Unity Care’s 6th Annual YouthLive! is presented by philanthropist Linda Lester and showcases youth talent and achievement! Proceeds benefit programs serving foster and underserved youth and families.
NEWS RELEASE
Unity Care Hosts 6th Annual YouthLive! Gala May 6th
Presented by Linda L. Lester
Foster and Community Youth Showcase their Talent, Fashion and Art to Benefit Bay Area At-Risk & Foster Youth
Community Champion Award to be presented to Philanthropist Linda L. Lester
San Jose, Calif. March 22, 2017 – Unity Care, youth and family development agency providing services and support for San Francisco Bay Area at-risk and foster youth, will host its 6th Annual YouthLive! Gala (www.youth-live.com) on Saturday evening, May 6, 2017. This year’s event is presented by Linda L. Lester and will take place at a new venue, the Computer History Museum. The Museum is located at 1401 North Shoreline Avenue in Mountain View, Calif. ABC7’s Spencer Christian returns to emcee YouthLive!
The festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a VIP reception (invitation only), followed at 6:00 p.m. with a no-host bar reception for all guests. During the reception, local and foster youth will model youth fashion and showcase their musical talents while attendees have an opportunity to place bids at the silent youth art auction and purchase keys to a Treasure Chest filled with prizes.
Fashion show attire will be provided by Flares Bridal + Formal, Francesca’s, Kitsch Couture, Tadashi Shoji, Stripes Boutique, Marine Layer, Peter Cassara Clothiers and Superdry.
YouthLive! performers will include vocalists Michael Padilla, 18, a local actor and singer, Ayushi Prusty, 16, from Irvington High School, Fremont; Rachel Bergado, 14, from Santa Clara High School, Santa Clara (Wynn Star Talent) and Zeyonce Brown, 15, from Milpitas High School in Santa Clara (Wynn Star Talent). Pianist Kashyap Panda, 16, from Cupertino High School will round out the talented group.
Tutorial, a jazz quartet from Leland High School will play during the evening’s festivities. Jazz musicians to be featured are Jason Hayashi, 17, on saxophone, Carl Agers, III, 17, on bass, Jordan Ando, 16 on piano and Austin Bellusico, 17, on drums.
The gifted youth vocalists and instrumentalists will also entertain during the formal dinner by Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme (PSRT). Following dinner, Breeaunna Lynn, age 18, will speak about her journey growing up as a foster youth and the support she has received from Unity Care’s transitional housing program.
A special Community Champion Award will be presented to philanthropist Linda L. Lester, a descendent of one of the foremost fruit growing families in the South Bay region and a long-time benefactor of the region’s youth and Unity Care. “Linda has continued her dad’s legacy of philanthropy helping to enhance the lives of youth and enabling many of them to experience independence and the joy of living a happy and fulfilling life,” says Unity Care Founder and CEO André V. Chapman. “We are looking forward to honoring Linda by thanking her publicly for following her passion and making a difference in so many young lives.”
The evening will culminate with a silent art auction featuring over 45 painted canvases by Unity Care foster youth who have been guided by volunteer art chair, Majella Pinto, a local impressionist artist. Guests may also participate in the signature live auction, treasure chest key reveal and dancing to the music of DJ DannyG.
Tickets to YouthLive! are $175 and may be purchased at www.youth-live.com/purchase.php. Purchase before April 21, 2017 is recommended. Table sponsorships are available at $2,500.
Presenting sponsor of YouthLive! 2017 is Lester Investment Properties. Additional event sponsors to date include Mattress Firm Foster Kids (formerly Sleep Train Foster Kids), Insperity, Lexus of Stevens Creek, Marcia and Chris Riedel, and VTA. Media Sponsors are ABC7, KLIV 1590/KRTY 95.3, and KLOVE 107.3.
Detailed information about Unity Care, its programs and opportunities, is available at www.unitycare.org.
About Unity Care
Unity Care offers a wide range of services benefiting at-risk and foster youth and their families throughout Northern California. Its signature program, founded in 1992, focuses on serving the housing needs of youth in foster care and beyond. The organization’s mission has grown and expanded over the past two decades and, today, includes more than a dozen community-based, education and behavioral health programs, aiding approximately 6,000 underserved youth and families annually.
Unity Care’s programs exemplify its “Five Pillars of Success” philosophy: Housing, Education, Employment, Well-Being (physical, social, emotional and spiritual) and Unconditional Care (adult connection). Each program focuses on being successful and supportive while promoting accountability, honesty and fun. Detailed information about Unity Care programs is available at www.unitycare.org.
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