Celebrities Stand with LGBTQ Students and Point Foundation

 Actress Kathryn Hahn (L) and Point Executive Director & CEO Jorge Valencia at Point Honors Los Angeles 2017, benefiting Point Foundation, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 7, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Point Honors)

More than 450 guests and celebrities filled the Beverly Hilton Hotel to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students at Point Honors Los Angeles. Point Foundation (Point), the evening's beneficiary, is the nation's largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students. 

The gala evening also included an announcement by Wells Fargo of $1.8 million in continued support for Point.

Wanda Sykes was presented with the Point Legend Award by Anthony Anderson for having achieved greatness in her career and unapologetically supporting the LGBTQ community. Writer, director, and producer Jill Soloway received the Impact Award, presented by Kathryn Hahn, for the impact Soloway has made on improving the lives of the LGBTQ community. Wilson Cruz, via video message from New York, was accorded the Point Courage Award for his advocacy work on behalf of the LGBTQ community.

Honoree Wanda Sykes at Point Honors Los Angeles 2017, benefiting Point Foundation, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 7, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Point Honors)

Comedian Michelle Collins hosted the buoyant evening with a special performance by Adam Lambert accompanied by a live band. 

Host Michelle Collins at Point Honors Los Angeles 2017, benefiting Point Foundation, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 7, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Point Honors)

Previous honorees, Neal Baer, Greg Louganis, Pete Nowalk, and Adam Shankman, also attended, along with celebrities Tyler Alvarez, Hayden Byerly, Jay Duplass, Judith Light, Trace Lysette, Benjamin Patterson, Brandon Stansell, Jacob Tobia, JJ Totah, and Rain Valdez. 

"Thank you to tonight's honorees for inspiring our scholars and to all the celebrities who joined us to champion equality in education for LGBTQ students," said Jorge Valencia, Executive Director and CEO of Point Foundation. 

The evening featured an especially encouraging demonstration of support when representatives from Wells Fargo presented Point with a check for $1.8 million. The funding continues the company's support of Point's new Community College Scholarship program, scholarships for Point Scholars in four-year and advanced degree programs, and Point's leadership development programs and conferences.

"Wells Fargo is thrilled to continue our support for Point Foundation, especially the new Community College Program," said Gigi Dixon, Director of Strategic Partnerships for Wells Fargo. "This program will fill critical gaps and allow aspiring LGBTQ students to reach their educational goals and achieve their full potential. This impacts not just the scholars themselves, but also their families and communities." 

"For more than a decade Wells Fargo has joined with Point Foundation to help LGBTQ students work toward earning their higher education degree," said Jorge Valencia, Executive Director and CEO of Point Foundation. "Wells' significant investment in the LGBTQ community is also an important catalyst for encouraging the generosity of other donors, as we saw at Point Honors, with hundreds of thousands raised in additional support for LGBTQ students."

Point Foundation Scholarship Recipients at Point Honors Los Angeles 2017, benefiting Point Foundation, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 7, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Point Honors)

Point Honors Los Angeles Sponsors:
Presenting: Hilton, Wells Fargo
Premier: HSBC
Principal: AT&T, Cadillac, Citizen Relations, HBO
National Media: OUT
Local Media: Los Angeles Blade 

Point Honors Los Angeles 2017

SOURCE: Point Foundation

"Double, Double Toil and Trouble": A Ghoulish Evening with Harry Hamlin & Claudia Christian

The Cursed Castle of Macbeth Tour (image via shakespearecenter.org)

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) presents Double, Double Toil and Trouble, a one-night-only experience with Harry Hamlin and Claudia Christian resurrecting Shakespeare's Macbeth on Sunday, October 29. 

The ghoulish evening features The Cursed Castle of Macbeth tour, a Halloween Benefit Reading of Shakespeare's Macbeth, and a post-show Wine and Pumpkin Pie reception at The Shakespeare Studio, 1238 W 1st Street, Los Angeles, 90026. 

Double, Double Toil and Trouble is part of SCLA's 2017 Year of Macbeth.

Image via shakespearecenter.org

In The Cursed Castle of Macbeth haunted maze, designed by former Disney Imagineer Chris Runco, guests will fall victim to Shakespeare's most dramatic supernatural moments in Macbeth. The maze features soothsaying witches, murderous tapestries, a blood bathroom, floating daggers, stalking ghosts, and chilling sound effects.

