After an emotional tribute from UFC's Founder Nancy Daly, Carol Biondi received the first Founder's Award.
The evening kicked off with a cocktail reception and viewing of the incredible children's art auction. Eight youth from UFC's College Readiness Program worked with Love & Art Children's Foundation to create individual, mixed media paintings that were auctioned off later in the evening by the President of Christie's Los Angeles, Andrea Fiuczynski.
View the auctioned Brass Ring artwork here >
This was my first painting experience that I had to work as an artist. I put myself, my heart and soul into it. This experience was awesome and maybe the best. It was a thrill working on this painting..."
Lamond W.
The extraordinary Queen Latifah welcomed guests as host for the evening, adding her incredible warmth and humor throughout the program.
In my life, I spend a lot of time thinking about what messages we are sending to the youth of today. How can we teach young people to be confident, and to believe in their future? Young people need to know that they matter, and when people with seemingly no connection to them reach out to help them, then these young people can start to believe that they matter, and their journey to self-worth can begin. UFC understands this, and tonight’s honorees understand this."
Queen Latifah
Four young adults from UFC's programs served as speakers for the evening, sharing their personal stories and perspectives on life in foster care.
This evening I ask you to consider the following: Have you ever taken the time to imagine how the world looks to the child who was never given the chance to embrace innocence…the 8 year-old abandoned by her mother, the adolescent victim of incest or the 18-year-old who resorts to drugs for refuge from indescribable pain of living in his own shoes? Although these are merely glimpses of some of our stories, I hope they introduce the dire need for comfort, patience, and love that we seek, but sometimes refuse to accept."
Lizeth H., Brass Ring Speaker and Former Foster Youth
Thank you to everyone who helped make this Brass Ring Awards Dinner so special and also such a terrific success.