Rabbi David Baron, founder of the Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre, has announced that $3 million was raised on Sunday evening, Oct. 12 at its inaugural gala fundraiser “A Fabulous Night” for The Beverly Hills Performing Arts Center and the Temple of the Arts.
Funds will be used to support a new Children’s Screening Series for underserved kids at the Steve Tisch Cinema Center at the Saban Theatre, as well as other community projects and for the final stages of preservation, modernization and restoration of the historic Saban Theatre. Funds will also initiate a new 10,000 square foot education and entertainment complex.
Rabbi David Baron and Stanley Black, philanthropist and chairman and founder of Black Equities, another honoree, were both feted at the event.
“We exceeded our expectations considerably,” Rabbi Baron said. “There were 1,200 people in attendance at the event. We couldn’t be more pleased.”
Haim Saban, the entertainment industry mogul and his wife, Dr. Cheryl Saban, a prolific author and advocate for women and children, were also be honored at the event by Lili Bosse, Mayor of Beverly Hills, who presented the power couple with a plaque designating the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills as an historic landmark sanctioned by the National Register of Historic Places of the United States Department of Interior.
Rabbi Baron also announced a the event that the lobby of the Saban Theatre will be dedicated and named the Stanley and Joyce Black Lobby, in honor of Stanley Black and his late wife Joyce Black, in recognition of their many philanthropic gifts to the Temple of the Arts.
Las Vegas headliner comedienne Rita Rudner and the Emmy Award-winning Beatle’s Tribute Band, The Fab Four, provided entertainment. Ari Ryan served as event Emcee. During the Gala dinner, guitarist Ernie Hernandez Jr. performed. The event was chaired by Gerri Lee Frye, and catered by Celestino Drago.
Gavin B. Keilly Productions oversaw the elegant evening, while Jacob Maarse Florist provided visually opulent floral arrangements on guest’s tables. The menu included: Hor D’oeures: Individual Crudité at each place setting; First Course: Fresh Crab Timbale Salad with Caviar; Second Course: Pumpkin Raviolini, Crispy Sage & Cream Sauce with Toasted Hazelnuts; Third Course: Dry Aged Prime Filet of Beef Tenderloin with Ground Peppercorn Sauce served with Smashed Purple Peruvian Potato and Crispy Bok Choy; Fourth Course: Dessert – Passion Fruit Mousse with Fresh Fruit.
Prior to the performance part of the evening, Gavin B. Keilly took center stage to serve as Auctioneer of a Live Action which included two vacation packages to Acapulco valued at $15,000 and $12,000 respectively; a Year Pass to the Saban Theatre valued at $40,000; a two-night stay in New York City valued at $4,000; and two priceless items, dinner for four at Porta Via in Beverly Hills and a Pre-Oscar Gift Lounge package.
Presentations were made to the evening’s honorees. State Senator Ted, W. Lieu, 28th District, State of California, presented to Rabbi David Baron, and Mayor Lili Bosse of Beverly Hills presented to Stanley Black, and to Haim Saban and his wife, Dr. Cheryl Saban.
Notable guests in attendance at the black-tie event included: Rabbi David Baron and Adrienne Baron; Stanley Black, Janis Black Warner, Jill Black Zalben, Jack Black, Joanie Black, Jenny Goldman, Doug Warner, Norm Zalben, Torie Zalben; Haim Saban and Dr. Cheryl Saban; State Senator Ted W. Lieu; Mayor Lili Bosse; Gerri Lee Frye; James and Blanche Blatt; Ari and Rebecca Ryan; Jeff and Mei Sze Greene; Max Webb with Chara Schreyer and Gordon Freund; Gerri Lee Frye; Cliff and Candice Smith; Beverly and Robert Cohen and Michael Ohoven and Joyce Giraud de Ohoven, Karen and Gary Winnick and Meyer and Renee Luskin, and Chief Dave Snowden of the Beverly Hills Police, to name a few.
The Beverly Hills Performing Arts Center presents hundreds of public events throughout the calendar year at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, CA. Rabbi David Baron founded the Temple of the Arts in 1992 when he developed the unique approach to religion through music, drama, art and film. He created the largest arts and entertainment industry temple in the United States. His services and sermons are broadcast nationally and webcast internationally via Jewish Life Television each year.
To learn more, visit the websites, www.sabantheatre.org and www.templeofthearts.org.