The Halloween Benefit Reading of Shakespeare's Macbeth is directed by Louis Fantasia, starring Harry Hamlin (Macbeth) and Claudia Christian (Lady Macbeth). Additional cast members include Christopher Anderson, Ashley Bell, Sheldon Donenberg, Travis Goodman, Michele Greene, Audrey Hamilton, Lexie Helgerson, Clayton B. Hodges, Isabella Hoffman, Jamison Jones, Don Paul, Alex Rotaru, and Michael Zelniker.

The post-show Wine and Pumpkin Pie reception is kindly provided by the Gallo Family of Wines and offers audience members an opportunity to meet the ghoulish cast.

Tickets priced from $35 - $75 at shakespearecenter.org.

All proceeds from the event support SCLA and its arts-based employment programs for chronically unemployed veterans, urban youth living at the poverty threshold, and award-winning professional theatrical productions supported by a veteran workforce.

Since 1985, The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles has been a vibrant hub of unique programs, performances and events designed to make Shakespeare accessible for all.  

• SCLA's Veterans in Art enrolls chronically unemployed vets in technical theater courses at East LA College and Santa Monica College and provides veterans wage-paying on-the-job backstage internships. 
• Will Power to Youth is a White House awarded youth employment program that immerses urban youth in artistic experiences that include wage-paying summer jobs and theater training.  
• The program is nationally recognized for its effectiveness in enhancing the likelihood of high school graduation and instilling lifelong appreciation for Shakespeare and live theater. .

SOURCE: The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles

Iconic Wild Animals In Amazon Suffering For Selfies

Local sloths are taken from the wild and used for harmful selfies with tourists, in Manaus, Brazil. (C) World Animal Protection / Nando Machado

Demand for selfies has changed the lives of wild animals forever: the explosive trend on social media is driving the suffering and exploitation of some of the world's most iconic animals in the Amazon, says international charity World Animal Protection.

Focusing on two gateway cities of the Amazon – Manaus, Brazil and Puerto Alegria, Peru – World Animal Protection's investigators reveal in a new report that animals are snatched from the wild, often illegally, and used by irresponsible tour operators who cruelly exploit and injure wildlife to entertain and provide harmful photo opportunities for tourists.

In public view and behind the scenes, investigators uncovered evidence of cruelty being inflicted on wild animals, including:

• Sloths captured from the wild, tied to trees with rope, not surviving longer than six months
• Birds such as toucans with severe abscesses on their feet
• Green anacondas wounded and dehydrated
• Caiman crocodiles restrained with rubber bands around their jaws
• An ocelot (a type of wild cat) kept in a small barren cage
• A manatee held in a tiny tank in the forecourt of a local hotel
• A giant anteater, manhandled and beaten by its owner

Steve McIvor, CEO at World Animal Protection, says: 

"The wildlife selfie craze is a worldwide phenomenon fueled by tourists, many of whom are unaware of the abhorrent conditions and terrible treatment wild animals may endure to provide that special souvenir photo.

Behind the scenes, wild animals are being taken from their mothers as babies and secretly kept in filthy, cramped conditions or repeatedly baited with food, causing severe psychological trauma."

Cutting-edge research commissioned by World Animal Protection for insights into the worldwide trend on social media of wildlife selfies shows:

• The number of wildlife selfies posted on Instagram has increased 292% between 2014 to present
• 27% of wildlife selfies were posted within the U.S. or by U.S. users. 
• Over 40% of wildlife selfies show 'bad' or harmful wildlife selfies – i.e. someone hugging, holding or inappropriately interacting with a wild animal
• People will most likely upload a 'good' or humane wildlife selfie when they have been educated or exposed to the cruelty behind the scenes.

Dr. Neil D'Cruze, Global Wildlife Advisor at World Animal Protection, says:

"It's extremely distressing to see animals being stolen from the wild and used as photo props for posting on social media. The reality is these unfortunate animals are suffering terribly, both in front of and behind the camera.

The growing demand for harmful wildlife selfies is not only a serious animal welfare concern but also a conservation concern. Our online review of this kind of practice in Latin America found that over 20% of the species involved are threatened by extinction and over 60% are protected by international law."

To tackle the issue, World Animal Protection is calling on relevant governments to enforce laws protecting wild animals, and ensure that travel companies and individuals who are exploiting wild animals for tourism in the Amazon abide by the existing laws.

The organization is also launching a Wildlife Selfie Code for tourists to learn how to take a photo with wild animals without fueling the cruel wildlife entertainment industry.

Tourists can join the movement to end this cruel industry by signing World Animal Protection's Wildlife Selfie Code and commit to keeping wild animals in the wild, where they belong.

