Gold Meets Golden raised $50,00 for Angel City Games, a charity that creates sports programs for anyone with physical disabilities.
By: Heather Newgen | Twitter: @hnvoluntourist
It’s officially Award Season in Los Angeles and the city is buzzing with excitement. Celebrities begin celebrating shortly after the New Year at parties thrown in their honor at LA’s swankiest locations. Famous faces are everywhere mingling, picking up free swag and enjoying the incredible events—which are always a good time! But, some like Gold Meets Golden are taking the opportunity to raise awareness for charitable causes.
Gold Meets Golden is an annual brunch, which brings together Hollywood’s elite with top athletes to celebrate sports and entertainment. As the longest continuous corporate partner of the Olympic Games, “Gold Meets Golden 6” was refreshed by The Coca-Cola Company, and produced and founded by CW3PR’s Charley Cullen Walters and Cinema Magazine’s Scott Orlin.
The concept for the daytime brunch, which was held at House on Sunset, began when athletes at the London 2012 Olympic Games were surprised by shout-outs from their favorite celebrities. The outcome was “Gold Meets Golden” – a chance for Gold Medalists and other athletes to engage with some of the entertainment industry’s award nominees, and realize how much they inspire one another.
With the recent announcement of the Games’ triumphant return to Los Angeles in 2028, Hollywood has been handed a fresh dose of Olympic Fever. While last year’s Gold Meets Golden celebrated the past, the 2019 event looked at the future by celebrating Youth in Sports. The 6th Annual event benefited Angel City Sports, a leading Paralympic organization in California.
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 05: (L-R) Amy Purdy, Octavia Spencer and Tatyana McFadden attend The 6th Annual "Gold Meets Golden" Brunch, hosted by Nicole Kidman and Nadia Comaneci and presented by Coca-Cola at The House on Sunset on January 5, 2019 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Gold Meets Golden)
A $50,000 check was also presented by “The Points Guy,” Brian Kelly, who surprised the crowd by doubling the donation on stage.
The charity was founded in June 2013 when Clayton and his son Ezra Frech were on the track at the Endeavor Games in Oklahoma City and asked the question, “Why do we need to come to tornado alley to run, jump, and throw things? Why aren’t there more programs in Southern California?” Shortly after, Angel City Sports was founded with a mission of creating sports opportunities for anyone with a physical disability.
Gold Meets Golden 6 also spotlighted The Foundation for Global Sports Development, a leader in the sports community that delivers and supports initiatives that promotes fair play, education, and the physical and developmental benefits of sports for youth around the world. Their division Sidewinder Films promotes this mission to a broader audience through groundbreaking film and documentaries.
The star-studded bash included Nicole Kidman and Nadia Comaneci who hosted the party. Jessica Chastain, Chrissy Metz, Matt Bomer, Topher Grace, Ocatavia Spencer, Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson, Ryan Murphy, Billy Porter, Michelle Yeoh, Mark Ronson and Joe Alwyn were also on hand. Athletes, Olympians and Paralympians included, Michelle Kwan, Adam Rippon, Candace Cable, Carl Lewis, Connor Fields, Edwin Moses, Akuoma Omeoga, Ngozi Onwumere, Amy Purdy, Cassie Sharpe, Danell Leyva, David Boudia, John Naber, Jordan Burroughs, Jordyn Wieber, Katie Uhlaender, Mac Bohonnon, Madison Kocian, Alex & Maia Shibutani, Meryl Davis, Mirai Nagasu, Nasita Liukin, Rashad Jennings and Tatyana McFadden. Billy Porter Performs Soulful Rendition of ‘Shallow’ which wins the Globe for Original Song the next day.
Carrying a traditional torch for the event ignited by past performance of LA LA Land’s “City of Stars,” and Keala Settle’s “This is Me” from the Greatest Showman, which each won Golden Globe Awards for Best Original Song, this year’s Gold Meets Golden stage was occupied by Globe-nominated Billy Porter (FX’s POSE, Broadway’s Kinky Boots, who performed the Globe-nominated hit song “Shallow” from “A Star is Born.” The song won the Globe the next day, making this a “3 for 3” record for the event. The performance was introduced by Lady Gaga’s co-writer Mark Ronson, and featured a specialty new Gold-plated grand piano.
And of course there was an amazing gift bag, which was given to 200 guests upon exit. This year’s bag included Limited Edition Tokyo 2020 Pin Set, the Spencer Barnes LA “Gold Medal” Neck Wand already used by many party celebrity attendees, Golden HUE Awakening Mist, empower Bodycare products CBD topical relief oil and lotion, a Coca-Cola official Olympic bottle opener, , Appletinies organic apple pieces with chocolate, a Bulletproof golden-wrapped gift of Brain Octane Oil, Collagen Protein Bar and Sleep Mode Supplement, Sprinkles Cupcakes Specialty “Gold Meets Sprinkles” mini cupcake set, a J Vineyards & Winery cuvee 20 sparkling wine bottle, “The Points Guy” Golden Passport Holder and Luggage Tags, beats by Dre Studio3 wireless GOLD headphones, RITUALS’ Golden Dao Tea Set, a bottle of Oribe Cote d’Azur Golden Nourishing Hand Creme, and MyIntent’s “What’s Your Word” customizable gold medal bracelet and necklace.
For more information on Gold Meets Golden, visit their website here. And for Angel City Games, click here.