LOS ANGELES, February 1, 2019 - On January 29, Hillsides, a foster care and child welfare charity, held a reception for the sponsors of its upcoming gala, Heart of Brazil. Heart of Brazil will be held on February 23 at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena.
Some 75 guests enjoyed appetizers, a Brazilian-style cocktail, the Caipirinha, and Brazilian folk music at the Gauchos Village restaurant in Glendale. The event was hosted by Gauchos Village chef and owner Kevin Aksacki.
During the evening, Hillsides President and CEO Joseph M. Costa thanked the gala sponsors, which include The Donald Zonshine Family Foundation, Willis Towers Watson, Pin USA - Mario and Shelly Fiumani, Sherm and Marge Telleen, The Walt Disney Company, Don and Sally Clark, Jacob Maarse Florists, Kaiser Permanente, Paul Rusnak-Rusnak Auto Group, Rob and Kim Shepherd, Western Asset Management, Bank of the West, Joseph M. Costa, Covington Capital Management, Jesse and Sommer Cripps, Gibson Dunn, Goehner Accountancy, John Gong, Wendy Lees and Tom Boyle, Patty McAllister, Susan and Bill Noce, PBWS Architects, Joe Regan - RBC Wealth Management, David and Barbara Scheper, and Bishop John Taylor and Kathy O’Connor.
Heart of Brazil is Hillsides’ largest fundraiser of the year, and supports the nearly 17,000 children and families Hillsides serves. The event will celebrate the best of what Brazil has to offer, from Brazilian food and decorations to entertainment that showcases the culture’s signature dances, the Samba and Bossa Nova.
Guests will also have a chance to bid on many live and silent auction items. Highlights include a 12-day all-inclusive cruise on board Crystal Serenity, Venice to Barcelona, donated by Crystal Cruises; a Barbara Poer Designs signature jewelry piece artisanally created with gemstones mined exclusively in Minas Geras, Brazil; and a guided tour for four of the revolutionary Tesla Factory.
The gala is being chaired by three long-time supporters of Hillsides, Edison Barbosa, Bill Eichler, and Pamela Mahon, with the support of the gala committee: Armida Baylon-Stelzer, Katie Bolton, Holly Breckheimer, Kelly Chamberlain, Donna De Mond, Shelly and Mario Fiumani, Donna B. Ford, John S. Gong, Gina Guerra, Ava Herrera, Stacey Hoppe, Ana Maarse, Susan Noce, Susan Pinsky, Courtney Saavedra, Sara J. Simpson, Maureen Staley, Chelisa Vagim, Uyen-Uyen Vo, and Kim Weleba.
Tickets for Heart of Brazil are $300 and can be purchased here.
About Hillsides
Hillsides, with its affiliate Bienvenidos, is dedicated to healing children and young adults, strengthening families, and transforming communities through quality comprehensive services and advocacy. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the agency serves nearly 17,000 children and families in Southern California throughout more than 40 sites, including school-based mental health offices in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Baldwin Park. Foster care and adoptions services are offered in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. To learn more about Hillsides, please visit www.Hillsides.org. Visit Hillsides on Facebook @hillsideschildren, on Twitter @Hillsides, or on Instagram @HillsidesPasadena.
