SHARE Fundraiser Draws Many Stars
600 guests attended SHARE’s 55th Anniversary Boomtown Gala on Saturday, May 31 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The evening featured cocktails, live and silent auctions, a sit-down dinner, and it raised $1.3 million for children’s charities. Entertainment was provided by Clint Holmes, ventriloquist Jay Johnson, and dancers from So You Think You Can Dance. Nigel Lithgoe, Executive Producer of American Idol, was honored with “The Shining Spirit Award” and he received a standing ovation for the record $130 million he helped raise with Idol Gives Back.
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SAMOHI Student Artists Graduate from Ryman Arts
Dedicated and talented young artists from throughout Southern California will be celebrated at the Ryman Arts graduation ceremony on Monday, June 16, at the California African American Museum in Exposition Park. Forty-three students will be honored for completing the school’s intense training program, and another 33 students will be recognized for their participation in the program as they graduate from high school, including Luka Hays and Christina Kliewer from Santa Monica High School. The evening also marks the opening reception of the museum’s showcase, featuring more than 200 of the Ryman students’ best works from the 2007-2008 school year, on view through July 20. The ceremony will begin at 6:15 p.m., followed by the exhibition/reception from 7-8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
This year’s graduates are headed to an array of distinguished institutions including Otis College of Art and Design, Art Institute of California, Maryland Institute College of Art, Georgetown University, Stanford University, University of Southern California, and the University of California at Los Angeles and Irvine. This program is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.600 State Drive, LA, 90037. RSVP at www.rymanarts.org or call 213.629.2878. Admission to the Museum and the graduation ceremony is free and open to the public.