World Animal Protection (PRNewsFoto/World Animal Protection)

Case study info:

Manaus, Brazil:

• Manaus is the capital of the Amazonas state, the largest state in Brazil, with a land mass of 1.6 million square kilometers. 77% of the state's rain forest remains intact.
• 10% of the planet's biodiversity can be found in the Amazon region. It is home to over 18,000 species of plants, more than 400 species of mammals and over 200 species of reptiles, many of which are only found here.
• Tourism accounts for around 1% of the GDP of the Brazilian Amazon region
• Direct contact with wild animals for photo opportunities was offered on 94% of excursions offered by tour companies in Manaus, at six different locations.  Official tour guides actively encouraged this type of activity during 77% of excursions.

Puerto Alegria, Peru:

• A total of at least 40 individual animals, representing 24 different species (7 birds, 12 mammals, 5 reptiles) were identified being used in wildlife excursions for selfies.
• Five of these species are considered to have "threatened" status according to the IUCN, and 75% are listed by CITES.

 

The Wildlife Selfie Code

SOURCE: World Animal Protection

Nightmare at Beaver Lake Opens Friday the 13th!

Nightmare at Beaver Lake

Currently in its 14th year, the Nightmare at Beaver Lake is the Sammamish Rotary's main fundraiser and community service project. It is produced in affiliation with Scare Productions and the City of Sammamish. 

Patrons walk approximately ¾ of a mile along the trails of Beaver Lake Park and are entertained by 23 separate theatrical sets filled with actors in full makeup and costumes. 

Over 125 volunteers are required each night to scare 13,000 patrons during the 11 night run of the show. Approximately 70% of the actors are local high school students.  

This all volunteer charity haunt enables the Sammamish Rotary to support local and international charities, and award college scholarships to students from the three Sammamish High Schools.

About The Nightmare:
(Excerpt from the Nightmare's site)

In early 2004 the Rotary Club of Sammamish decided to create a unique haunted adventure. The goal was to create a project that would involve the city's teenagers both as constructors and customers. 

They gathered help from Scare Productions, Valour Designs, the Sammamish Youth Board, the Skyline High School Key Club, Eastlake High School DECA, the City of Sammamish, and people from our community.

Several things make our haunt unique. Visitors wind their way through both outdoor and indoor scenes. Each set provides a theatrical experience including live actors. From construction to acting to security, Nightmare at Beaver Lake is run by hundreds of volunteers.

That first year nearly 4000 people screamed their way through Beaver Lake Park in just four nights. In 2005 we saw more scenes and an even larger attendance. By 2006 we had extended the trail to nearly 3/4 of a mile and attendance had swelled to over 8,000. By 2011 we had nearly 12,000 visitors to our asylum over 10 nights who donated over 2,500 pounds of food!

Nightmare at Beaver Lake Opens Friday the 13th!

• 2017 Dates to Remember:
• Opening Night: Friday, October 13, 2017
• Running dates: Friday, October 13, 2017 – Halloween, October 31, 2017
• Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights plus Monday Oct. 30th and Halloween
• Ribbon Cutting - Mayor of Sammamish: 6pm; Thursday, October 12, 2017
• Press Night (dress rehearsal); 7pm: Thursday, October 12, 2017
• Hours: Family Scare: 7pm-7:45pm
• Full Scare: 8pm-11pm Fri/Sat and 8pm-10pm Sun/Mon
• Admission: Online sales at NightmareAtBeaverLake.com (Skip the ticket lines)
• Family Scare: $12 per person
• Full Scare: $20 per person
• Fast Pass (Fri-Sat Full Scare Only): $10 additional (skip the entrance line)
• Discounts: Bring a can of food for Lifewire and receive $1 off

For tickets, volunteer info, inquiries, and general info about the show, please visit NightmareAtBeaverLake.com

Sammamish Rotary: "We scare, because we care" 
Every year it's different! Every year its better!

The Video:

SOURCE: Rotary Club of Sammamish

Art Of Villalpando Will Bring Together Philanthropists In New York To Support Mexican Culture

Cristóbal de Villalpando (ca. 1649–1714). Moses and the Brazen Serpent and the Transfiguration of Jesus (detail), 1683

On the occasion of the exhibition Cristóbal de Villalpando: Mexican Painter of the Baroque at The Metropolitan Museum of New York, currently running through October 15, the Mexican Cultural Institute of New York (MCINY) will host a benefit evening with a private tour of the exhibition on October 3. The event will be chaired by Mexico's Ambassador to the United States, Gerónimo Gutiérrez Fernández and Diego Gómez Pickering, Consul General of Mexico in New York, and co-chaired by Claudia (Gonzalez) Romo Edelman.

