LACC Gala 2019
Thank you to those who attended and supported our 90th Anniversary Gala.
The Los Angeles City College Gala, celebrating the 90th Anniversary of LACC, took place on Tuesday, March 12 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Tiffany Haddish presented her mentor Laugh Factory owner Jamie Masada with the Rodney Respect Award. CEO and founder of The Gilbert Group Dennis Gilbert and Englander, Knabe & Allen founder and CEO Harvey Englander were honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award. Actor/Comedian Robert Wuhl hosted the event.
The event included an outstanding musical performance by the legendary multi-Grammy award winning musician Herb Alpert and singer Lani Hall.
Masada, who founded the iconic Laugh Factory, has helped launch the careers of countless comedians including Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Hart, Ali Wong, and Dave Chappelle. Masada joins an impressive list of prior Rodney Respect Award recipients including Jim Carrey, Tim Allen, Chelsea Handler, Brad Garrett, Kelsey Grammer, Chuck Lorre, Louie Anderson, and Jay Leno. Tiffany Haddish, who got her start at the Laugh Factory’s Comedy Camp at the age of 15 and has gone on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, presented Masada with the award.
Renowned sports agent Dennis Gilbert received the Outstanding Alumnus Award for his great success in the insurance industry, achievements as one of baseball’s leading agents and as an advisor to the President of the Chicago White Sox. As Co-Founder/Chairman of the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation, he has raised more than $1 million to help scouts who have fallen on hard times. He has also spearheaded building an inner-city baseball field at Southwest Community College, home to baseball’s RBI Youth Program. In addition, he is a champion of social justice and a mentor to many.
Harvey Englander received the Outstanding Alumnus Award. Harvey founded EKA in 2005 to provide a superior level of public affairs and government services in Southern California, becoming the largest independent public relations agency in Los Angeles. Harvey has created and successfully led hundreds of public relations, political, and public affairs campaigns and has rescued numerous political campaigns and careers that appeared to be on the verge of defeat. He was named one of the 500 Most Influential People in the County by the LA Business Journal in 2016 and 2017.
Gala 2019 Sizzle from LACC Foundation on Vimeo.
