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Stars Daisy Fuentes, Kenny Ortega show support for St. Jude at Estrellas por la Vida Gala


Estrella por la vida

Daisy Fuentes (left) was joined by fellow actors Zac Efron, Vanessa
Hudgens and director/producer Kenny Ortega at the inaugural Estrellas
por la Vida
Gala in Los Angeles.

 

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital celebrated its inaugural Estrellas por la Vida (Stars for Life) Gala on Tuesday, April 6 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California, featuring appearances by Hollywood stars Daisy Fuentes, Kenny Ortega and High School Musical stars Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens.

Fuentes, Ortega and actress Zoë Saldana were honored during the event for their philanthropic endeavors and raising funds and awareness for the hospital. Efron, Hudgens, actor Wilmer Valderrama, and actress Kellee Stewart from the show My Boys presented honorees with an award for their continuing support and dedication to children’s causes in local communities and around the world. Saldana was unable to attend the event but her sisters accepted the award in her honor.

“I was truly humbled to be a part of such a great event and honored to receive this wonderful recognition,” said Fuentes, a long-time St. Jude supporter. “I recently had the opportunity to visit the hospital again and I was amazed to see how the families and patients are given hope and care regardless of where they come from or what language they speak.”   

Ortega, a three-time Emmy®-award winning director and producer said, “I am so thankful for receiving this recognition. It is wonderful to be part of a mission like that of St. Jude, helping to save children’s lives. I’m sure our dear Hollywood colleague and St. Jude founder Danny Thomas is smiling knowing that his vision carries on. I love how Danny’s vision did not stop at just offering free treatment but that it was much larger. He wanted to find cures not just for cancer but for many catastrophic childhood diseases.”

Univision personality Carlos Alvarez and actress and former Miss Teen USA Susie Castillo served as hosts for the event which featured a dinner, silent auction, and a live performance by Latin superstar Beto Cuevas. The live auction included exclusive items such as tickets for an upcoming Los Angeles Lakers game, a high-end sustainable furniture piece courtesy of Cisco Homes, a vacation package for two with hotel accommodations and airfare to Puerto Vallarta, a get-away for two to Beringer Vineyards in Napa with airfare and a Colombian-inspired electric Fender guitar autographed by LATIN GRAMMY®-award winner Juanes.

More than 250 guests, including St. Jude patients and television and music industry celebrities, attended the star-studded event including Michael Bunin, Monique Coleman, Kate del Castillo, Aaron Diaz, Guy Ecker, Stefanie Himonidis, Jessica Maldonado, Kiki Melendez, Gloria Molina, Ana Maria Montero, Oscar Nuñez, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, Francia Raisa, Fernanda Romero and Nadine Velasquez among others.

The gala was sponsored by AEG, Beringer Vineyards, Cisco Homes, Coca-Cola, Don Pedro’s Meat, Entravision Communications Corporation, Iberoamericana Travel, Luna Gardens, Maker’s Mark, Metro PCS, Michelle Hohman, Mexicana Airlines, Nederlander Concerts, Neutrogena, Univision Radio and Nochelatina.com.

 

April 2010
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