We can’t thank our supporters enough for helping to make the Art of Advocacy Gala a success! The beautiful evening at UCLA’s Luskin Center included inspiring words from Assemblymember Gipson, reminding us that the fight for children and youth must go on, and Doree Shafrir sharing about the power of community and using one’s voice to uplift others. The original music of the L.A. Exes captivated the audience, and we closed out the celebration with the great news that we raised over $250,000!


Photos from the Event


Meet our honorees

Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson

Champion’s Award

Born and raised in Watts, Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson (D- Carson) proudly represents California’s 64th Assembly District and serves as  Democratic Caucus Chair. He has been a champion for working families and children in the State Assembly. He championed many budget priorities, including establishing the first state-earned income tax credit for working families, repealing the maximum family grant that will lift 135,000 children out of poverty, and approving a path to $15/hour in California. This year, he introduced AB 1794, a CLC-sponsored bill that strengthens family connections for adopted children.

Doree Shafrir

Community Hero Award

Doree Shafrir is a writer and podcaster who believes in using her platforms to affect social change. Her podcast Forever35 is a two-time winner of the iHeart Radio Podcast Award for Best Fashion & Beauty Podcast; on the show, she and her co-host have interviewed everyone from abortion rights activists and a former Secretary of State to comedians and bestselling authors. Doree has also written about culture, women’s issues, parenting, media, and celebrity for publications including The Cut, The New York Times, and Slate, and was formerly an editor at BuzzFeed and Rolling Stone. As a long-time supporter of CLC’s annual holiday giving program, she and her friends have helped to grant hundreds of holiday wishes.