September 15, 2018
Contact: Daniel Kessel, 646-216-3343, dkessel@childrensrights.org
Event Page: www.childrensrights.org/inspiration
Jordan Roth will emcee annual fundraiser to protect our nation’s most vulnerable children; Padma Lakshmi to present award
NEW YORK – Children’s Rights, a national nonprofit advocating for vulnerable children, will host its annual Benefit & Inspiration Awards gala at Chelsea Piers on Tuesday, October 16, 2018. Hosted by emcee Jordan Roth, president of Jujamcyn Theaters, the benefit’s theme—Protecting Kids, Providing Hope—is exemplified by this year’s honorees:
- Sixto Cancel, CEO and founder of Think of Us;
- Technology platform Box.org;
- and Lee Gelernt, Deputy Director of the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project.
Padma Lakshmi, host and executive producer of Bravo’s Emmy award-winning Top Chef, will present Gelernt’s award. Lakshmi has written extensively on women’s reproductive health and immigration issues.
All proceeds from the event directly support Children’s Rights’ efforts to use strategic advocacy and legal action to defend the rights, safety, and well-being of children in foster care and other state child welfare institutions.
“This year, my heart broke as I watched our government forcibly separate children from their parents,” Lakshmi said. “As a parent and as an American, I’m honored to support an organization like Children’s Rights, which has worked tirelessly to help protect our country’s most vulnerable children.”
“Children’s Rights has played a vital role in supporting our federal lawsuit on behalf of the thousands of immigrant children cruelly separated from their parents at the border,” said Gelernt. “They took the lead in filing an amicus brief that added real heft to our claim by spelling out in stark terms that the administration is terrorizing these little children and creating irreparable harm to them. Although the fight to protect them goes on, together we’ve won some significant battles.”
“Fueled by cruel Trump Administration policies, over the past year, our nation’s child welfare institutions are stretched thinner than ever—and children are suffering as a result,” added Sandy Santana, Executive Director of Children’s Rights. “The challenges faced by our most defenseless children are growing, and conditions in foster care and other government systems are worsening. We must do better by these kids, which is why we are excited to honor individuals leading the charge to protect kids and provide them with hope for the future.”
This year’s honorees have made serious strides toward making the world a safer place for every child. Sixto Cancel will be honored for his work at Think of Us, creating technology platforms to improve outcomes for children aging out of foster care. Box.org will be honored for developing innovative non-profit technology solutions that support children’s well-being. And Lee Gelernt will be honored for his work fighting on behalf of separated and migrant children in U.S. custody. Children’s Rights has been proud to support the ACLU’s work on this issue.
Alongside the honorees, featured speaker Candice Chachkin, member of the Children’s Rights Young Professional Leadership Council, will discuss her personal experience growing up in foster care.
Notable supporters of Children’s Rights’ previous benefits include Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys, Malcolm Gladwell, Rosie Perez, Natalie Morales, “Ne-Yo” Shaffer Smith, Marcus Samuelsson, and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels.
For additional information or to cover the event, please visit www.childrensrights.org/inspiration or contact Daniel Kessel at dkessel@childrensrights.org.
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About Children’s Rights: Every day, children are harmed by America’s broken child welfare, juvenile justice, education, and healthcare systems. Through relentless strategic advocacy and legal action, we hold governments accountable for keeping kids safe and healthy. Children’s Rights has made a lasting impact, protecting hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children and we are poised to help millions more. They are depending on us…and you. For more information, please visit www.childrensrights.org.