Jill Scott, Lil Mama, Goapele and more attend Robi Reed’s Summer Soiree [PHOTOS]

adminSeptember 20, 2014

Posted by | Ray Cornelius

Emmy® Award-winning casting director and talent executive Robi Reed recently held her legendary end-of-summer event, “Robi Reed’s 12th Annual Sunshine Beyond Summer Celebration” – The Day Party With A Purpose benefiting The Reed For Hope Foundation, at the opulent estate of philanthropist and healthcare entrepreneur Lorna Johnson in Beverly Hills, California. As one of the most highly-coveted invites in the entertainment industry, Reed brought together a select, diverse group of over 300 influencers, ranging from Hollywood insiders and business executives to community leaders, close friends and associates, for a fundraiser unlike any other.

Kym Whitley, Wren T. Brown, Robi Reed

The special event was hosted by actress/model Eva Marcille (“America’s Next Top Model”) and actress/comedian Kym Whitley (OWN’s “Raising Whitley”), with music spun by DJ Tendaji Lathan and special musical performances by singer/songwriter Goapele and the Hidden Beach Experience featuring Unwrapped performing jazz instrumentals of hip-hop hits. Guests enjoyed champagne and Red Bull cocktails and a delicious healthy food menu prepared by celebrity chef Judson Todd Allen.

Robi Reed with Lynn Whitfield

Reed had many reasons to celebrate this year, including her birthday weekend, recent membership in the invite-only Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and a successful second year of her non-profit organization, the Reed For Hope Foundation (RFHF), which focuses on health, wellness and disease prevention. RFHF’s Love Healthy campaign is aimed to initiate meaningful conversation about how influencers can use their social currency to affect public attitudes about health disparities, disease prevention, and general wellness. RFHF is extending the Love Healthy Tour next year, which launched in 2013-14 in target markets around the country and with activations on HBCU campuses, encouraging everyone to get screened for HIV/AIDS, sickle cell, diabetes, blood pressure, stress, cholesterol, and breast cancer. Other RFHF initiatives include building wells for clean drinking water in Africa and a documentary film produced by Will Packer (“Ride Along,” “Think Like A Man Too”) about sickle cell anemia, which has personally affected Reed’s family members.

R&B Crooner Kenny Lattimore

Celebrities and notables in attendance included Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Jill Scott, actress Regina King, former NFL player Terrell Owens, hip-hop pioneer MC Lyte, singer Kenny Lattimore, Emmy-winning actress Lynn Whitfield, veteran actor John Amos, actress Nadine Ellis (“Let’s Stay Together”), rapper/actress Lil’ Mama (“CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story”), TV personality Omarosa Manigault (“The Apprentice”), actress Nicki Micheaux (“Lincoln “Heights”), actress Robinne Lee (“Being Mary Jane”), news anchor Leslie Sykes (KABC TV), TV personality Petri Hawkins Byrd (“Judge Judy”), among others.

Nadine Ellis, Lil’ Mama, Robi Reed

Reed recognized honorees during a pre-event reception hosted by esteemed actor/producer Wren T. Brown (Founder, Ebony Repertory Theatre). Special awards were presented to this year’s honorees: Lorna Johnson (Founder, Advanced Family Care Medical Group), Tony Lee (CEO, Dickerson Employee Benefits), Samantha Granberry (Senior Director, AIDS Healthcare Foundation), Toure Roberts (Pastor, One Church International), Eric and Maleka Beal (Co-Founders, BetterChoices, LLC), and Eva Marcille (RFHF Awareness Ambassador).

Hidden Beach Experience featuring Unwrapped

The 2014 SBS Celebration was presented in association with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Co-sponsors included the American Heart Association, Bling H20, Chef Judson Todd Allen, Chef Works, Healthy Infused Cuisine, Hidden Beach Recordings, Lorna Johnson, NIKE, Ralph’s, and Wings Limousine. For more information about the SBS Celebration and RFHF, visit www.reedforhope.org.

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