For The Love of Hollywood Gala 2016
By Gala Co-Chairs Dave Gajda and Jose Malagon and Laurie Goldman, Executive Director
Did you know that civilizations around the world have been celebrating the start of each new year for at least four millennia? Tradition dictates that the New Year is a time of rebirth, a time to start fresh. By celebrating the new year we acknowledge the ending of one year and the beginning of the next. It is for this reason that our annual For the Love of Hollywood Gala celebration is held a few days after the start of the new year, a magical and luminous time period where anything is possible.
While it may be superstitious on our part, each year our January Gala has grown in numbers and in revenue. We know with your continued support our lucky 7th Gala on January 7, 2016 will be no exception. For the Love of Hollywood returns to the Taglyan Cultural Center, home to four previous Gala events. While last year’s Gala at the Palladium hosted more than 800 guests and received rave reviews, it was the decision of the Gala ’16 Host Committee to return to the more intimate setting of the Taglyan Cultural Center to celebrate our accomplishments and continuous forward progress.
Do we owe our continued success to a supernatural dimension that brings us good fortune in the New Year? Well, maybe. Mostly, we attribute our success to the passion and enthusiasm the Hollywood Central Park inspires and to the unyielding belief that the Park will be built in the not too distant future. Our success is unmistakable in the hearts and minds of our countless volunteers from the Board of Directors to Hollywood stakeholders to businesses large and small and to the relentless Gala Committee, each of whom have stepped up to support the Park and are tireless in their efforts to bring much needed green open space to Hollywood. Here is what our friends say about Gala:
"The Hollywood Central Park Gala is by far one of the most important and fun events of the year!"
– Manny Rodriguez, Founder and Executive Director, La Fuente Hollywood Treatment Center
"The Hollywood Central Park Gala is easily my favorite event of the year. I
can't wait."
– Bernadette Jones, Community Activist
“There is nothing I look forward to more after the holidays are over and the new year has begun than the For Love of Hollywood Gala.”
– Dixon Slingerland, Executive Director, Youth Policy Institute
"The Park Gala is the best event in Hollywood and starts the New Year with hope and joy."
– Gabriella Curon, Apartment Manager
"For the Love of Hollywood is a great event! It brings together everyone who supports this park - from celebrities to community activists - for a fun and very entertaining evening."
– Andrea Ceragioli, Paramount Pictures
We extend our gratitude to our distinguished honorees, the 2016 Real Stars of Hollywood, Mike Sullivan, Owner, LAcarGUY, Children’s Hospital LA and Paul Hirsh, Principal, STEM Academy @ Bernstein, who have helped to shape our progress and transform a dream into a reality.
In 2009, we chose to name our annual event For the Love of Hollywood because the Board was committed to creating the Hollywood Central Park for the love of Hollywood! And we named our new nonprofit organization Friends of the Hollywood Central Park because we knew that creating the Hollywood Central Park would be dependent on the initiative and dedication of all stakeholders … our friends.
Thank you for being our FRIEND – hope to see you at Gala, in the New Year, on January 7, 2016!
