Variety has partnered with Lifetime Television to honor Hollywood’s most philanthropic women at VARIETY’S 2019 Power of Women: Los Angeles luncheon.
The intimate gathering at the luxurious Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel recognized Jennifer Aniston, Awkwafina, Mariah Carey, Chaka Khan, Brie Larson and Dana Walden for their humanitarian efforts and the significant difference they have made in their chosen causes.
The exclusive luncheon hosted six hundred guests comprised of Hollywood insiders including, Natalie Portman, Niecy Nash, Molly Sims, Joey King, Natasha Lyonne, Ali Wong, Ellen Degeneres, and many others. While these incredibly inspirational women are often praised for their work on screen, many are unaware of the diligent efforts they put into giving back to causes they truly believe in consisting of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for Jennifer Aniston, Building Beats for Awkwafina, Camp Mariah The Fresh Air Fund for Mariah Carey, Little Kids Rock for Chaka Khan, Equal Justice Initiative for Brie Larson and UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center for Dana Walden. Although attendees came to support and pay tribute to the philanthropic honorees, they were also able to celebrate with a pre and post-ceremony cocktail reception in which guests engaged with participating charities and brand sponsors, including premier sponsors, Audi and Moroccanoil.
Often we forget that these influential women have not always had it easy, however honoree Awkwafina reminds us why giving back is so important to her and why she works with Building Beats stating, “These kids, their talent is so raw but they might not have the resources and I was one of those kids. I came from the public-school system and I know that music is changing right now, and I think that when we give these kids the tools of their own destiny, that that is what creates the dream. They just need that, then they’re in the door.” Fellow honoree Brie Larson is no stranger to darkness as she recalls meeting actress Natalie Portman amongst other powerful women “at a time when our industry realized it desperately needed reform and accountability. It was a painful and emotional time, but it was a time that I remember as pure sisterhood.” The narrative that women don’t support women is one of the past and these women prove that there is so much power in being a woman. This year’s honorees certainly deserve all the accolades given to them and not only were they able to leave the event proud of their contributions to better society, they were also given gift bags featuring products only right for women of power consisting of items from Kate Somerville, Obagi Medical, The Honest Company, Bombas, M•A•C COSMETICS and Mario Badescu, among others.
For more information about these organizations and the honorees of Variety’s 2019 Power of Women Presented by Lifetime, make sure to check out Variety’s full feature here https://feature.variety.com/power-of-women-2019/
