The 15th Anniversary Awards Dinner was a very special evening that raised over $1.1 million. The room was full, the energy was high and the message was strong. Wonderful speakers introduced the night’s honorees. Sportscaster Jim Hill gave a warm welcome to Stacia and Luc Robitaille, recipients of our Francis M. Wheat Community Service Award for their founding of non-profit Echoes of Hope that helps at-risk youth. Geena Davis gave a heartfelt introduction to old friend Nina Tassler, President of CBS Entertainment and recipient of this year’s National Champion for Children Award. Nina gave a powerful speech about the meaning of charity in our world and her first-hand experience with The Alliance at our Transitioning Youth Thanksgiving last fall.

Angie Harmon and Alliance Youth Council Members Pose on the Red Carpet	Noelle and Dick Wolf

Master of Ceremonies Angie Harmon set the tone of the night by hosting an Adoption Security Blanket Auction that raised over $85,000 for the foster care adoption project in under 15 minutes! Alliance speakers Fiona Chaney, a pro bono attorney from Howrey LLP who herself was adopted after the death of her parents, and Cristina Galvez, a client and adoptive mother of a severely disabled boy, gave the crowd a chance to see living proof of the importance of The Alliance’s mission to serve the most vulnerable children and youth in Los Angeles. With the seriousness of theme and purpose, we were grateful to have the humor of Drew Carey sprinkled throughout the evening. Our Youth Council, a group former foster youth advocates, were also in attendance thanks to the generosity of Tom Appleton, Mitch Kaplan & Marilyn Jones.

Nancy Tellem, Leslie Moonves and Nina Tassler	Alliance Board Members Leslie Gilbert-Lurie, Toni Schulman and Mitch Kaplan

Our deepest thanks to everyone who made the night possible, especially our incredible dinner chairs Leslie and Cliff Gilbert-Lurie and Board Chair Toni Schulman.

Actress Marisa Coughlin chats with Alliance Client Marion Barber	Board Chair Toni Schulman (center) and Mentor Program Director Vincent D’Averso (far right) dine with the Youth Council
Bob Broder and Leslie Moonves	Former New York Giant Jason Sehorn and Future NFL Hopeful and Alliance Client Rene Howard
Alliance 2008 Dinner Press Release	Click here to watch video