An Evening Over Violence: Celebrating 5 Decades of Social Service, Social Change and Social Justice
On October 19, 2022 POV held our 50th anniversary gala - celebrating five decades of social service, social justice, and social change. Over 350 people attended this sold out event; thank you to all who attended and supported the night, making it both special and successful!
Taglyan Hollywood provided the perfect backdrop for our event, gathering where POV’s roots started in 1971. Cocktails were flowing while people arrived and walked the red carpet, took photos at our step and repeat, participated in an opportunity drawing, and enjoyed our reception.
The program began with a spectacular immersive projection mapping experience, highlighting our 24/7 hotline, taking us through the last five decades, and the current work of POV. Maya Jupiter graciously hosted the night, kicking off the show; US. Congresswoman Judy Chu shared remarks and her support of POV and Maya gave special recognition to POV’s volunteers and their importance and impact on the organization.
The first award of the night was the Public Service Award presented to Barbara Ferrer, the Director of the LA County Department of Public Health by Andrea Welsing, Director of the Office of Violence Prevention at LA County Department of Public Health. The second award was the Corporate Award which went to Capital Group, and was accepted by Mayanka Melville, Director at Capital Group and POV Board Member along with Stan Gorbunov, Senior Compliance Specialist at Capital Group and also POV Advisory Board member. It was presented by Mike Bayless, Director of Development and Communications at St. Barnabas Senior Services & President of the POV Board of Directors. The POV Board also included a special appreciation for POV Executive Director/CEO Patti Giggans.
One of the highlights of having our event at Taglyan was the amazing food they provided for us. Delicious iddle eastern fare served family style to share was a special treat for all of our guests!
After dinner it was time for our next award, the Visionary award was presented to Dr. Robert K. Ross, President & CEO at The California Endowment by Sheila Keuhl, member of the LA County Board of Supervisors. Dr. Ross brought the house down with his acceptance remarks! Next a high school student and POV Youth Institute Graduate, Klover Cabral, shared a poem she wrote during the Institute titled Challenge Accepted - my life. Mayor Garcetti sent a video to play in his absence and encouraged attendees to dig deep to support POV, followed by our friend Chris Mendoza, Executive Director at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, helping to raise funds to support POV launching into the next decade.
Patti Giggans took the stage for her remarks, reflecting on where we’ve been and where we are going – and where do we go from here? And then presented the Leadership award to Sandra Henriquez, CEO of VALOR. Our host Maya Jupiter closed out the night with a performance of her song, Rico, bringing everyone to their feet!
What a night! It was so wonderful to be back in person again and to gather in community, and to recognize the work that we have done over the last 50 years, and look forward to the future.