Extraordinary Families, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of children and families in child welfare, hosted its second annual Awards Gala, April 26, 2017 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills.
The evening honored award-winning director, writer and producer Lee Daniels with the Visionary Award; NBC’s hit show “This Is Us” executive producer Jess Rosenthal and creator and executive producer Dan Fogelman with the Luminary Award; the late legendary music manager and philanthropist Howard Kaufman with the Champion Award; and foster parents Kim Kopp and Lisa McFann with the Sylvia Fogelman Founder’s Award. The evening featured special performances by India Carney (“The Voice”) and Haley Reinhart (“American Idol”).
Emcee “Inside Edition’s” Victoria Recaño welcomed the 400 guests. Marine Sergeant Carlos Boone spoke movingly of his experience in the foster care system before being adopted when he was 16 by Sarah Boone, EF Chief Executive Officer. He introduced his mother who provided a brief history of the organization and acknowledged foster and adoptive parents, staff volunteers and donors. “I will not waiver in my conviction that there is nothing more important to our future – socially or politically – than our children or our families. Let’s make sure that children remain a top priority,” said Boone.
A highlight of the evening was a spoken word segment featuring young adults and former foster youth Alexiss Valle, Edana Jones and Steven Barbee. For more information head to: ExtraordinaryFamilies.org
