The event honored senior vice president of ABC Signature Tracy Underwood, president of Mandeville Television Laurie Zaks, and executive vice president of Entertainment Banking at City National Bank Martha Henderson,
“May you never feel the glass ceiling, and may you only feel the wind beneath your dreams,” honoree and senior vice president of ABC Signature Tracy Underwood said to her mentee Amanda Cornish as she accepted her Excellence in Mentoring Award at the Accessories for Success Scholarship Luncheon hosted by the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles organization at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
Sponsored by City National Bank, the event honored those who have shown exceptional dedication to Big Brothers Big Sisters, an organization that serves 1,500 underprivileged youth through one-to-one mentoring programs that assist them in pursuing their educational and career aspirations.
The luncheon began with a chance for attendees to shop at vendor boutiques to raise money for the organization. Donating to the cause was encouraged by fashion icon and actress Amber Valletta, who hosted the event for the sixth year in a row.
“The organization is there every step of the way, guiding our bigs and our littles on the path to childhood through responsible adult,” Valletta described. With their guidance, she noted, “each of these students has accomplished and will accomplish great things, despite the challenges they face.”
Grownish star and activist Yara Shahidi thanked those who supported Big Brother Big Sister of Los Angeles’s commitment to providing guidance to underprivileged youth.
“This room is filled with brilliant and generous spacemakers who have built into their lives time to support others,” Shahidi said. “They inspire us and guide us and remind us that our goals may be large but they may never be out of reach, and more importantly their commitment to us is a beacon of light that shines on our worthiness.”
Along with Underwood Laurie Zaks, president of Mandeville Television, was honored with an Excellence in Mentoring Award and Martha Henderson, executive vice president of Entertainment Banking at City National Bank, was recognized with an Innovator Award.
Henderson, who is the executive sponsor for Big Brothers and Big Sisters from City National Bank, describes how impactful the organization can be not just on the lives of the mentees but also on those of the mentors as well.
“It is really one of the most generous, simple gestures of kindness that makes a big difference,” Henderson described, “and in this world that’s really important.”
In between speeches and videos highlighting the program, TV host and style expert Lloyd Boston, a former little brother himself, and director Jennia Fredrique Aponte hosted a fashion show for the little brothers and sisters to model outfits they bought at Goodwill with their big brothers and sisters.
In 2009, THR became partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles. Since its start the program has assisted more than 120 underprivileged students, and over ninety percent have gone on to four year universities. Amanda Cornish, who received a scholarship from the Posse Foundation to go to her dream school, Pepperdine University, described how much she grew from her relationship with Underwood.
“This example of self assuredness has made all the world of difference,” Cornish said of her mentor Underwood. “I realized that her guidance has not only impacted the work that I produce, but the person I’ve become. She has made it much easier for me to be confident in my work.”
For Sergio Anguiano, a senior in high school who goes to school in Watts, Los Angeles, the odds were stacked against him going into high school as a low income student. Finding the BBBS program as a junior in high school helped him have hope as he dealt with self doubt and the possibility of having someone close to him being deported.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles is like my home outside of home,” Anguiano said to the attendees. “Without your help, many of us wouldn’t be here getting ready to continue our education.”
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