Baby2Baby honored Amy Adams with the “Giving Tree Award,” which the organization awards annually to a mother who uses her position in the public eye to advocate on behalf of children living in poverty. Past honorees include Jessica Alba, Jennifer Garner, Kerry Washington, Drew Barrymore, Kate Hudson, and Gwyneth Paltrow.
CULVER CITY, CA - NOVEMBER 10: Jessica Alba attends the 2018 Baby2Baby Gala Presented by Paul Mitchell at 3LABS on November 10, 2018 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)
In a moving acceptance speech, Adams opened by acknowledging the devastating fires currently burning across California, “I’d like to take a moment to send my thoughts to those affected by the fire. It’s such a reminder of the importance of an organization like Baby2Baby, who has already provided essentials to evacuation shelters for children in need.” Adams continued, “You never know when an act of generosity will create a moment of great change. I myself have been a recipient of so much generosity. It was through the generosity of strangers that I learned the importance of giving.”
CULVER CITY, CA - NOVEMBER 10: Honoree Amy Adams speaks onstage at the 2018 Baby2Baby Gala Presented by Paul Mitchell at 3LABS on November 10, 2018 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)
The evening kicked off with a video segment featuring Tiffany Haddish. Baby2Baby Board Members and Gala Chairs Jessica Alba and Kelly Rowland thanked the evening’s sponsors and introduced Baby2Baby Co-presidents Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein. Zoe Saldana gave an inspiring speech and introduced Busy Philipps and Julie Bowen who helped raise more than 4.3 million dollars from the stage during the giving presentation. The organization honored Amy Adams for her support of Baby2Baby and ongoing dedication to children in need. Sam Taylor-Johnson and Aaron Taylor-Johnson presented Adams with the “Giving Tree Award”.
CULVER CITY, CA - NOVEMBER 10: Zoe Saldana attends the 2018 Baby2Baby Gala Presented by Paul Mitchell at 3LABS on November 10, 2018 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)
Additional guests included Katy Perry, Kobe Bryant, Zooey Deschanel, Jennifer Garner, Jenna Dewan, Zoe Saldana, Kelly Rowland, Olivia Wilde, Ali Wong, Rachel Zoe, Sterling K. Brown, Leslie Mann, Judd Apatow, Olivia Munn, Jordana Brewster, Ryan Tedder, Sam Worthington, Rachel Bilson, Kat Dennings, Ayesha Curry, Johnny Knoxville, Lauren Conrad, Nate Berkus, Jeremiah Brent, Shiri Appleby and many more.
CULVER CITY, CA - NOVEMBER 10: (L-R) Baby2Baby Founder Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Mase, and Katy Perry at the 2018 Baby2Baby Gala Presented by Paul Mitchell at 3LABS on November 10, 2018 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)
Over the past seven years, Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein have led the organization through a complete transformation from a grassroots organization into a nationally recognized non-profit serving hundreds of thousands of children living in poverty every year across the country. During the evening, Sawyer Patricof and Weinstein reflected on the past year and the impact the non-profit has had on the low-income children the organization serves.
“We provide basic essentials to these children because all children deserve these things. When their basic needs are met, families can keep their lights on, pay their rent, get back to work, and get back on their feet. It’s a lifeline that gives them hope,” said Sawyer Patricof and Weinstein in an empowering speech. “We don’t judge what happened — because when we get to these innocent children, they are wearing dirty diapers and sleeping on the floor and to us, it doesn’t matter why — just how we can change it.”
CULVER CITY, CA – NOVEMBER 10: (L-R) Vinny Dotolo, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Jon Shook, and Norah Weinstein attend the 2018 Baby2Baby Gala Presented by Paul Mitchell at 3LABS on November 10, 2018 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)
Through the organization’s Disaster Relief & Emergency Response program, Baby2Baby has been able to quickly respond the series of devastating events that have hit the country in the past year, including the hurricanes in the Carolinas and Florida, and children separated from their families. Baby2Baby is currently collecting and distributing high-need items for the children displaced by the fires burning across Northern & Southern California. To date, the organization has distributed over 6.4 million basic essentials to children affected by natural disasters and emergency situations.
CULVER CITY, CA – NOVEMBER 10: (L-R) Jenna Dewan, Jessica Alba, and Olivia Munn attend the 2018 Baby2Baby Gala Presented by Paul Mitchell at 3LABS on November 10, 2018 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)
Designed by Los Angeles’ top event producer, Yifat Oren of Oren Co, the evening featured a backdrop created by Los Angeles painter Jennifer Guidi. The culinary-rich event curated by Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo of Animal, Son of a Gun and Jon & Vinny’s, brought together Los Angeles’ best chefs and culinary talent including: Burritos La Palma, Craig’s, Felix, Jon & Vinny’s, Kazunori, Lucques, Majordomo, McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, Milk Bar, Nomad, Petty Cash Taqueria, Rossoblu, Shake Shack, Son of a Gun, Trudy’s Underground BBQ, Wexler’s Deli and more.
CULVER CITY, CA - NOVEMBER 10: Kelly Rowland attends the 2018 Baby2Baby Gala Presented by Paul Mitchell at 3LABS on November 10, 2018 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)
Baby2Baby supporter Wiz Khalifa welcomed Grammy nominated artist MA$E who brought down the house with an incredible performance before the A-list stars made their way to the “Jon & Vinny’s Afterparty”, DJ’d by Wiz Khalifa followed by Samantha Ronson. The event and afterparty featured custom cocktails from Marc Rose and Med Abrous’ critically acclaimed hotspot, The Spare Room.
Before the dinner, guests mingled during the cocktail reception where an incredible silent auction took place featuring a CHANEL Paris Fashion Week experience, a Golden State Warriors and Kevin Durant meet-and-greet, a Los Angeles Dodgers first pitch experience, a Presidential stay at Montage Los Cabos and many more one-of-a-kind experiences.
For more information on the organization please visit http://baby2baby.org/