Announcing Eat · Drink · Be Inspired

UCLA TO BE HONORED WITH THE EDUCATIONAL VISIONARY AWARD AT FULFILLMENT FUND’S Eat · Drink · Be Inspired

AISHA TYLER, KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR, BILL WALTON, and CHANCELLOR GENE BLOCK TO PARTICIPATE IN ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT

Los Angeles (April 2) – Eat · Drink · Be Inspired,  the Fulfillment Fund’s annual fundraising event, will be held at Calley Park at the iconic Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The inspiring event will be hosted by actor and director, Aisha Tyler, with special presenters including NCAA UCLA Champions Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton, Sinbad as the evening’s auctioneer, with Chancellor Gene Block accepting the Educational Visionary Award on behalf of UCLA.

UCLA is being honored for their outstanding commitment to student opportunity, student diversity, and empowering students to succeed. The New York Times named UCLA as the number one top-tier university for enrolling low- and middle-income students, and as the number one top-tier university for economic mobility after graduation. Additionally, nearly one-third of undergraduates who earn a UCLA degree are first-generation college graduates.

Beyond their outstanding record, UCLA has been a part of the Fulfillment Fund’s history from the very beginning, when organization founder Dr. Gary Gitnick transformed his annual UCLA staff holiday party into a mentoring opportunity for children with disabilities. From there, Dr. Gitnick’s vision grew to encompass children of all abilities and honed their focus to address the alarming disparity in college access for low-income and first-generation students, with UCLA continuing to share in this vision by supporting Fulfillment Fund efforts throughout the years.

Special presenter Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shared his enthusiasm for UCLA’s recognition, saying, “I am proud to co-present UCLA with the Educational Visionary Award at Fulfillment Fund’s Eat · Drink · Be Inspired event. With visionary leaders like Chancellor Gene Block, who is accepting the award, UCLA continues to be a forward-thinking innovator that strives for diversity, inclusion, and student success. Going to school there was one of the greatest highlights of my history – even beyond playing basketball, the university helped shape me into the person I am today.”

At Eat · Drink · Be Inspired, hundreds of guests will come together to enjoy a fun-filled, family-friendly experience that begins with a reception of delectable bites and sips from local chefs and vintners. A sumptuous dinner catered by renowned chef Wolfgang Puck will follow, along with an inspiring program in support of the Fulfillment Fund’s life-changing mission to make college a reality for students growing up in educationally and economically under-resourced communities. Each year, the organization helps thousands of lower-income and first-generation students build pathways to college, navigate educational barriers, create invaluable support networks, and feel empowered.

This will be the first event for Allysunn Walker-Williams as Fulfillment Fund’s new Chief Executive Officer.

“I am thrilled to be joining Fulfillment Fund as their CEO at such a pivotal time for education in Los Angeles. We’ve seen the news and heard about the inequalities young people are facing when it comes to getting into college, which makes our work all the more important. The funds raised during Eat · Drink · Be Inspired will make a tremendous difference in the lives of thousands of local first-generation and lower-income students who are bright, promising, driven leaders who gain invaluable college access and college success support from our mentors, counselors and advisors.”

Eat · Drink · Be Inspired will raise more than $500,000 in funds to support the organization’s services. Attendees of past Fulfillment Fund events include Bradley Cooper, Rita Wilson, Channing Tatum, Pharrell and Ryan Seacrest. Past Fulfillment Fund honorees include Mark Gordon, Sidney Poitier, Chris Meledandri, Rich Ross, Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, and many more.

For more information, please visit www.FULFILLMENT.org or contact Carole Crone at 323-900-8789 or ccrone@fulfillment.org.

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ABOUT FULFILLMENT FUND

Established in 1977, Fulfillment Fund works to make college a reality for students growing up in educationally and economically under-resourced communities. Our vision is that all students, regardless of their circumstances, will one day have the opportunity to attend college, graduate, and actively participate in transforming their communities and creating a better society. Last year, 100% of Fulfillment Fund seniors graduated from high school, and 95% will enroll in college. Of Fulfillment Fund scholars, 77% graduate from college in six years or less, which is seven times the national graduation rate for students from low-income households.

 

Event Media Contact:

PR DEPT, 323-556-3100

Michelle Rodriguez, michelle@pr-dept.com

Chet Mehta, chet@pr-dept.com

 

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