Serena Williams Honored at Star-Studded Baby2Baby Gala, Raising $18M for Children in Need
The Baby2Baby gala, a star-studded event, raised an impressive $18 million to support children in need. This year's gala, presented by Paul Mitchell in West Hollywood, honored Serena Williams with the Giving Tree Award for her advocacy in maternal health. Alicia Keys presented the award, while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a rare public appearance to support Williams. The evening's entertainment included a special performance by Ludacris and presentations by Ciara, Jessica Alba, Julie Bowen, Kerry Washington, Malin Akerman, and Olivia Munn. Baby2Baby Co-CEOs, Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof, also shared their vision.
Over the past 14 years, Baby2Baby has distributed over half a billion essential items, including diapers, formula, and clothing, to children in poverty across the country. The organization's efforts extended to the L.A. fires, where they distributed over 31 million emergency supplies to affected families. Norah Weinstein emphasized the importance of not assuming who needs help, highlighting the diverse socioeconomic backgrounds of the children they serve.
Weinstein announced the construction of a new national Baby2Baby headquarters and warehouse in Santa Monica, set to become the organization's permanent home in 2027. Kelly Sawyer Patricof discussed a significant $9 million grant from the state of New York to provide essential postpartum items to 100,000 mothers on Medicaid next year. This initiative aims to address the mental health struggles of new moms who cannot afford critical baby items.
The gala attracted a celebrity-filled audience, including Adam Scott, Anna Kendrick, Demi Lovato, Katherine LaNasa, Leslie Mann, Lizzo, Missy Elliott, Nicole Richie, Orlando Bloom, Paris Hilton, Simu Liu, Tyler Perry, and Will Ferrell. The event showcased the power of celebrity involvement in charitable causes, inspiring further support for children in need.
