if you’re lucky enough to acquire a ticket to the Butterfly Ball—at $1,000 a pop, they go like orchestra seats for The Book of Mormon—you will be joining the fight against homelessness at a gorgeous private home in an exclusive cranny of the city along with red-carpet royalty and other industry-related heavies, with seared steaks and to-die-for desserts and enough live entertainment from top-tier talent to qualify for the suffix “-palooza.” The juxtaposition of the cause and the event may seem incongruous in another context, but the Butterfly Ball is the annual fundraiser for Chrysalis, a nonprofit celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Chrysalis helps the homeless, but not in the traditional soup-kitchen-and-shelter way. The goal at Chrysalis is self-sufficiency, so the organization helps homeless and low-income individuals train for jobs and keep them. And the Butterfly Ball—the 13th edition is set for June 7 at the Mandeville Canyon estate of Chrysalis Chairman of the Board Hayward J. Kaiser and wife Susan Harris—hauls in enough money in both ticket revenue and contributions to help keep the operation running in high gear. “It’s fun,” notes Donna Langley, one of the event’s cochairs and a previous honoree. “But I think people come away feeling like their money has gone to good use and that they’ve done something good for the community.” Chysalis Chrysalis volunteer Keith Bandoske teaches money management basics to clients. The Butterfly Ball is the brainchild of actress Rebecca Gayheart Dane, who says she came to Chrysalis years ago, at a time in her life when she was doing some “soul searching” and needed a cause in which to get involved. “While I was there, it came that time of the month when the payroll was due and they couldn’t come up with the money,” she explains. “They came to me and said, ‘Can you come up with an idea for an event?’ For me it was like Fundraising For Dummies. But they said, ‘We know you can do it, Rebecca.’” With the help of some friends, Dane created the Butterfly Ball, which over the years has attracted such high-wattage attendees as Vince Vaughn, Olivia Wilde, Katey Sagal, Dave Grohl, Brett Ratner, Mary J. Blige, and many others. Balthazar and Rosetta Getty are confirmed for this year’s event honoring Jim Berk and Jeff Skoll of Participant Media and Jay Sures of United Talent Agency, while regulars Russell Simmons, L.L. Cool J., Lea Michele, and Molly Sims are expected as well. Seth MacFarlane has served as master of ceremonies four times; one year he even jumped into the swimming pool with his clothes on in exchange for a $50,000 donation to Chrysalis. (Shhh, this year’s MC is a surprise.) Dane reports that the inaugural event—held at Ron Burkle’s house after Dane sweetly badgered him into offering the use of his property—raised $400,000, and by contrast, last year’s brought in $1.4 million. Johnny Gutierrez being honored onstage by his daughter John Dillon Award recipient Johnny Gutierrez being honored onstage by his daughter at the 2013 Chrysalis Butterfly Ball. Invariably the biggest hit of any Butterfly Ball is the appearance and heartfelt speech from the individual who wins that year’s John Dillon Award, given to someone whose success story is especially compelling. Last year it went to 53-year-old Johnny Gutierrez, a former drug dealer and user with a veritable LACMA’s worth of body art, who spent 21 of his first 43 years behind bars. With the help of Chrysalis, Gutierrez turned his life around and reunited with his estranged daughter. He now works as a counselor and is pursuing a master’s degree. Gutierrez describes his appearance at last year’s ball as “up until now the high point of my life.” He says Chrysalis has an uncanny ability to connect with people. “I went there with such low self-esteem. I didn’t think anybody would hire me. Their personal care treated me like I was a human being and someone they believed in.” Chrysalis President and CEO Mark Loranger with honoree Josh Lieberman, his wife, Maryann, and their children. Chrysalis President and CEO Mark Loranger with honoree Josh Lieberman, his wife, Maryam, and their children. Every year nearly 4,000 new clients come through the Chrysalis program, says President and CEO Mark Loranger. “Last year 1,500 got outside employment and another 500 worked within the Chrysalis enterprises,” he says. Some of the organization’s success can be attributed to the work of people like Josh Lieberman, a longtime CAA agent who has been volunteering with Chrysalis for about eight years and was honored by the organization in 2013. He counsels clients on how to prepare for interviews, suggesting what to say (and what not to say) and giving them pep talks. “They need to feel like they have support in society… that people are not done with them,” he explains. The instinct that keeps bringing Lieberman back is the same one that keeps bringing donors back to the Butterfly Ball. “What’s wonderful,” Dane says, “is that when I get people involved, they get really involved. When we get somebody on board, they’re not on board for one year, they’re on board for many.” Read more at la-confidential-magazine/living/articles/how-chrysalis-helps-underprivileged-people-in-la#PocxMGCB5c5jQCze.99
Posted on: Thu, 29 May 2014 19:00:27 +0000
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