ABC's "The Middle" at the Triumph For Teens Gala
"Phoenix House is dedicated to helping those who need help, regardless of their ability to pay," said Winnie Wechsler, Executive Director of Phoenix Houses of California. “Your support tonight is invaluable because it will help safeguard our youth, and change their lives in lasting ways.”
Phoenix House’s annual “Triumph for Teens” awards gala celebrates the victories of young people over substance abuse. It is an evening of recognition for adolescents who have learned the lessons of honesty, responsibility, and concern for others on their road to recovery.
Kicking off the awards program was Father Gregory Boyle, Founder of Homeboy Industries, who presented the 2011 Achievement Award to Chris Weitz for his creative accomplishments and long-time support of Phoenix House. Boyle, whose organization assists at-risk, formerly gang-involved youth, became friends with Weitz while shooting his latest production A Better Life in South Central.
The cast and executive producers of The Middle were honored with the 2011 Phoenix Rising Award for bringing to audiences a program of power and poignancy that captures real life struggles faced by the teens in treatment at Phoenix House. Peter Roth, president of Warner Bros. Television, presented the award to executive producers Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline, as well as cast members Neil Flynn and Chris Kattan who attended the event.
Phoenix Houses of California board members Timothy Noonan and Geoffrey Nathanson presented the 2011 Public Service Award to Mitchell S. Rosenthal, M.D., founder of Phoenix
House, for his vision, advocacy, and exemplary leadership in the field of substance abuse treatment as well as life-long commitment to bringing change to at-risk and disadvantaged youth and families nationwide.
“After forty years building an organization that today has more than 120 programs in ten states, serving 6,000 participants each day, Mitch continues to work on clinical programming, remains a chief spokesman for the organization, and is a leading advocate for the field of addiction,” said Noonan when he presented the award to Rosenthal.
Actor and writer Andy Richter hosted the evening’s program, which featured red carpet arrivals, a cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner, and special performances by Grammy-nominated, 2007 BMI pop songwriter of the year, Kara DioGuardi, and SATELLITE.
Serving as event co-chairs were John and Jerry Amerman, Sheriff Lee Baca, Kara DioGuardi, George E. Handtmann, III, Ellis Jones, Geoffrey Nathanson, Tim and Christina Noonan, Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker, Rodney Skager, Roger Stephens, Grant Tinker, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Esther and Thomas Wachtell, and Gayle and Gov. Pete Wilson. Major sponsors included Timothy J. Noonan of Lockton Insurance Brokers, LLC, Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation, and Bank of America as “Benefactors,”
Phoenix House’s annual “Triumph for Teens” awards gala celebrates the victories of young people over substance abuse. It is an evening of recognition for adolescents who have learned the lessons of honesty, responsibility, and concern for others on their road to recovery.
Previous honorees have included Zev Yaroslavsky, LA County Supervisor, 3rd District, Los Angeles Police Department Chief William J. Bratton, Los Angeles Juvenile Court Judge Michael Nash, Timothy Noonan, president and CEO of Lockton Insurance Brokers, LLC, Lynn Pike, COO of CapitalOne, Grammy-nominated, 2007 BMI pop songwriter of the year, Kara DioGuardi, television anchor, legal analyst, trial attorney, and best-selling author Rikki Klieman, actress and advocate Lorna Luft, Paramount Pictures’ Freedom Writers, directors Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen) and Betty Thomas (28 Days) as well as seven outstanding television shows: Fox’s Bones, ABC’s Brothers and Sisters and George Lopez, Fox’s House, CBS’s Joan of Arcadia, the WB series 7th Heaven, and Lifetime Television’s The Division.
About Phoenix House
Phoenix Houses of California has touched the lives of adolescents, adults, and their families for 30 years, helping them overcome the problems associated with substance abuse and empowering them with the skills to lead healthy, productive and rewarding lives. Nearly 1,200 individuals each day receive treatment through 18 Phoenix House programs in California. For more information visit www.phoenixhouse.org.
Attention Editors: Click on photos to download high resolution versions. Additional photos of the event are also available by contacting Linda O’Hanlon at 818-386-1916 or ohanlon@straightlinecomm.com.
# # #
Straightline Communications LLC is a strategic public relations and marketing firm based in Los Angeles, California.
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
