FOR PLANNING PURPOSES                                                                             CONTACT:  Evan Holland

Tuesday, December 2, 2008                                                                   (310) 695-8324

Actresses Reese Witherspoon and Jane Kaczmarek to Headline

Children’s Defense Fund-California 18^th Annual Los Angeles Beat the Odds^® Awards

CDF-CA to Give Scholarships to Five LA Area Students at Celebrity-Filled Event

Los Angeles, CA – On Thursday, December 4, Children’s Defense Fund-California (CDF-CA) and its President, Marian Wright Edelman, will host the 18^th Annual Los Angeles Beat the Odds Awards at the Beverly Hills Hotel honoring five Los Angeles area high school students who are overcoming tremendous adversity. Event Co-Chair and CDF Board Member Reese Witherspoon and actress and comedienne Jane Kaczmarek will headline the event with more than 400 guests including celebrities, Hollywood insiders and other notables.

 WHO:              Emcee: Jane Kaczmarek

Co-Chairs: Reese Witherspoon, Katie McGrath & J.J. Abrams, Carol & Frank Biondi, Ruth-Ann Huvane & Kevin Huvane, Brittany & Richard Lovett, Laura & Casey Wasserman, Jane Kaczmarek & Bradley Whitford

Attending: Elisabeth Shue, Greg Grunberg, Jurnee Smollett, Zoe Saldana, Jimmy Jam

WHAT:             Children’s Defense Fund 18^th Annual Los Angeles Beat the Odds Awards

WHEN:             Thursday, December 4, 2008

                        Cocktails and Press Avail: 6:30 p.m.

                        Dinner and Awards: 7:30 p.m.

WHERE:           Beverly Hills Hotel

                        9641 Sunset Boulevard

                        Beverly Hills, California

Media Note: Press interested in attending should contact Evan Holland at (310) 695-8324 or eholland@cdfca.org. For more information about Children’s Defense Fund-California, visit www.cdfca.org.

This year’s student honorees include:

Ayotunde “Ayo” Ajijolaiya, who has maintained at least a 3.5 GPA, takes community college courses and emerged as a school leader despite being homeless, abused and in foster care with almost no family support. Ayo will graduate with both a high school diploma and an associates degree.

Sara Acevedo whoperseveres daily as a mother of a three-year-old after being sexually abused at age 12, in and out of various foster homes and separated from her siblings. Sara maintains a rigorous academic course load and 3.68 GPA and dreams of one day attending UCLA. 

 Janet Robles is a National Honor Society student with an overall 4.03 GPA despite her father’s death and relocation of her U.S. with extended family and has achieved academic success and developed a deep demonstrated sense of volunteerism.  

Randolph Burleson Jr.  endured racism, abuse and a broken home as the son of a renowned Los Angeles gang member and yet excels in school and serves as a father figure and role model helping his mother and grandmother raise his brothers and sisters.

Cristal Chavez witnessed the death of a sibling and the effects of drugs and alcohol on her mother as the fifth child of nine who all experienced abuse and neglect until they were separated and placed in different foster homes. Adopted by her older sister, Cristal now excels in school and in her community service activities.   

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