Snoop Dogg & Paris Hilton for Tiffany Haddish's "Prom Gala -- A Night Under The Stars" Prom for Foster Children" Fundraiser for Her "She Ready Foundation."
By Laura Medina
Tiffany had a hard scrabble childhood. An evil stepdad who tried to kill her mom, her, and her half-siblings in a car accident, to get their life insurance. A mom who suffered from mental illness due to the car accident. Her and her siblings being sent into the foster care system.
Can't be help but be down to earth and honest, Tiffany talks about the little but important things about what it means to be a foster kid. Her putting all her belongings in garbage bags, cheap for last minute dejection and moving from one home to another. Tiffany commented a many things about feeling like trash and being disposal and neglected as those garbage bags.
Throughout her trauma and upheaval, Tiffany used her sense of humor as coping skills that she later developed as basis for her comedy career at the Laugh Factory's Comedy Camp for tweens and teens until sixteen, where disadvantaged kids, like her, are coached by established comedians who give back. In other words, Dane Cook, Charles Fleischer and Richard Pryor probably coached the then fifteen-year old Tiffany.
It was a launch pad of an uphill climb to where she is now, a celebrity.
She swore once she made it big, she's giving back.
When you first open her site, you'll see Tiffany modeling a row of rolling luggage. That's the first thing she open up, the realities of being a foster kid. You need not only the practicality of decent and tough luggage that you need to pack then roll in the last minute. She talks about the loss of dignity, self-worth, and self-esteem about having to stuff all your possessions in garbage bags. That makes you prove your trash when you're not trash.
But, just have a decent suitcast just makes sure you feel better, improves your self-worth and self-esteem. Something, the majority of people take for granted.
Tiffany Haddish knows all too well what it’s like to move from home to home in the middle of the night with all of her belongings packed in garbage bags feeling like the world has forgotten about her. That’s why she created the She Ready Foundation to empower, support and encourage children living in the foster care system, serving as the voice of foster children suffering in silence. Adapting the belief of its’ founder that, "Every child who is removed from their parents deserves to have a suitcase, a safe place to lay their head, and a platform to follow their dreams,” She Ready Foundation aspires to help make this happen through collaborative partnerships.
Last Friday night's In celebration of Foster Care Awareness Month, Tiffany Haddish – founder of the She Ready Foundation, will host the 1st annual “Prom Gala — A Night Under the Stars.” There’ll be surprise celebrity appearances and performances, live and silent auction, giveaways, awards and exclusive brand activations at this star-studded gala for the who’s who in Hollywood, politics and neighboring communities.This charitable event caters to foster youth impacted by the foster care system with proceeds going towards luggage, scholarships, paid summer internships, tutoring and other opportunities. This monumental gathering will provide the prom experience for celebrities and public figures who were unable to participate in their own during the pinnacle of their teen wonder years, while supporting and making an impact for a meaningful cause. She Ready Foundation's “Prom Gala — A Night Under the Stars” is executive produced by Dr. Gordon and Casey Thomas, associate produced by Allayah Beamon and Curtisha Thomas in collaboration with She Ready Foundation board members, and event design by Sparkle Clark.
On Friday, May 19, 2023, from 6 - 11 PM at The Beehive by SoLa Impact Campus, Tiffany Haddish's She Ready Foundation presented the 1st annual "Adult Prom Gala — A Night Under the Stars." In honor of Foster Care Awareness Month, this charitable event catered to youth impacted by foster care, with proceeds going towards luggage, scholarships, paid summer internships, tutoring, advocacy, and other resources for foster youth. With over $200,000 raised, the gala provided a pop-up prom experience for invite-only guests. "I know so many adults in the business that never got to go to Prom, so I wanted to give them a chance to act like teenagers and go to prom for a meaningful cause," Tiffany said.
Guests arrived adorned in glorious gowns and tailored suits, ready to celebrate Prom and raise money while doing it. The venue resembled a starry night with a blue carpet entrance, matching corsages and boutonnieres, a traditional Coca-Cola peach mixer spiked punch bowl, and prom pics.
