2017 Benefit Gala Highlights
By Children Rising | July 5, 2017
Children Rising’s annual Hope for Children Now Benefit Gala took place on June 3, 2017 at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland.
The talented Westlake Middle School Jazz Ensemble (far left photo) provided great music as 300-some guests arrived. During the program, we were honored to meet newly-selected OUSD Superintendent Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammell (second left photo) who had stirring words for our community and who further affirmed her commitment to Oakland’s children. (See the June newsletter to learn more about Dr. Johnson-Trammell.)
As a second-grader at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary (MLK), Carlissa Blincoe (center photo) was several grade levels behind on reading. So her teacher signed her up to receive tutoring at the Excel Reading Clinic. Now a fifth-grader, Carlissa demonstrated her reading ability for us on stage. She has also attended our Science Horizons STEAM lab at MLK every year.
Among other surprises, a resolution from California Senator Nancy Skinner’s office was presented in Randy’s honor.
After keeping us and the three applicants in suspense, Director of CareerBridge Margena Wade-Green revealed that all three high school students would each receive the $5,000 Eddie College Scholarship. Congratulations, Gracie Donovan, Quaylin Wesley, and J’Mya Gray-Martinez (far right photo). You deserve this!
We’re happy to report that, thanks to your generous donations, we met and exceeded our fundraising goal of $110,000. Thank you again!
Special thanks to our corporate sponsors: Branagh Construction, Kensington Veterinary Hospital, Union Bank, Dreams Los Cabos, PwC, and Kaiser Permanente. To our gala volunteers, your help was invaluable. The gala could not have been a success without you. Thank you!