Special Needs Network’s 10th Annual “Evening Under the Stars” at Sony Pictures on October 3rd, 2015- Preview, Tickets, Post Coverage
SPECIAL NEEDS NETWORK CELEBRATES MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY AND ADVANCES SUPPORT FOR NEW AUTISM CLINIC
With 500 guests in attendance, Special Needs Network successfully raised $350,000 to help build a
specialized medical clinic that will serve South LA children with autism and other developmental
disorders.
Los Angeles, CA (10/8/15)— During its milestone 10th Annual Evening Under the Stars Awards Show
and Gala, sponsored by Toyota, Sony Pictures and CBS/KCAL, Special Needs Network (SNN) entertained
500 guests including celebrities, elected officials, distinguished community leaders and parents of
special needs children. The event spotlighted SNN’s 10-year anniversary and focused on raising
awareness and support for the South LA-based nonprofit’s specialized autism medical clinic set to open
on the campus of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital next year.
The exclusive star-studded event was held on Oct. 3 at the Sony Studios Lot in Culvar City, Calif. and
emceed by Southern California’s NBC4 reporter, Beverly White. The anniversary celebration raised
$350,000 to help fund the autism medical clinic and health programs provided by SNN. The new clinic
will provide access to quality medical and developmental specialists to children with a range of
disabilities.
The evening also honored LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and Google for their contributions
to health, wellness and the advancement of the special needs community. Google.org has invested $20
million in grants for nonprofits through their “What If?” campaign to inspire development of technology
that can better serve those with disabilities. Supervisor Ridley-Thomas, regarded as one of California’s
most powerful elected officials, engineered the reopening of Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital and is
leading the charge to expand the hospital’s campus and to facilitate the opening of the autism clinic.
Since its inception, SNN has worked with more than 40,000 children and families and is known as
California’s premiere resource organization for autism advocacy and serving under-served populations,
particularly African American and Latino communities.
“Evening Under the Stars is our pinnacle event,” explains Areva Martin, Esq., president and co-founder
of Special Needs Network. “The event provides us with an opportunity to raise awareness of autism and
related disorders and to raise much-needed funding for the clinic and our health programs.”
“This year’s celebration was especially meaningful as we celebrated the past decade and our collective
work to end the disparities in diagnosis and treatment of autism in African American and Latino
children.”
In collaboration with St. John’s Well Child and Family Center, the community health center will provide a
medical home for children by offering much-needed comprehensive developmental and emotional
assessments, routine medical checkups and care, and variety of therapies for free or low cost. The clinic
will also offer a range of social services included family counseling, wellness classes, and advocacy
training.
To learn more about SNN, and their programs and to get more information about Evening Under the
Stars, visit snnla.org or call (323) 291-7100. SNN invites anyone with questions or concerns about autism
and other developmental disabilities to contact their office for information on available resources,
programs and service providers.
ABOUT SPECIAL NEEDS NETWORK
Special Needs Network (SNN) is based in Los Angeles and is California’s leading grassroots autism
advocacy organization. As a nonprofit organization, SNN was established to help families faced with
autism and other developmental disabilities. The organization focuses on raising public awareness,
impacting public policy, increasing education and access to resources for families, children and adults.
Special Needs Network’s 10th Annual “EVENING UNDER THE STARS” to Honor
Supervisor MARK RIDLEY THOMAS and GOOGLE at Sony Pictures Studio
NBC 4’s Beverly White to MC Can’t Miss Gala Saturday, Oct. 3
(Los Angeles, CA, Sept. 29, 2015) – Special Needs Network’s 10th Annual “Evening Under The Stars.” A Gala Fundraiser will honor LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas with the Everyday Advocate Award and American Technology company, Google, with the Trailblazer Award for their contribution to advancement of the special needs community on Saturday, October 3rd at Sony Pictures Studio lawn, 10202 W. Washington Blvd. (Lawn), Culver City, CA. Reception, dinner and silent auction begin at 6 PM, awards show and live performances at 7:30 PM. Tickets at event site: http://snneus.org/
SNN President Areva Martin, Gala Chairs Hon. Herb Wesson Jr., Hon. Karen Bass, Hon. Isadore Hall III, presenting sponsors Sony, CBS and Toyota and several politicos on hand. Numerous stars including Kym Whitley, Bai Ling, Carla Ortiz and many more adding to last year’s stellar turnout highlighted by Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates and Sheila E. Grammy-nominated artist B. Slade is evening’s musical director with a special performance by lauded artist Angie Fisher performing hot new hits and old school dance grooves. Surprise, household name performers are expected to drop in.
SNN, the first parent-driven organization to make issue of underserved kids with Autism a funding and policy priority for State, has helped over 40,000 families over last decade in marginalized communities. It is the lead organization in essential autism legislation including SB 946 which in 2011 mandated private health insurance companies to pay for autism therapies and the expansion for Medical to cover 70,000 low income kids with autism in 2014. Along with St. John, SNN spearheaded the first and only autism community health center previously located in Compton which will open on the newly designed Martin Luther King Hospital campus later this year.
For more info, go to: http://snnla.org/