The benefit reception, organized by MCINY, pays homage to the work of Estrellita B. Brodsky, a well-known curator and philanthropist, who has promoted Mexican art throughout the globe, especially in the United States. Part of the ticket sales will be donated to the relief efforts in Mexico.

"With this event, we seek to strengthen the promotion of Mexico, specifically of our culture, in one of the most important art institutions in the United States," said Gómez Pickering. "We also aim to channel collective efforts to aid the victims of the tragic earthquakes that shook Mexico," he added.

"The exhibition is the first major Mexican art project at The Met since 1990. For over 25 years the MCINY has worked to foster a better understanding of Mexico through the promotion of its vibrant culture. Now is a particularly important moment to support the Institute's mission and with it, our Mexican fellow citizens," commented Claudia Romo Edelman.

The MCINY, currently directed by Caterina Toscano, is a non-profit organization committed to promoting the richness, dynamism and cultural diversity of Mexico, a plural and creative nation. It is also the cultural division of the Consulate General of Mexico in New York.

The work of Cristóbal de Villalpando is recognized as emblematic of the art of viceregal Mexico. The collection exhibited at The Met was first presented this year at the Citibanamex Palacio de Cultura-Palacio de Iturbide in Mexico City, from March 9 to June 4. 

The exhibition includes the painting Moses and the Brazen Serpent and the Transfiguration of Jesus, a 28-foot-tall canvas finished in 1683, which has never been exhibited outside Mexico.

The exhibition is organized by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Fomento Cultural Banamex, A.C. It is made possible by Citibanamex and Fundación Diez Morodo.

Additional support is provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico (SRE), AMEXCID, and the Consulate General of Mexico in New York.

SOURCE: Mexican Cultural Institute of New York

Rapper Offset Launches $500K Fundraising Campaign for the American Cancer Society

Offset Launches $500K Fundraising Campaign for the American Cancer Society

Rapper Offset, of the chart-topping hip-hop trio Migos, is teaming up with the American Cancer Society and mobilizing his fellow artists, corporate sponsors and passionate fans to raise $500,000 for the organization.

Offset's dedication to the fight against cancer is personal. His inspiration for working with the American Cancer Society is his late grandmother, Sallie Ann Smith, a significant role model in his life who died of bladder cancer in 2012. After Mrs. Smith's cancer diagnosis, her family learned firsthand about the positive impact the American Cancer Society programs and services make on families.

"It was really tough losing my grandma to cancer and one of the hardest things I have dealt with in my life. She motivated me to do my best and go for it; one of my biggest coaches," said Offset.

Fellow Migos members Quavo and Takeoff, along with their record label Quality Control Music are rallying their networks to help Offset reach his fundraising goal because cancer has impacted all members of Migos. 

"We're proud to support Offset's efforts to help raise money for the American Cancer Society, so they can address cancer in underserved communities," say Quavo and Takeoff. "We encourage all our fans to donate if they can."

Despite recent progress against cancer, not all Americans have benefited equally. African- Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial/ethnic group in the United States for most cancers. The causes of these inequalities are complex and reflect social and economic disparities. Much of the disparity is due to unequal access to health care.

Offset is honoring his grandmother through this campaign by helping raise funds to promote cancer prevention and access to care in underserved communities. In addition, money raised through this effort will also help fund an ACS Research Grant focused on bladder cancer research.

"I am thankful to be partnering with the American Cancer Society to help save lives against this horrible disease. It's especially important for me to give some love to my community and do what I can to help," Offset says.

Offset's mother, Latabia Woodward, an American Cancer Society supporter and volunteer for over a decade, is proud of her son. "Losing a loved one to cancer is devastating, and we need to continue to help educate our communities about early detection and screening guidelines. I am incredibly proud of Offset's desire to help save the lives of others, genuine heart and talent as an artist."

Offset hosted a launch party yesterday at Main Event Entertainment in Atlanta, Georgia, where he spent the day with teens and young adults whose lives have been impacted by cancer. In addition, Offset's fans can also donate to a special Prizeo campaign – prizeo.com/offset – which will enter them for chance to win a shopping spree with Offset.

"We are honored that Offset chose to work with us. His inspiration and support for the American Cancer Society is one that makes him a unique artist – one who wants our world to be better." said Sharon Byers, chief development and marketing officer, American Cancer Society. "Offset's fundraising campaign is a significant opportunity to leverage the music industry and his contacts to support our mission which is why we are very appreciative to be able to partner with him." 

To join Offset's fundraising campaign, visit prizeo.com/offset. For more information about Offset's work with ACS, please go to cancer.org/offset.

