Written in Partnership with Amir Bakian
Image Credit: Pretend Photography
Imagine LA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending family poverty, hosted a ballroom dance competition fundraiser featuring celebrities and prominent community members. Dancing with the Imagine LA Stars was held on November 15, 2023, at 7 pm at Say Yes on Wilcox Avenue in Hollywood.
Image Credit: Pretend Photography
Produced by renowned choreographers Allen Walls and Jennifer Berry along with Imagine LA’s Emerging Leaders Advisory Board, the event brought together ten celebrities to compete in showstopping ballroom dance routines including salsa, tango, chacha, hustle, and more. The star performers were a group of actors, pro sports players, singers, and other prominent LA figures. Ciara Riley Wilson and Tricia Fukuharaare actresses who can be seen on Netflix and ABC. Drew Davis is a former pro football player for the Atlanta Falcons and Michael Blanks is a fitness coach for professional athletes. Other performers included country singer Laura Bryna, fashion icon Marsha Molinari, and film director Andrei Mafiotto Sporea. Imagine LA Board Vice Chair George Phillips also participated as a contestant for the mirror ball trophy along with Dianne Quirante, founder of EMC Brands and Max Decker, celebrity acting coach.
Image Credit: Pretend Photography
There was an extensive list of VIPs in attendance and judging the competition, such as, former Dancing With the Stars pro Elena Grinenko, former Miss California USA Tiffany Johnson, and World renowed choreographer and dancer, Jordi Caballero. A number of Imagine LA’s top leadership attended as well, including CEO TuLynn Smylie and CEO Emeritus Jill Bauman, who was the honoree of the night.
Image Credit: Pretend Photography
The Top Fundraiser award went to George Phillips, and the Audience and Judges’ choice award went to Ciara Riley Wilson!
Image Credit: Pretend Photography
Imagine LA was founded in 2006 by Dr. Reverend Mark Brewer, Senior Pastor at Bel Air Church. Dr. Brewer’s mission was to unite the faith-based communities across Los Angeles under the common goal of eliminating poverty and homelessness. “There are over 6,000 faith communities in LA,” he said, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could Imagine LA where each faith community was matched with a family, and that helped the whole family both exit homelessness and thrive long-term?” Since its inception, Imagine LA has reached several milestones, including helping over 1,000 families recover from homelessness. Their groundbreaking research in partnership with the USC Center for Social Innovation helped create their unique Economic Mobility Program which breaks down barriers preventing vulnerable families from finding living-wage careers, accessing viable childcare, and more. The EMP Expansion Pilot is bringing this program to over 150 families via partnerships with government and nonprofit services across Los Angeles County.
Photo Credit: Sthanlee B. Mirador
One of Imagine LA’s greatest accomplishments to date has been the launch of the Social Benefit Navigator, an online tool that teaches individuals how to maximize their benefits. The app will transform the way case managers, families, and individuals access and understand their benefits as their income changes. Imagine LA also hopes to collect critical data to fuel policy change through the Social Benefit Navigator.
Image Credit: Sthanlee B. Mirador
Increasing Imagine LA’s reach and its arts program led to the creation of Dancing with the Imagine LA Stars. The exciting fundraising event had a goal to spread awareness of Imagine LA’s mission and raise additional funding for upcoming projects. The were able to raise $36k during this magical night of dancing. The future of Los Angeles’ homelessness crisis may look bleak, but Imagine LA is doing the work to end it. If you want to get involved with Imagine LA, please visit www.imaginela.org
Image Credit: Pretend Photography
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