Long-time supporters Edison Barbosa, Bill Eichler, and Pam Mahon will serve as co-chairs
Hillsides, a Southern California foster care and mental health charity, will host its annual gala, its largest fundraiser of the year, on Feb. 23, 2019 at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena. The funds raised will support Hillsides five core programs: a residential treatment program for children in foster care; a program for youth transitioning from foster care; Hillsides Education Center, a nonpublic school for students with academic and/or behavioral issues; family resource centers offering mental health services; and a foster care and adoption program. The charity serves 15,000 children and families throughout Southern California.
Hillsides has named three long-time supporters as gala chairs for the 2019 Gala: Edison Barbosa, Bill Eichler, and Pam Mahon. The co-chairs, friends for more than 20 years, have selected “Heart of Brazil” as the theme.
“Brazil inspires us in many ways – we adore the food, the music, the colorful celebrations, and the diversity,” said Mahon. “We also appreciate what we consider the heart of the culture – the ability of the Brazilian people to overcome any challenge and live in joy and acceptance of each other. Like Brazil, at the heart of Hillsides is the deep commitment to helping children and families rise from adversity to heal and thrive.”
The chairs plan on transforming this year’s gala into a tropical paradise. The evening will offer the best the country has to offer, from Brazilian food and decorations to entertainment that showcases the culture’s signature dances, the samba and bossa nova.
“When you visit Brazil, you are transported to another world. At the gala, we also hope to sweep our guests into an unforgettable experience,” said Barbosa, who is Brazilian.
“The Hillsides gala is always one of the highlights of the year, and we have wanted to chair one for a long time,” said Eichler. “We are so excited to be finally making it happen.”
Tickets for Heart of Brazil are $300. There are many opportunities for organizations and individuals to sponsor the event or donate auction packages. To learn more about different levels of support and the benefit of contributing to the gala, please contact Bernie Gore, Hillsides special events manager at (323) 543-2800, ext. 12253 or bgore@hillsides.org.
