Step into a Night Under the Stars at United Friends’ 2024 Celestial Gala.
Held at the Skirball Cultural Center, this year’s gala celebrates the incredible potential of every child to shine brightly.
The Skirball Cultural Center – Ahmanson Hall
6pm Reception
7pm Dinner, Awards Presentation & Entertainment
‹/a>
What’s in store:
Celestial Attire: Embrace the theme by dressing in starry, celestial-inspired outfits that reflect your inner light and aspiration.
Elegant Affair: Enjoy a cocktail hour followed by a delightful sit-down dinner as we highlight the contributions of our inspiring honorees and celebrate the success of our foster youth.
Honoring Youth: Witness awards presented to those making a difference in the lives of LA’s foster youth.
Your presence directly supports programs that build community, trust, and a path to success for LA foster youth. Celebrate the promise of every child while making a meaningful impact during this special evening.
Become a Sponsor
Honoring the Brass Ring Award Recipient: Greg Comanor
We are proud to honor Greg Comanor for his dedication to affordable housing and public policy, which has made a significant impact on the Los Angeles community. A native Angeleno, Greg earned his undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis and his MBA from UCLA Anderson. He has channeled his expertise from investment banking, consulting, and affordable housing development to found Daylight Community Development, where his leadership continues to drive meaningful change. In addition to his professional achievements, Greg is an avid Philadelphia sports fan and fully “Trusts the Process,” embodying the same passion and dedication in both his work and personal life.
Honoring the Nancy Daly Award Recipient: Francois Reihani
We are proud to honor Francois Reihani for his impactful initiatives and mentorship for foster youth. He founded La La Land Kind Cafe in 2019 and the La La Land Foundation to hire and mentor youth aging out of the foster care system. Since its inception, La La Land Kind Cafe has expanded to 16 locations throughout Texas and California and continues to grow with incredible backing and support. Francois’ mission to promote kindness has inspired programming and initiatives that directly impact the foster youth community.
Our Host: Sheroum Kim
Sheroum Kim is an accomplished film producer and studio executive, known for her leadership in overseeing major projects like American Sniper, Hustlers, and The Edge of Seventeen. In 2016, she was recognized by The Hollywood Reporter as one of its Next Gen execs, spotlighting rising stars in the entertainment industry under 35.
In 2019, Sheroum joined Netflix and has since curated a slate of highly successful films, particularly in the young adult, holiday, and faith-based genres. Her projects include the popular To All the Boys franchise, Love Hard, Holidate, Work It, and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.
Beyond her career in entertainment, Sheroum is deeply passionate about supporting foster youth. As a foster-to-adopt parent herself, she actively collaborates with philanthropic organizations to mentor and uplift children and families in the foster care system. Her dedication to making a difference in their lives is a testament to her commitment to creating positive change both on and off the screen.
Thank You To Our Sponsors
– Patron –
Marianna and David Fisher
L.A. Care Health Plan
Angelica Nwandu
– Ally –
Caruso Family Foundation
Jaye and John Rogovin
– Sponsor –
Seeley and Preston Brooks / Cox Castle
Alex Caruso
Johnny Carson Foundation
Kadish/Davey Group of Wells Fargo Advisors
Laura and Jarred Kennedy
La La Land Kind Cafe
Dr. Denny Luria and Jeff Berg
Dr. Richard Merkin
Oracle
Audrey Prins
Lelia Scheu & Amirali Shakoorian
Kathy Vanderziel
– Advocate –
Ashley Brim
Julie Glucksman and Toby Emmerich
HRC Fertility
Shari and Rob Friedman
Wendy Greuel and Dean Schramm
Molina Healthcare
Jennifer Hourani
Tracy Paul
Fredrick D Rosen & Nadine Schiff – Rosen
NextGen Board Co-Chairs, Cathleen Cull and Kimberly Rosenblum
– Friend –
Judith Billings
Crane Charitable Funds
Impact Hill
Laura Jane and Darren Kessner
Brooke and Dave Marrujo
Netflix
Ronald Sampson
Wendy Stark Morrissey
Susie and Jon Sheinberg
Tray Thompson
– Donor –
Mia and David Alpert
Aida Berduo Berry
Julie Corman
Andrea Hartman
Murphy and Edward Romano
David Subar
WSP USA Inc.
– Principle Foundation Partners –
