jr.

"I'm happy to be supporting these organizations," notes Cheadle. "What they do for the children in South Central Los Angeles is vital to the community and long overdue. I'm glad to be a part of this inspiration gala and hope more people will invest in the future of a wholeLos Angeles."

The event will honor American Idol's Rickey Minor, for his commitment to supporting the arts and music programs for inner-city youth; Jim O'Brien, a principal at Citi who was one of the original founders of ICEF Public Schools, which operates 13 public charter schools in the community; and NBA great Baron Davis, who has long been a champion of the South LA community and Challengers Boys & Girls Club in particular.

In South LA, the statistics seem insurmountable. Gang violence is up. High school graduation rates are at historic lows. Schools are overcrowded and unsafe. Budget cuts have shuttered vital sports, arts and college prep programs, have contributed to an ever-worsening student-teacher ratio, and more cuts are on the way. Hardly the atmosphere to inspire learning and achievement.

However, where some see peril, others see promise. The DREAM BELIEVE ACHIEVE Inspiration Gala, presented by Citi, will raise funds to support the following organizations which recognize the promise in the youth most affected by these statistics, and aim to provide solutions to empower them for success in life:

Challengers Boys & Girls Club -- What began 40 years ago in the back of Lou Dantzler's pickup truck in 1968 as an effort to offer the South LA community's aimless, fatherless youth something positive to do has blossomed into a four-acre oasis, encompassing leadership, recreation, cultural, health and educational programs -- including two ICEF charter schools -- all designed to motivate, educate and elevate South LA's youth to become responsible, caring, productive adults and make positive life choices. Go to http://www.cbgcla.org for more information.

ICEF Public Schools -- ICEF operates 13 public charter schools that serve over 2,900 students inSouth Los Angeles. ICEF was founded in 1994 by former Harvard-Westlake English teacher Michael Piscal and investment banker Stephen C. Smith, along with supporters Kevin P. O'Brien and Jim O'Brien. ICEF has successfully placed 100% of its first two graduating classes into college. Go to http://www.icefpublicschools.org for more information.

The Success Through the Arts Foundation (STTAF) -- was originally founded in 2000 by Howard and Cathy Stone as Friends of Washington Prep Foundation with a mission to create an environment where students of all ages who have been traditionally underserved by the public schools, underrepresented in higher education, and deprived of opportunities can learn to appreciate and produce music and art. Go to http://www.sttaf.org for more information.

Other sponsors of this event include: AEG Worldwide, American Honda Motor Co., Integrated Capital, LLC and the Carlton Hill Family Foundation.

SOURCE Challengers Boys & Girls Club; ICEF Public Schools; The Success

Through the Arts Foundation (STTAF)

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Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze, Daily News

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