Lupus L.A. hosted their annual Orange Ball: A Night of Superheroes last night on Fox Studios “New York Street” Lot.
The outside venue hosted an evening full of festivities, including food trucks, cocktails, and a photo booth. “A Night of Superheroes” was the theme and some attendees in costume paraded around with orange capes adding a lighthearted humor to the serious event. Serayah (Empire) and Seal performed. Michael B. Jordan and Toni Braxton were among some of the honorees. TheKnockturnal was on the red carpet. Read what the stars had to say below:
Tasha Smith
What does this organization and event mean to you?
They help provide financial services for lupus. Because sometimes we don’t think about how it can affect you financially and not being able to work when you aren’t feeling well. And then I think about my friends who have lupus and how they’re surviving and how this organization has helped empower and encourage them. So I’m just happy to be here, to spread the word.
Who is your superhero and why?
My super hero is Toni Braxton because she is a mother, a performer, a entertainer and no matter what she has gone through with Lupus, she has not given up, she has not quit, she is tour de force and she is truly my super hero.
Michael B. Jordan
What does this mean to you honor mean to you and how do you feel about this organization?
It’s undeserving for me, you know my mom has Lupus, she’s had it for 15 or 16 years and that’s the main reason I’m involved with this charity. And I feel like she should get an award for being as strong as she is. So for me, I’m just trying to use any power I can to bring attention to it and try to educate people as much as possible on a disease that there’s not that much info on.
Who is your superhero and why?
My mom, she’s just my superhero because without her I wouldn’t even be here, so she’s my rock.
Event chairs included Jim Gianopulos, chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment, Nancy Utley, President of Fox Searchlight Pictures and Lauren Shuler Donner, acclaimed film producer. The event raised $575,000 for lupus research and local patient programs. Sylvester Stallone, actress Ahna O’Reilly, Pretty Little Liars’ star Shay Mitchell, New Girls’ Hannah Simone, Dancing With The Stars’ Karina Smirnoff, Justified’s Joelle Carter, EXTRA correspondent and Lupus LA ambassador Terri Seymour, actress and Lupus LA ambassador Taylor Spreitler, director/
-Robin Green
