It was a festive night at the International Ballroom of The Beverly Hilton as hundreds of friends and supporters gathered to celebrate the humanitarian spirit at The Help Group’s 16th Annual Teddy Bear Ball on Monday, April 22nd. On this special evening, The Help Group presented honors to Stephen Davis, president of Hasbro Studios, Harry Winston, Inc. and Dr. Susan Berman, The Help Group COO.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa served as Honorary Gala Chair, and Gala Chairs were Peggy Davis, Margaret Loesch, Jamie & Chris McGurk, Sonia & David Salzman, Lissa & Ken Solomon and Randy Soto. Major sponsors included Hasbro & Hasbro Studios, Harry Winston, Inc., Cheryl & Haim Saban and The Saban Charitable Support Fund, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®, Keyes Automotive Group, and The Hub TV Network.
Margaret Loesch, founding President & CEO of The Hub TV Network, member of The Help Group’s Circle of Friends Philanthropic Board, and 1998 Help Humanitarian Award honoree, introduced Help Humanitarian Award honoree Stephen Davis. “In both his personal and professional life, Stephen is focused on giving children richer, happier lives.”
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Davis shared, “There is nothing more important in a child’s world than to know they are loved and supported, encouraged to believe that there is truly nothing they cannot accomplish, no obstacle they cannot scale, and above all for every child that there is hope, always hope, for the brightest of futures. That is what The Help Group is all about. And that’s why I have such a soft spot in my heart for this organization.”
Anne Sweeney, Co-Chair of Disney Media Networks and President of Disney-ABC, member of The Help Group’s Circle of Friends Philanthropic Board, and a previous Help Group Humanitarian Award honoree, introduced Corporate Philanthropy Award honoree Harry Winston, Inc.
The Help Group is honored to have been selected as a beneficiary of the Harry Winston Hope Collection™ Bracelet, part of a new philanthropic initiative developed to support seven leading charitable organizations in Harry Winston Salon communities in the United States. Harry Winston is generously donating 100% of the retail sales price of the limited edition Harry Winston Hope Collection™ bracelet sold in the Beverly Hills Salon and at the Teddy Bear Ball to The Help Group. The support received from Harry Winston will be used to establish the Harry Winston Media Studio at The Help Group’s Sherman Oaks Campus.
To cap off the evening, all of the honorees and presenters joined Debby Boone, Louis Price, and the Children’s Choir onstage for a reprise of “Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now” – an inspiring ending to a memorable evening!