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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
(You
DID Hear It From Me!)
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