NAVY SEAL Geoff Reeves
In honor of America’s heroes of 9/11, last Sunday, September 11, 2011, over 500 guests from Los Angeles and Orange Counties gathered at The City National Grove of Anaheim at the fourth annual Life Changing Lives – One Nation, One Heart Gala.Philanthropists and Life Changing Lives Gala founders Mindy and Glenn Stearns proclaimed on the red carpet, “Tonight is going to make everyone at the Gala so proud to be an American.”
Glenn & Mindy Stearns
Raising nearly one million dollars to benefit Wounded Warrior Project, The Joe Foss Institute, Pretend City Children’s Museum and Chapman Universityamong other education charities , Life Changing Lives’ event was a success.Kyle Massey, who finished 2nd on “Dancing with the Stars”, and his brother Chris Massey of Nickelodeon’s “Zoey 101”, along with the star of the Academy Award winning film “The Blind Side”, Quinton Aaron, Nestor Serrano of “24”, former Navy SEAL turned soap-star Geoff Reeves and Gold-medal world cup athlete Amy Purdy, and Dancing With The Stars Karina Smirnoff attended the Gala to show their support.
The Gala opened with a powerful video montage featuring quotes about courage, sacrifice, spirit and patriotism from Presidents Roosevelt, Bush, Reagan and Kennedy and ending with reflections on freedom from Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. A high-energy dance and acrobatics number performed by the Fortune Entertainment dancers to a medley of Americana songs followed. Mindy and Glenn Stearns thanked our nation’s firefighters, police officers, emergency workers, members of the armed forces and teachers for their endless and selfless service, before introducing Reverend Robert Schuller who invited guests to join in a moment of silence to honor the memory of all who were lost on September 11th, ten years ago.
Honorees General Lyon, Muhammad Ali and Ambassador Argyros
The All-American Boys Chorus performed a salute to the armed forces while our honored guests from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marines all stood up throughout the ballroom to be recognized.
All American Boys Chorus
The Los Angeles County Fire Department Honor Guard presented our colors while Firefighter Paramedic Humberto Agurcia sang a beautiful rendition of the nation anthem. As Humberto sang the final verse, the bald eagle Challenger flew overhead as a majestic symbol of freedom.
The menu was designed by Iron Chef’s Cat Cora in collaboration with The Grove’s Chef Mikery Hatfield.
Chef Cat Cora presents her dish.
Karina Smirnoff and Dmitry Chaplin, from “Dancing with the Stars”, performed a moving piece entitled “A Tribute to American Heroes” to Tim McGraw’s hit ‘If You Are Reading This” which they dedicated to the brave men and women who serve our country. Karina and Dmitry received a standing ovation for their beautiful Rumba about a soldier who writes his wife a letter to comfort her when he perishes in battle.
Dancing With The Stars Dmitry Chaplin & Karina Smirnoff
Master of Ceremonies and EMMY Award Winning journalist Roy Firestone introduced the video tribute to boxing champion and humanitarian Muhammad Ali. Roy spoke about his first out of over 5,000 interviews he has done in his career, which was the interview he did with Muhammad Ali in Miami Beach, Florida.
The Ali family
The crowd rose to their feet and began to cheer “Ali, Ali, Ali” as Muhammad Ali and his wife Lonnie took the stage. Lonnie praised her husband’s generosity, heart and spirit and spoke of the strides that both Muhammad Ali and Michael J. Fox have made in the quest for a cure for Parkinson’s Disease. Muhammad’s daughters Maryum and Hana Ali presented their father with his “Lifetime Achievement Award”.
Part of the “Black Hawk Down” mission, Retired Army Lieutenant General William G. delivered an important message about patriotism and the work that the Joe Foss Institute does sending veterans to speak with children in schools about their service to this country.
Marine Master Sergeant Paul Starner
Marine Master Sergeant Paul Starner shared his remarkable story of never giving up after losing one of his legs in combat and how Wounded Warrior Project was so supportive in his recovery. A favorite speaker at Life Changing Lives for the past three years, Army Sergeant Neil Duncan reported amazing news that as a double amputee, he recently made it to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro with two other wounded warriors. Both men received much deserved standing ovations of support.
Singing a rendition of U2’s “Beautiful Day” and his hit song “Sweet Serendipity”, “American Idol” Season 9 Winner Lee DeWyze lent his soulful voice to the night.
Major General William Lyon USAF (ret) was honored with the “Life Changing Lives Hero Award” presented by his proud son Bill Lyon. International platinum selling recording artists The Tenors took the stage to sing “Always There”, a moving ballad in English and Italian. The Tenors were joined by Lee DeWyze to sing Leonard Cohen’s haunting “Hallelujah”.
Ambassador George Argyros was the evening’s final honoree joined onstage by his wife Julia and his children George Jr., Stephanie, and Lisa Argyros who presented him with the “Life Changing Lives Hero Award.” The grand finale welcomed back Lee Dewyze and The Tenors to the stage, with special guests “American Idol” Season 5 Winner Taylor Hicks and “American Idol” finalist Michael Johns all singing a rousing rendition of The Beatles’ classic “With a Little Help From My Friends.” The encore featured “American Idols” Lee DeWyze, Taylor Hicks and Michael Johns singing “Credence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” with Taylor doing an fierce harmonica solo.
For more information about Life Changing Lives please visit www.4lcl.org
Army Sergeant Neil Duncan
About Wounded Warrior Project
WWP serves to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. For info, please call 877 TEAM WWP (832-6997) or visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
About The Joe Foss Institute
The Joe Foss Institute was created to work with youth in schools and youth groups across America—with those who will defend our freedoms in the future—encouraging & teaching democracy, patriotism, integrity, and public service. www.joefoss.com
About Pretend City
Pretend City is a community, which builds better brains through fun, whole body learning experiences and empowers children and their grown-ups to meaningfully connect with and expand their world. www.pretendcity.org
About Chapman Univerity
Chapman University, founded in 1861, is one of the oldest, most prestigious private universities in California. Chapman’s picturesque campus is located in the heart of Orange County – one of the nation’s most exciting centers of arts, business, science and technology – and draws outstanding students from across the United States and around the world. The university’s mission is to provide personalized education of distinction that leads to inquiring, ethical and productive lives as global citizens. www.chapman.edu
About LA County Fire Department Honor Guard
The Los Angeles County Fire Department Honor Guard’s mission is to serve as representatives of the Fire Department at formal occasions as directed by the Fire Chief. The Honor Guard is dedicated to honoring fallen firefighters, their families, and Department members, past and present, as well as assisting other agencies with funeral and memorial services.