About Offset
Offset was born and raised in North Atlanta where he began his music career and still calls home today. He is one-third of the platinum selling group, the Migos. In 2017, Migos, won two BET Awards and were nominated for multiple Billboard and MTV Video Music Awards for the success of their album Culture and chart topping single Bad and Boujee. 

The Video:

SOURCE: American Cancer Society

Book "The Forgotten Ones" by Ellipsis International Founder Natalie Herrington Helps Children Find Freedom From Trauma in Hurricanes' Wake

The Forgotten Ones, by Natalie Stephens Herrington with Brindy Epal

In light of the recent natural disasters and calamity caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, trauma is on the radar.  America is unifying around these issues despite differences in politics, race, religion, and region.  

The survivors of such trauma need immediate assistance to meet basic needs.  But more than that – once the waters recede, homes are rebuilt, and lives slowly return to normal – one thing will remain… memories, fear, and, ultimately, trauma.  

Each time it rains, each time a storm forms nearby, these fears and memories of what once happened will surface just as quickly as the waters rose.

More than the basic necessities of life, the will to survive in the years to come will be much more difficult.  Many lost everything, including precious family members who can never be replaced. Rebuilding must include more than what meets the eye.  

The Forgotten Ones, released by Natalie Stephens Herrington, sheds light on this very topic.  Though not unearthed through the aftermath of an actual storm, the experiences she faced in meeting some of the most traumatized children in the world gave her insight into what children need beyond the basics – to survive and thrive.

Dancing after a monsoon at Freedom Camp

The Forgotten Ones tells of an orphan in the Philippines who lost both of her parents by the age of 10. She found comfort in the commonality shared with the others in her orphanage.  It wasn't until she left that she recognized her deep pain from losing her family and her need to begin healing. Herrington's unexpected friendship with Brindy caused her to discover a way to bring freedom to traumatized kids.

The same trauma found in the Philippines can be found in children affected by the recent hurricanes. They may seem to move forward in their lives in the coming months, but the deep effects of trauma will remain until someone guides them to understand that what has happened to them doesn't define them.  

"There are so many kids out there with similar stories, traumatized and growing up without having dealt with it. The situations these stories convey cause kids to stay in the mindset in which they were left—unless someone steps in to help," said Herrington.

The Forgotten Ones points out the important fact that the sooner trauma is vocalized and understood, the sooner breakthrough and freedom comes.  

Herrington is the founder and president of Ellipsis International, a non-profit focused on helping kids break free from the trauma of their past in order to realize their full potential. 

Their program called Freedom Camp is a five-day intensive experience teaching kids about identity, burdens, freedom, community, and hope.  Ellipsis plans to bring Freedom Camp to the hurricane-affected areas in the near future.  

To learn more, visit www.ellipsisinternational.org.  To bring a Freedom Camp to your community, contact ellipsis.us.info@gmail.com.

The Forgotten Ones is on www.nataliestephensherrington.com or Amazon.

SOURCE: Ellipsis International

Rock Band Daughtry Boosts Habitat For Humanity's Response To Hurricanes Harvey And Irma

Rock band Daughtry is making a major contribution to Habitat Hammers Back, the initiative effort helping to repair and rebuild in the aftermath of hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The band is donating $50,000 and is encouraging their fans to contribute as well.

Click on the video below to hear their message...

"We've been struck by the images coming out of Texas and Florida after these two devastating storms," said Chris Daughtry, lead singer of the band. "The destruction is enormous, but so is the love and compassion we've seen with people helping each other out. Habitat for Humanity is already on the ground helping folks assess damage, dig out and repair their homes. We're making a donation to Habitat, and we'd like to ask you to join us by visiting habitat.org/hurricanes to make a contribution today."

Working through its local offices as well as by deploying trained Disaster Corps volunteers, Habitat conducts rapid assessments of storm damage and helps clean out homes damaged by winds and floodwaters. Habitat's long-term post-disaster recovery efforts include repair of damaged homes and construction of new affordable homes. Construction plans are determined after evaluations and are dependent on the level of support received from donors, volunteers, corporate partners and other community organizations.

Habitat has been responding to disasters since 1997 and to date has helped more than 230,000 families in 52 countries through its disaster response work. Following Hurricane Katrina, Habitat organizations along the Gulf Coast built more than 6,000 homes and removed debris and cleaned more than 2,500 homes in preparation for rehabilitation. Habitat also mounted responses to Superstorm Sandy, tornadoes through the South and Midwest, and earthquakes and typhoons overseas.

More information on Habitat for Humanity's response to Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma can be found at habitat.org/hurricanes.

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. 

The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 1,300 communities throughout the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. 

Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. 

To learn more, visit habitat.org.

SOURCE: Habitat for Humanity International