Tiffany Haddish hosted the star-studded fête while, upon arrival, her guests enjoyed passed hors d'oeuvres in preparation for Chef D's phenomenal plated entree dinner. The ambiance of laughter from overflowing cocktails and delicious fare led to a dessert bar curated by CWC with hot mini peach cobblers in hand demand.
The program began with Executive Director Dr. Thyonne Gordon, who passionately spoke of foster care statistics before presenting She Ready Foundation Interns Aaminah Parker and Nathaniel Patterson with the intro "Let's have our young people speak for themselves." Mr. Patterson spoke of finding his voice in the program and served as the announcer for the night's festivities, while Ms. Parker told of the support system that she found that felt like family. Former National Baseball League athlete Micah Johnson's team presented the youth with limited edition Beats by Dre Headsets and announced a new partnership with She Ready Foundation to distribute backpacks and supplies at the start of the school year. The positive influence from the interns and the new bountiful relationship set the scene for the live auction action.
Actor/comedian Lil Rel Howery won an Ashanti Kingdom package, and Jimmy Kimmel bid the highest on a painting made by Ms. Haddish on her first date with her former boyfriend, Common. A tour of Jay Leno's garage and dinner for six with Tiffany were all part of the enthralling live auction led by Subyn Novelle. Comedians Jo Koy and Bert Kreishner hyped up the audience by matching funds.
During this Prom event, best-selling author, entrepreneur, and speaker Dr. George C. Fraser; American businesswoman Lisa Frank; and culture critic and social media personality Jason Lee were honored and presented with prestigious awards acknowledging their contributions and triumphs. The awards included certificates of honor from Mayor Karen Bass and Council Districts 8, 9, and 10 and custom-created vases from the nonprofit, Piece by Piece which teaches the unhoused artful technique of taking pieces of broken glass to create beauty.
Obviously, Tiffany's "Prom Gala -- A Night Under The Stars" was the prom she never had and this fundraising gala was the prom of her dreams; and she promised to give back to current and next generations of foster kids.
Just because it appears glamourous and easy on the surface, it doesn't mean it was easy and fun in the inside.
After the remarkable programming wrapped, suit coats and heels came off as Tiffany and friends partied the night away to live entertainment by chart-topping singer Mario, nationally acclaimed DJ Disco and the Wylde Bunch, and live DJ set by Paris Hilton and surprise guest Snoop Dogg – both gifting the organization 20k from their respective companies — 11:11 Media and Death Row Productions. The climax of offerings came from the first-ever real estate company built on a blockchain, EstateX, that donated a lifetime of financial literacy to She Ready Foundation's youth.
There were gift bag giveaways with products from The Body Butters and exclusive brand activations from Afro Unicorn and Inner City Arts. As an ode to the night, an art activation of a 5x5 foot keepsake prom canvas named "Prom 2023" from artist Aaron Stansberry caused an emotional scene as Tiffany gazed over all of the heartfelt signed messages with tears in her eyes.
Paris Hilton and Tiffany Haddish call themselves, "sisters." It goes way beyond and deeper than a "Hollywood Thing."
Ask any Paris fan and they'll tell you about Paris' rough childhood schooling in abusively strict "rehab schools" that tried to tame Paris' out-going, fun-loving sociability, leading to physical and sexual abuse and violations.
Once Tiffany found out about that, she and Paris bonded as "sisters" over abusive childhoods.
It's apparent that Paris never had a prom or debutante coming out since she was in a prison camp of a school.
A year ago, they made a promise to do a prom, their own way, as adults to make up.
This was "Prom Gala -- A Night Under The Stars" the prom that Tiffany and Paris never had, but it's also a prom for foster care kids like Tiffany and a fundraiser for foster care kids, Tiffany's She Ready Foundation.
Snoop Dogg made a surprise guest appearance, by throwing a 45 minute concert as the headliner. His Death Row Records made a $25,000 donation towards She Ready Foundation.
Paris the DJ, was actually an opener for Snoop Dogg. She channels her partying ways and her insomnia as DJ.
Tiffany's comedian friends showed to party as support. Jimmy Kimmel made a bid on a painting by foster kids.
This prom by heart, by and for adults with rough childhoods, was one for the books, and hopes this isn't the last.
No comments:
Post a Comment