10th Annual Heaven Gala Celebration:- Stevie Wonder Honored at the Event
Red Studios was packed on Saturday evening with guests for a sold-out for the 10th Annual Heaven Gala, where many types of personalities such as musician, humanitarian and evening's Visionary recipient, Stevie Wonder were honored.
2017 marks the 20th anniversary since the charity was found in 1997 and the 10th Annual Heaven Gala Celebration. The charity encourages screen professionals and entertainers to support and volunteer for programs such as hospitalized youth, homeless shelter and special needs center.
Every year, The Art of Elysium awards one of the individual in the entertainment for their valuable time, contributions and ongoing efforts towards the cause. Few of the past recipients include Eva Mendes and James Franco, who were also in attendance this time around.
Guests were excited to see what Wonder's version of 'Heaven' could be like, as the honoree has a say in the details of the evening. The Gala had two rooms featuring murals from local artists on the wall, live music throughout the evening was the theme and a seven-continent-food menu prepared by Los Angeles-based chef Michael Voltaggio.
Voltaggio further shared that it was important to Stevie that all seven continents were represented, so they went through all the continents with food and his favourite dessert dish in the end. He said they were serving the dessert in a metal bucket so that people can actually feel the cold in their hands while they eat it.
Other notable guests in attendance were Elysium Bandini Studios founder Jennifer Howell, Tony Hawk and Amber Heard. Co-chairmen Christine and Dr. Gabriel Chiu, Sarah and Gary Maness and Kaily and Adam Westbrook also were in attendance.
Wonder shared his own version of the Heaven beyond what guests would see inside the Red Studios. He says, "I think what we have is all twisted on this planet. We are not doing what we need to do to make Earth as it is in Heaven, because that is what I believe it is supposed to be."
The evening concluded with a moving performance by Wonder, during most of which the audience were at their feet clapping and singing along to 'Sketches of a Life,' 'They Won't go When I go' and 'You Are the Sunshine of My Life.'