MALIBU – On December 15, a glorious sunset glowed over Malibu — setting the stage for the SPAN Philippines Relief fundraiser at the Malibu West Beach Club.
With over 200 in attendance (including many celebrities, VIP and community members), people came to support the Typhoon Haiyan fundraiser and to remember the life of Fast and Furious actor, Paul Walker.
The fundraising event was hosted by Fil-Am actress Cassandra Hepburn, SPAN President Pastor Jonathan Morris and Fusion Global President Rabbi Jason Sobel, while actor Louis Gossett Jr. acted as emcee.
Well-known personalities also graced the event: Actors John Savage, Thom Barry and Patrick Kilpatrick; actresses Cassandra Gava, Anna Easteden and Blanca Blanco; comedian Rocco Stowe; singer/songwriter Elena Coates; jazz musician Charles Jones, international DJ Vikter Duplaix; dance troupe The Groovaloos; Belgium Consul General Rudi Veestraeten and his wife, Madame Mireille Swinnen; Guggenheim Partners’ Global Chief Investment Officer Scott Minerd.
Cassandra Hepburn, who was born in Tacloban, told Asian Journal about the Typhoon fundraiser in Malibu West Beach Club.
“It’s a personal Typhoon fundraiser. [The] Philippines has always been close to my heart since I left at the age of 2. I couldn’t imagine that my relatives were affected by the massive storm in Tacloban,” Hepburn said.
The actress felt devastated that her cousins in Tacloban were found dead, a week after the Typhoon Haiyan.
Hepburn is involved in Strategic Partners Among Nations (SPAN) Philippines Relief and Church Multiplication Coalition (CMC) International for helping missions and community.
The fundraising event received over $10,000, with online donations, totaling about $30,000. (People can still donate and support by texting to donate at 41444 and typing in the message SPAN or by going to www.spanrelief.org.)
100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to help rebuild the hardest-hit areas in the Philippines.
The fundraiser could not have taken place without the generous support of Samatha Lam, (who provided the catering from her Huntington Beach Olive Pit Restaurant) and Al Paravar (who donated D’Atlantis men’s and women’s watches, valued at $17,500 and $2,500, respectively).
Other sponsors include Fusion Igniting by Uniting, Ascend Malibu Fellowship, and Asian Journal. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Serene Sky Boutique, Bullets for Peace, and Doctor Bruce Rayf also provided donations for the raffle and auction.
Entertainment for the evening included a music performance by singer/songwriter Elena Coates, a dance performance by The Groovaloos, and a presentation for the Golden Goody Award for Social Good to Hollywood actor John Savage. He gave a heartfelt message to the Typhoon victims.
“Let’s look forward to a good future together,” Savage said.
The Philippines needs more support in rebuilding. With the SPAN Philippines Relief fundraiser, this can be a great step in the right direction. (With reports from Christian Esteban/AJ Press)
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Donna Delfin is a fashion blogger at sunnynblue.com and co-founder of an online fashion boutique at shopserenesky.com.
