Chris O’Donnell presents the Visionary Award to Shane Brennan
The International Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton was filled with love and appreciation as Extraordinary Families hosted its first Awards Gala to recognize the work of foster parents and mentors who improve the lives of children – the mission of the nonprofit organization formed last year with the merger of Southern California Foster Family and Adoption Agency and the Child Welfare Initiative.
EF CEO Sarah Boone welcomed the 500 guests and provided a history of the organization. “Commitment. Integrity. Compassion. Unconditional love. Those are the qualities embodied at Extraordinary Families and in our supporters and staff,” she said in introducing board member and event chair Brooke Kaufman Halsband.
The audience heard from former foster youth Margarita Vargas, Shari Walker and Demontray Thompson, who spoke movingly about their respective journeys through the foster care system and their successful lives today.
“Hope is a powerful emotion,” Vargas said. It was a sentiment repeated several times during the evening.
Andrew Bridge, the organization’s chief policy officer–who grew up in LA’s foster care system – gave a special introduction to actor Chris O’Donnell, who portrays a former foster child on the hit CBS series “NCIS: Los Angeles.” In the program, O’Donnell’s character, Callen, is revealed to have grown up in 37 different foster families, a plight that sadly, is not unusual.
“I hope we’ve shed some light on the unusual path that so many foster children are forced to walk,” O’Donnell said as he introduced his boss, showrunner Shane Brennan, and presented him with the 2016 Visionary Award.
“When Chris and I first sat down to talk about the role, he revealed he was from a family of seven children, and so am I,” Brennan said. “We wanted this character to be in search of family and identity. I’m honored to be singled out for creating this individual character. It’s not often that that happens.”
Foster parents Jason Peers and Eric Pelovello were honored with the first of two 2016 Sylvia Fogelman Founders Awards, and with their two adorable sons, Justin and Kamil, accepted it from board member Sean Reese.
LA’s first lady Amy Elaine Wakeland, wife of Mayor Eric Garcetti, presented the second award to Stacie and Philip D’Amour, foster parents who have also recently adopted a baby girl through the organization.
“Their approach to parenthood, their loving care and devotion embody the EF mission,” Wakeland said. The couple provides support to current and prospective foster families with resources, coupled the wisdom of their own experience.
Another of the evening’s highlights was a spoken word performance by Demontray Thompson’s twin brother Demontae, an evocative piece he wrote entitled “Mother Where Were You.”
The capper to an inspirational evening was the performance by NPG Records recording artist Judith Hill, who set included a moving version of the Carole King classic “You’ve Got a Friend.”
