— HIGHLIGHTS: Keynote Speaker: Leigh Anne Tuohy, Inspirational foster mom portrayed in “The Blind Side;” youth talent art and fashion shows; foster care youth speaker. —
San Jose, CA — Unity Care, a youth and family development agency providing services and support for San Francisco Bay Area at-risk and foster youth, will host its Fourth Annual YouthLive! Gala (www.youth-live.com) on Saturday evening, April 25, 2015, at the Fairmont San Jose Hotel. The hotel is located at 170 South Market Street in San Jose, Calif.Keynote speaker for the event will be Leigh Anne Tuohy, inspirational subject of the record-breaking movie, “The Blind Side,” which chronicles her journey as foster mother to current NFL (National Football League) offensive tackle, Michael Oher. Sandra Bullock won an Academy Award® for Best Actress for her portrayal of Tuohy in the movie.
ABC7’s Spencer Christian will emcee the evening’s entertainment.
The event will open at 5:45 p.m. with a VIP reception (by invitation) with Ms. Tuohy. An open, no-host bar reception with commence at 6:00 p.m., accompanied by a silent youth art auction and treasure chest key sales for all guests.
During the formal dinner, Unity Care foster youth and local young people will entertain on stage and the fashion runway. Performers will include Katie Brown, Los Gatos High School; Madelyn Davis, Archbishop Mitty High School; Michael Xavier Mulea, Andrew Hill High School, and Victoria Thuy Vi McDowell, Raymond J. Fisher Middle School. Violinist Kai Kight will give a special performance.
At 8:00 p.m., Leigh Anne Tuohy will describe her experiences as foster mother to NFL offensive lineman Michael Oher.
Following Tuohy’s talk, Unity Care alumna, Charity Brooks, will share her story. She says, “At 20, I was living in a homeless shelter with two children and in an abusive relationship. I felt alone and completely lost. In just two years, Unity Care’s transitional housing program taught me how to take control of my life, and today, at 26, I can truly say I’m happy and doing very well.”
The evening will close with YouthLive!’s signature “fund a mission” activity and a live auction.
“Leigh Anne Tuohy’s passion for service and her commitment to bettering the lives of foster youth are perfectly aligned with our mission, as our organization was originally founded to help those in foster care and beyond,” says Founder and CEO André Chapman. “I know her inspiring stories of her life as foster mom to Michael Oher will entertain and inspire us all. It’s going to be a fabulous evening!”
Tickets to YouthLive! are $150 and may be purchased at www.youth-live.com/purchase.php. Purchase before April 10, 2015 is recommended as the event often sells out. VIP table (seating for 10) sponsorships are available at $2,500.
YouthLive! event sponsors to date are: ABC7, Sleep Train Mattress Center, Cisco Systems, Silicon Valley Business Journal, KLIV/KRTY, Lexus of Stevens Creek, Marcia & Chris Riedel, and Buffalo Wild Wings. Fashion show attire will be provided by Chona Pike, Movers and Shakers Apparel, Old Navy, and Peter Cassara Clothiers . Hair and make-up will be donated by The Paul Mitchell School, San Jose.
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 5,500 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.
PRESS CONTACT:
Barbara Lewis
Attention! Business Communications
925-413-6540
attentionbc(at)gmail(dot)com