Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles to honor Los Angeles Lakers & Lakers Youth Foundation at Wish Gala 2022 Presented by Gibson Dunn with special performance by John Popper & Ben Wilson of Blues Traveler
Saturday, November 19th Event to be Held at Paramount Studios; James Worthy To Accept On Behalf of the Los Angeles Lakers; Jesse & Stacy Sharf Will Accept Philanthropic Leader Award
Los Angeles, CA – November 16, 2022 – Longtime wish granters Los Angeles Lakers & Lakers Youth Foundation will receive the North Star Award at Make-A-Wish Greater LA’s Wish Gala 2022 presented by Gibson Dunn. The Lakers organization and its players, past and present, including Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, LeBron James and many more have granted over 300 life-changing wishes for children in need. Held at Paramount Studios, the November 19thfundraiser will bring together Southern California area supporters, wish families, corporations, and celebrities to raise the needed funds to grant wishes for children with critical illnesses.
“We are so grateful to The Lakers organization, Lakers Youth Foundation, Jeanie Buss and all of the incredible players who help us grant wishes to children who need them most,” said Mike Kallhoff, President & CEO, Make-A-Wish Greater LA. “The North Star Award is given to community supporters who set the standard for others to follow in heartfelt wish granting. The Lakers have time and again outdone themselves in granting transformational wishes to children with critical illnesses.”
This year’s event will also honor Jesse and Stacy Sharf with the Philanthropic Leader Award for their long-standing and generous support of Make-A-Wish. The night will also feature a special performance by John Popper and Ben Wilson of legendary rock band Blues Traveler.
Make-A-Wish Greater LA previously honored Kobe Bryant at Wish Gala 2013 for his longstanding commitment to granting exceptional wish experiences for more than 200 wish children. He remains in the top 10 most requested celebrity wish granters. Additional past honorees and participants have included Robert Downey, Jr, Scooter Braun, Usher, Disney’s Bob Chapek, Chaka Khan and Bush.
The event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and feature a fund-a-wish when vital funds will be raised to reach 650+ local children waiting for their wish. For tickets or sponsorship information, visit: wish.org/la/wishgala2022
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ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH GREATER LOS ANGELES
Founded in 1983, Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles has granted more than 10,000 wishes to children in Los Angeles County. Annually in Los Angeles, the chapter grants over 200 wishes locally, and facilitates hundreds more for children from all over the world whose wish is to come to Los Angeles. Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles is part of Make-A-Wish America, a national organization that grants the wishes of children with critical illnesses. Make-A-Wish America is one of the world's leading children's charities, serving children in every community in the United States and its territories. For more information visit wish.org/la or see us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
ABOUT BLUES TRAVELER
One of the most iconic harmonica players in history, John Popper is a virtuoso musician who has expanded the possibilities of the instrument for future generations. He is best known as the frontman and creative force of seminal jam band Blues Traveler, which he formed with high school friends in Princeton, NJ in the late ‘80s and led to mainstream success with 1994’s Four.
With skills honed both classically, at New York University’s The New School, and in the crucible of the 90s New York City jam scene, John has perfected the ability to cross all musical boundaries and genres. Over an illustrious 30-year career, he has sat in with acts as diverse as Phish, B.B. King and Metallica among many others.
John’s solo show, with piano accompaniment from fellow Blues Traveler Ben Wilson, is an opportunity to share in this wealth of experience.
Contact:
Steve Webster on behalf of
Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles
310.872.6088