Chrysler Financial – News
October 16, 2007
Contact: Katy Sweet/Pam Giangregorio, Katy Sweet & Associates
(323) 852-0772 KatySweet1@aol.com
Anja Kloch, BBBSLAIE
(323) 253-5006 Akloch@bbbslaie.org
Amber Gowen, Chrysler Financial
248-427-3126
arp11@chryslerfinancial.com
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles and The Inland Empire Announce Honorees for Annual Rising Stars 2007 Gala
- United Online Chairman, President and CEO Mark Goldston; DreamWorks Animation SKG COO Ann Daly; Los Angeles Sparks Owners Carla Christofferson and Katherine Goodman; and Triple Crown Super Middleweight Champion, Television Personality and Author Laila Ali among Honorees
- Jason Alexander set to Emcee; Gary Sinise and The Lt. Dan Band to Perform
- Opportunity Drawing for a 2007 Chrysler Crossfire Donated by Chrysler Financial
Los Angeles -- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles and the Inland Empire (BBBSLAIE) will honor top talent from the entertainment industry at its Rising Stars Gala, October 26, 2007 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel. The awards recognize outstanding members of the Los Angeles community who are inspiring and positive role models for young people. Mark Goldston, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Online, Inc. will receive the "Walt Disney Man of the Year Award." DreamWorks Animation SKG Chief Operation Officer Ann Daly will receive the "Sherry Lansing Award." Los Angeles Sparks Owners Carla J. Christofferson and Katherine E. Goodman will receive the "Sterling Award" and Triple Crown Super Middleweight Champion, television personality and author Laila Ali will receive the "Young Heroes Award."
The evening will be hosted by Jason Alexander and will feature entertainment by Gary Sinise and The Lt. Dan Band. Honorary gala dinner co-chairs are Sherry Lansing and Melanie Cook, along with Event Chair Pam Dawber. A highlight of the evening will be an opportunity drawing for a 2007 Chrysler Crossfire Limited Roadster donated by Chrysler Financial.
Mark Goldston, Chairman, President and CEO of United Online, Inc. will receive the "Walt Disney Man of the Year Award." United Online has well in excess of 60 million registered members and remains one of the most profitable companies in the Internet. Under the direction of Goldston, United Online has expanded its focus beyond its core Internet Access business. Goldston has received numerous awards for his support of many philanthropic causes including the Vince Lombardi Hall of Fame Award for Humanitarian Efforts by the Boy Scouts of America.
Ann Daly has served as DreamWorks Animation's Chief Operation Officer since the company went public in October, 2004. During the previous seven years, Ann headed the animation division of DreamWorks SKG, guiding its strategic, operational, administrative and production concerns as well as overseeing the worldwide video operations of DreamWorks Studios. During her tenure at DreamWorks, the studio has released such hits as Shrek, SharkTale, Shrek 2, Madagascar and Shrek The Third. Daly will receive the "Sherry Lansing Award" for her passion for mentoring young people.
The "Sterling Award" will be presented to two members of the Los Angeles sports community who serve as positive role models for young people, Los Angeles Sparks owners Carla Christofferson and Katherine Goodman. Christofferson is a litigation partner in the Los Angeles office of O'Melveny & Myers LLP and previously served as their Talent Development Partner overseeing the development of training, mentoring, evaluation and recruiting programs. Goodman currently teaches high school English and Social Studies at HighTechHigh-LA, an LAUSD-sponsored charter school in the San Fernando Valley. In 2006, Kathy, together with Carla Christofferson, formed Gemini Basketball LLC in order to acquire the WNBA franchise Los Angeles Sparks.
Triple Crown Super Middleweight Champion, television personality and author Laila Ali will receive the "Young Heroes Award." The youngest daughter of Veronica Porsche Anderson and the legendary Muhammad Ali, she was a 2007 finalist on ABC's hit show, Dancing With The Stars. Ali has authored a motivational book titled Reach! in an effort to help young women who may need to be inspired in life.
Previous Big Brothers Big Sisters honorees have included: Richard Cook, Jodie Foster, Robin Williams, Pam Dawber, Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Garry Marshall, Melanie Cook, Dawn Ostroff, Zach Braff, John Lasseter, Hilary Duff, Andy Garcia, Serena Williams, Amy Pascal, Wayne Gretzky, Renee Zellweger, Neil Simon, Mandy Moore, *NSYNC, Chevy Chase, Dakota Fanning, Andrea Bowen, Tyler James Williams and Nick Cannon.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles and the Inland Empire is dedicated to empowering children who face economic, emotional and social challenges through a variety of programs, which provide a professionally-supported, one-to-one mentoring relationship with a positive role model.
For more than 50 years, the agency has assisted boys and girls in achieving their highest potential as they grow to become confident, competent and caring individuals through professionally supported one-to-one relationships with caring men and women. Their work is as elementary as putting an adult friend in a child's life, and as essential as putting hope into a child's future. Big Brothers Big Sisters have proven successful in creating and nurturing relationships between adults and children. Mentoring works—one young person at a time. For more information, please visit www.bbbslaie.org.
Ticket and table packages begin at $500. For event tickets and table package information, please call (323) 904-4400.