Posted by | Ray Cornelius
Emmy® Award-winning casting director and talent executive Robi Reed, Founder of The Reed For Hope Foundation (RFHF), recently presented her 14th Annual “Sunshine Beyond Summer” (SBS) Celebration – The Day Party at a private estate in Holmby Hills (between Beverly Hills and Bel-Air).
Hundreds of celebrities and influencers attended this health-themed awareness event and annual fundraiser. Actress, Tasha Smith, currently starring in Starz’s “Power” and OWN’s “For Better or Worse,” co-hosted the event. Grammy® Award-winning singer/songwriter Estelle and Hip-Hop icon Doug E. Fresh added stunning performances, and celebrity DJ D-Nice kept attendees dancing while the foundation showcased its innovative Wellness Row concept featuring free health screenings, affirmations and their ‘Certified Fit To Party’ platform.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and Sundial Brands (maker of SheaMoisture) partnered with RFHF on the event to bring these celebrities, entertainment industry tastemakers and community leaders together to encourage them to use their voices to help shift cultural attitudes about wellness, disease prevention and health disparities. AHF and Sundial Brands announced their intent at the event to become corporate partners for 2018 to add resources to help RFHF empower one million friends advocating for health.
“I want to build the One in a Million campaign within our Love Healthy Movement to bring people of all colors, genders, races, political affiliations and ages together to unite and focus on the health of our women. Life begins within us. When we heal, our world heals,” said Reed.
Additional event attendees included: Debra Lee, Chairman & CEO BET Network; Duane Martin, (The New Edition Story) & wife Tisha Campbell Martin, (Real Husbands of Hollywood); Eva Marcille (America’s Next Top Model) & RFHF Health Ambassador; Danielle Nicolet, (The Flash/Born Again Virgin); Apryl Jones (Love & Hip Hop Hollywood); Isaiah Washington (Survivor’s Remorse); T.I., Actor/Hip Hop Artist, Danielle Mone’ Truitt (Rebel); Director F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton & The Fate of The Furious); Creator/Director John Singleton (FX’s Snowfall); LisaRaye McCoy (Single Ladies); Lance Gross (Sleepy Hollow, Grey’s Anatomy); Yvonne Orji (HBO’s Insecure); Richard Brooks, (Being Mary Jane); Michelle Mitchenor (Lethal Weapon); Vanessa Williams, (Days of Our Lives); Tim Johnson (Hit The Road); Omar Dorsey (Queen Sugar); Garcelle Beauvais, (Spiderman/Homecoming); Elise Neal (BET’s Tales); Eugene Byrd (Bones) and many others.
The event was live streamed to key SBS enthusiasts. A virtual crowd of partygoers joined the fun by taking the Love Healthy pledge; dancing at home and watching their Hollywood favorites get “certified fit to party.”
Immediately preceding the SBS, RFHF’s Annual Sunshine Awards took place honoring several awardees including the cast and crew of the soon to be released film, “A Question of Faith,” for the courage to create a film that tackles the important – yet under-discussed – issue of organ donations. AHF’s Rise Above Campaign received a ‘Sunshine Award’ for their work in AIDS awareness, prevention and sexual health. Marcille and Brandee Evans (Hip Hop in Heels) were the RFHF Health Awareness Ambassadors for the event and year. New partner, Sundial Brands, received the Corporate Partner – Sunshine Award, for committing to collaborate with RFHF’s Love Healthy: One In A Million Campaign with a skin health and hair component and for its commitment to making products with natural and organic ingredients. Other awardees were Dr. Valencia Mathews and Lorna Johnson.
Photo Credits: Kengi Carr
