More than 130 young adults will take center stage to celebrate their success on Thursday, June 4, 2008, as part of the 19th annual "Celebration 2008: Honoring the Academic Achievements of Foster Youth." The event will begin at 7:00 p.m. at Walt Disney Concert Hall, located at 111 South Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. Actor and comedian Michael Epps will serve as the master of ceremonies.
Hundreds of friends, foster parents and family members will watch as the youth proudly march across the stage to honor this milestone in their lives – an occasion marked by academic accomplishment and triumph over adversity. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director Patricia Ploehn and the Los Angeles County Chief Probation Officer Robert Taylor are among the invited guests.
As part of the "Celebration 2008" graduation ceremony, $577,500 in scholarships will be presented to the youth by a variety of corporations and non-profit organizations. Donors include United Friends of the Children (UFC), the Teague Family Foundation, DCFS, the County of Los Angeles Probation Department (Probation), KLOS, Rising Stars, Wells Fargo, the Ralph Hauser III Foundation, Accenture, The Heads Up Youth Foundation and the Rotary Club of L.A. Every graduate receives a new business suit for college and business interviews, and the girls have their make-up done by top celebrity stylists who donate their time and skills for the event.
All of the young adults taking center stage on June 4th have demonstrated strong character and perseverance in overcoming past obstacles to graduate from high school with honors, strong grade point averages and acceptance at prestigious universities, colleges and vocational schools. "Celebration 2008," is a collaborative effort involving DCFS; Probation; UFC; the Teague Family Foundation; the Community College Foundation; and Casey Family Programs.