More than 225 guests raised over $220,000 at the Voices for Five Acres gala held on Saturday, June 6, 2015 in the main ballroom, at Westin in Pasadena. The colorful fete honored various “voices” of Five Acres including clients, staff, donors and celebrity supporters. Guests were treated to a classy and colorful evening with sexy signature cocktails and hip music by DJ Amara; including tribute songs from attendees!
The celebration included an unveiling of a new agency video produced by Makena Productions, entitled, “Fostering Heroes” with hopeful stories from Five Acres foster and adoptive families.
Gala chair Sue McGuirl say’s, ” This event was possible thanks to many people including our fantastic Gala Sponsorship Committee, the generous sponsors and donors – and of course our esteemed emcees, Wendy Burch and Matt Lillard. The generosity of all our friends of Five Acres was overwhelming! Everyone had a wonderful time, all while supporting the critical mission of promoting safety, well-being and permanency for children and families in need.”
Partners and emcees for the evening were actor and director Matthew Lillard and Emmy award-winning reporter and anchor for KTLA, Wendy Burch. During the evening, they took the stage together and Wendy shared her personal experience with adoption and Matt spoke of his enthusiasm continuing the legacy that his in-laws created with Five Acres, over twenty five years ago.
The annual gala featured silent, super silent and live auctions, as well as a wine wall, with notable items as an evening at the Langham Huntington Hotel in the Huntington Suite, a wine-lovers’ trip in a luxury sailboat around San Francisco and Sonoma Wine Country, a private design party sponsored by Converse sneakers and Stephen J. Cannell’s famous typewriter and a set of books, garnering multiple bids.
VIP guests included actor Sam Jaeger (Parenthood) and his wife Amber, Writer, producer and director Matt Nix, actress Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle,) Chantal and Steve Bennett and David DiCristofaro and Jonathan Weedman of Wells Fargo Bank, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez and his wife Deborah and Chief of Staff Kathryn Barger with LA County Board of Supervisors, Michael Antonovich
About Five Acres
Five Acres is a child and family services agency strengthening families and preventing child abuse through treatment and education in community based and residential programs. Established as an orphanage in 1888, today Five Acres offers an array of services including community-based services, residential treatment, foster care and adoption, supporting the nearly 8,400 children and families across five counties. www.5acres.org
