Michael Dean Shelton Announces Involvement with LA Nonprofit Liberty Hill Foundation

April 19, 2010 - PRLog -- Socialite/Activist Michael Dean Shelton will serve as a Honorary Host Committee member for The Upton Sinclair Awards benefiting the Liberty Hill Foundation on May 20th, 2010.  He will be joined with other host committee members Doug Spearman, Beth Broderick, Monti Montanez, Aisha Tyle, Vik Sahay, Judith Light, Paris Barclay, Danny Glover, Thea Gill, Laurence Fishburne, Cheryl Tiegs, and Hill Harper to help raise awareness and money for Liberty Hill's 2010 Signature Gala.  Mr. Shelton states that he is thrilled to be able to lend his name and to advocate for Liberty Hill because this is a rare nonprofit that focuses on change just not charity essentially meaning that Liberty Hill is actively involved with each local nonprofit they award grants to.  In addition, they work hard and achieve fiscal responsibility with more than 75 cents of each dollar raised goes right back into program services.  As a result, I know that Liberty Hill will continue to create a Los Angeles that provides equality and opportunity for all who live here.

The Upton Sinclair Awards are a celebration of the mission and the long standing commitment of the grass roots change that has embodied The Liberty Hill Foundation for over 30 years. The Gala will include a silent and eBay auctions, cocktail reception, and a program dinner celebrating The 2010 Honorees who are as follows:

The Upton Sinclair Award, which is given to a person of unwavering idealism and vision, will be awarded to one of America's most versatile and admired writers-Walter Mosley.  The Founder Award, which is presented to the individual(s) whose philosophy embodies the spirit of Change, not Charity will be awarded to a activist philanthropist couple who supplements traditional philanthrophy with social-entrepreneurial ventures focused on making deep, lasting change-Liz Heller and John Manulis.  The final honoree is The Wally Marks Changemaker Award, which is presented to an outstanding individual or organization whose work in the community illustrates Dr. Martin Luther King’s insight that while “the arc of history is long, it bends toward justice.” will be awarded to an organization that has been successful in organizing young people and their families in improving East Los Angeles Schools-Inner City Struggles.

To find out more information about the Upton Sinclair Awards or to purchase tickets, please contact The Liberty Hill Foundation at dtucci@libertyhill.org or 310-453-3611 x108..

To schedule interviews with Michael Dean Shelton about his involvement with Liberty Hill's Upton Sinclair Awards or any other projects of interest,  please contact Israel PR or Levi Israel  by email at israelprla@gmail.com.

About Michael Dean Shelton

Michael Dean Shelton is a Los Angeles philanthropist, activist and socialite who has raised tens of millions of dollars for variety of charities and nonprofits centered around celebrity involvement. In addition, he is the CEO of his family foundation, At Our Table, with the focus on advocacy and treatment for individuals battling eating disorders. His most recent projects included Snapshots of Hope for AIDS Research Alliance (http://artseen.org/SnapshotsofHope.html), and heading up a celebrity team for AIDS Project Los Angeles to raise awareness for those living with HIV/AIDS. Other projects in 2009 included Children of the Night, Shambala, The Leap Foundation, and SPCALos Angeles. Over the years, Michael has worked for the Democratic National Committee, President Bill Clinton, Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, Children's Hospital of Kansas City, served on the board for the Franklin County Habitat for Humanity, and has spoken at the United Nations on nonprofits role in developing countries. Michael has received a number of awards and honors including a Special Congressional Recognition in 1997, Plaques of Appreciation from Heart to Heart International and the City of Ottawa, Kansas, and a Civilian Honor Award from the Guatemalan Government, to name a few.

About Liberty Hill

Founded in 1976, the Liberty Hill Foundation is one of a handful of foundations devoted to change, not charity, to finding lasting changes to social problems. Charity is important, but our dollars go the next step - organizing, advocating, creating change for the long term. The Liberty Hill Foundation partners with innovative and effective Los Angeles grassroots organizations to combat poverty and injustice, and help transform the City of Angels into a place that promises safety, equality and opportunity for everyone who lives here. Since its founding, the Liberty Hill Foundation has awarded nearly $33 million in grants. (www.libertyhill.org)