Community leaders, celebrities, corporate and political supporters and fashionistas gathered Sunday, May 21 at The Four Seasons Los Angeles Hotel in Beverly Hills for the 9th Annual Pink Pump High Tea and Fashion Show to raise money for the only free autism summer camp in Southern California. Hosted by Special Needs Network, Los Angeles’ leading nonprofit organization for children with autism and other special needs and gala chairs U.S. Senator Kamala Harris and Actress and Comedienne Kym Whitley, the event celebrated the diversity of women making a difference in Hollywood, the workplace and beyond.
Themed The Power of Women, this year’s Pink Pump’s 2017 honorees are: Actress Jamie Brewer of the award-winning FX drama series “American Horror Story”, Beauty entrepreneur Rea Ann Silva; creator and CEO of Beauty Blender, the Honorable Betty Yee; California State Controller and Dr. Roslyn Blake; Founder of MB Ellison, Inc., a leading healthcare insurance agency. Pat Harvey, CBS News Emmy-Award winning news anchor served as the event’s emcee.
Attendees at the event were treated to a one of a kind fashion show by Single Plus by Galina Sobolev. What started as an exclusive brand for Saks Fifth Avenue, Single Plus is a new collection that reinterprets the contemporary style of Single for curvy silhouettes. TV Personality and Model Rosie Mercado best known for her starring role in Curvy Girls on NuvoTV lead a cadre of curvy models who walked the runway and participated in an exclusive pre-event panel on the changing role of beauty.
“I love hosting this event every year because it gives Special Needs Network an opportunity to raise awareness of autism while celebrating amazing women who are supporting children with special needs. There is nothing more powerful than 275 women coming together for a fun afternoon to raise money to send over 300 kids on the autism spectrum and their siblings to a safe, nurturing and enriching summer camp.” Says CNN Legal Analyst, The Doctors co-host and Special Needs Network founder, Areva Martin, Esq.
Attendees included philanthropist Tina Knowles, actor Richard Lawson, Grammy award- winning singer Keyshia Cole, reality TV star Tami Roman, celebrity fitness trainer Corey Calliet.
This year’s Pink Pump gala was sponsored by Wells Fargo, Farmers, Walmart, Behavioral Autism Therapies Honorable Mark Ridley-Thomas of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and Los Angeles City Councilman Curren Price, Jr.
