Annual Gala Focused on Drug Prevention to be Hosted by Mario Lopez, Featuring Performances by David Lee Roth and Jimmy Kimmel Live! House Band Cleto and the Cletones
Press Release – Los Angeles, CA (August 29, 2018) – Amid promising signs of decreased illegal drug use among teens*, The Brent Shapiro Foundation for Drug Prevention will hold its highly anticipated Summer Spectacular in Beverly Hills on Friday, September 7th. The invite-only gala celebrates the 13th year of the foundation, which has raised over $3 million for drug awareness and prevention, focused on high-risk communities.
Hosted by Mario Lopez (Extra), and with musical performances by David Lee Roth (Van Halen) and Cleto and the Cletones (house band from Jimmy Kimmel Live!), this year’s gala will bestow the foundation’s Spirit of Sobriety Award upon Emmy-winning actor, producer and director Joe Manganiello. The award is given to an individual who is open about their own recovery or that of a friend or family member. Foundation creators Robert and Linell Shapiro will also present college scholarships to two members of its educational outreach program Brent’s Club for successfully completing high school without failing a drug test.
Prominent entertainment industry leaders and celebrities will gather to recognize advances in the fight against addiction and rally around the growing movement to end the disease. Past event attendees include Sharon Stone, Smokey Robinson, Kris Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner, Tracee Ellis Ross, Cheryl Burke, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Dr. Drew Pinsky. Past recipients of the Spirit of Sobriety award include Rob Lowe, Jack Osbourne, Harry Hamlin and Christopher Lawford Kennedy.
The Summer Spectacular gala raises money for the heart of the foundation, Brent’s Club. Working in conjunction with The Boys & Girls Club of America, Brent’s Club programs educate pre-teens and teens about the consequences of drug use and works to prevent the formation of dangerous habits, actively showing children how to lead drug-free lives. Members participate in regular drug testing and as a free, rewards-based program, it sponsors community outings and once-in-a-lifetime activities, from NBA star basketball camps to celebrity meet-and-greets. Ultimately, a number of sober graduates are rewarded with college scholarships funded by the foundation. Launched in 2012, Brent’s Club currently serves over 1,500 children through programs in Boyle Heights (sponsored by the L.A. Dodgers), Monterey Park, Malibu, Long Beach, the Bronx (sponsored by the New York Giants) and Chicago (sponsored by the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls).
* Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens
About The Brent Shapiro Foundation for Drug Prevention
Robert and Linell Shapiro created the Brent Shapiro Foundation and Brent’s Club following their son Brent’s death to honor his life and promote prevention and awareness of chemical dependence. The foundation’s mission is to save lives through awareness and effective programs that incentivize kids to abstain from drugs and alcohol. For more information on the foundation, visit www.brentshapiro.org.
