Oscars night in Hollywood is almost like the awards ceremony itself — there is so much to see and experience, it can be hard to choose. But for stars who wanted to enjoy a night steeped in Hollywood glamour while simultaneously doing good, one of the hottest tickets in town on Sunday night was to Byron Allen’s Oscar Gala at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
In its fifth year, Allen’s Oscar gala brought together famous friends and newcomers alike in support of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), which has a special place in the heart of the comedian, media mogul, and father of three. While the tally for this year’s event has yet to be revealed, in 2020, the gala, which includes an Oscars viewing party, raised $1.5 million for the children and families that CHLA serve.
“My mother got pregnant with me when she was 16. And she had me 17 days after her 17th birthday. When we moved here to Los Angeles, I was seven years old and we really couldn’t afford much of anything,” Allen explained to Variety on the gala’s red carpet. “And unfortunately, one day, I became very ill, and she took me to Children’s Hospital. They pretty much saved my life, and they certainly took me out of a bad situation. And they never charged my mother one penny. It’s something that I never forgot. And I’m just very happy and blessed. I’m in a position to help them and give back to a lot of children at that hospital who are in need and who are fighting for their life.”
Joining Allen to support CHLA this year were a bevy of beloved entertainers and living legends, including Smokey Robinson, master of ceremony Howie Mandel, Vivica A. Fox, Jackée Harry, Yvette Nicole Brown, Kym Whitley and Tommy Davidson. As the evening’s special guest, the always supreme Diana Ross kept the momentum going with a medley of some of her biggest hits.
Who else was there to celebrate and lend their support to the…
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