Wednesday, November 21, 2018

2018 YWCA Awards Gala - Event




(C) 2018 by Rych McCain, All Rights Reserved. No part of this column may be reprinted, re-posted or duplicated without written permission from Rych McCain Media/Syndication. Violation is subject to applicable laws

2018 YMCA Awards Gala - Event

Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist



The YWCA Celebrates 125 Years

With A Grand Gala


     It was a balmy twilight evening in Hollywood as guests
 arrived at the Loews Hotel for the YWCA Awards Gala celebrating 125 years of operation and service to communities all across America.


      Of course, a fabulous Hollywood Gala would not be memorable without a red carpet entry for celebs, honorees and VIP’s to strut their stuff before a lightning storm of bright flashing camera strobes with photographers yelling out names for people to pose their way. Video camera crews and interviews as well were jockeying for position to get a piece of the action.

L-R Dolores Juerta, Rita Moreno, Mitch O'Farrell & Barbara Eden

 
L-R Fernanda Fisher, Rita Moreno and Faye Washington


Harpist Mariea Antoinette
 




     The pre-dinner festivities included a wine and cocktail social mixer with the live music performance of Billboard charted and Grammy nominated classical, jazz funk Harpist Mariea Antoinette








       Upon the messenger’s chiming of the dinner bells, the crowd then proceeded to the ballroom for the start of the ceremonies.

Ballroom with Jumbo Tron Screen



     











Elegantly Decorate Dinner Ballroom Loews Hotel Hollywood

 
Guest assembling into the dinner ballroom

     The invocation was delivered by Bishop Warner H. Brown Jr, followed by a welcome from Pat Prescott, Host of the Wave’s Morning Show and Pat Harvey, Anchor for CBS-TV 2 News. Special recognition was given to Alva P. Adams, YWCA Greater Los Angeles, Board Chairwoman and the 2018 Event Co-Chair and Mitch O’Farrell, Los Angeles City Councilmember 13th District and 2018 Event Co-Chair.

Attorney Connie L. Rice
 




    The first three awards were then given out which included The Legacy Award, given to attorney Constance “Connie” L. Rice, presented by Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey.






COO PBS Jamie Myers
 






     The second award was The Legacy Media Award given to Chief Operating Officer PBS Social, Jamie Myers, presented by EWDD General Manager Jan Perry.

  




LA World Airports CEO Deborah Flint
 





     

The third was The Corporate Visionary Champion Award given to Deborah Flint, presented by Autumn Burke, California State Assemblywoman.


      




 
Cynthia Heard, Vice President of Business Development and Communications along with Sharon Shelton, Vice President of Programs YWCA Greater Los Angeles presented a video showing titled YWCA Mission.

Standup Comic Auctioneer Amy Ashton
     Standup Comic and Auctioneer Amy Ashton kept the crowd in stiches while raising some serious money from bidders during the auction portion of the ceremonies.


R&B Latino Band DW3

     Finally, a scrumptious dinner was served which included a salad of bibb lettuce, radicchio, arugula with gorgonzola, dried cranberries, blueberries, cherry tomatoes, and champagne vinaigrette. Dinner included duo braised beef short rib in rosemary-port wine sauce with pan-seared sea bass in a lemon-thyme with wine sauce. They were accompanied with shingle of seasonal grilled and roasted vegetables, fresh honeyed carrot puree with dinner rolls and whipped butter. Red and white wine was poured throughout the meal. For desert, sweet temptations brazilia adorned with YWCA logo was served along with after dinner, freshly brewed Seattle’s Best coffee, decaffeinated coffee and Tea Forte Herbal Tea. If this didn’t make your mouth water, your taste buds need recharging. While everyone was stuffing their faces, the Billboard charted, r&b Latino band DW3 took to the stage to perform. After dinner, the last three awards were given out which included:

 Immigrant-Civil Rights Leader Dolores Juerta
      


    The Angel Award to recipient Dolores Juerta, presented by Councilwoman Nury Martinez and Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard. 

     





Singer/Actress Barbara Eden









    The Legacy Film and Television Award went to actress/singer Barbara Eden, presented by City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell.




EGOT status winner Rita Moreno
     The Soromundi Award went to Oscar, Toni, Emmy and Grammy winner Rita Moreno, presented by her daughter Fernanda Fisher

     Closing remarks were made by YWCA Greater Los Angeles President and CEO Faye Washington who tends to be a little long winded when people are anxious to leave and go home after a long night. It was another jubilant night to remember. 

© 2018 Rych McCain Media/Syndication TM 
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