Project Angel Food Honors Aileen Getty at Angel Awards: Purchase a ticket or see how you can give back

Los Angeles’ Project Angel Food (PAF) is celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year, and has delivered over 9 million meals to the critically ill as well as provided counseling for those living with a serious illness in Los Angeles County. At their annual 2014 Angel Awards this September, Sharon Stone will be presenting the Elizabeth Taylor Leadership Award to Aileen Getty on Saturday, September 6. You are invited.

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Project Angel Food’s mission is to feed and nourish the sick as they battle critical illness. Volunteers and staff cook and deliver nutritious meals, free of charge, to homes throughout Los Angeles County to alleviate hunger, prevent malnutrition and return clients to health. The organization based in Hollywood, has done such wonderful work for so many Angelenos over the past 25 years. In 1989 Project Angel Food was created due to a group of compassionate volunteers who were concerned about the county’s most fragile members suffering in silence from malnutrition and the many other ravages of HIV/AIDS. In 2008, the agency expanded its scope, and today Project Angel Food provides medically tailored meals and nutritional counseling for men and women across Los Angeles struggling with serious illnesses of any type, including cancer, heart disease, HIV/AIDS and renal failure.

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Faye Moseley, Project Angel Food Board Member and Angel Awards 2014 Co-Chair, was kind enough to answer our LaLaScoop questions.

1. How can someone get involved in a hands-on way with Project Angel Food? Can they create meals, buy food, or hand deliver?

Anyone can get involved in a hands-on way with Project Angel Food. One of the most rewarding opportunities is to volunteer in our kitchen where they can assist with cooking and preparing the 10,000 nutritious and delicious meals that we deliver each week, free of charge, to those struggling with life-threatening illnesses and burdened by hunger and malnutrition.

2. What has been your most memorable experience with the organization?

My most memorable experiences are being asked to serve on the Board of Directors and co-chairing my first Project Angel Food event, Angel Awards 2014, along with an incredible Co-Chair, Jeff Valenson, Jeff Valenson Design.

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3. Do you have any special stories you can share?

One story that is special to me is the memory of a close childhood friend, Tony Warren, who was a fixture on the LA studio scene. He lent his voice as a background singer to such notables as Gladys Knight, Aaron Neville, Patti LaBelle, Jennifer Holliday, George Michael, and others. He co-wrote and sang the theme song to Police Academy III entitled “Dirty Work.” He composed songs for Dionne Warwick, Denise Williams, and for his own critically acclaimed recording, Rhapsody of Love.

He lost his battle to AIDS over 15 years ago. At that time, I could not find a resource to help ensure that he was receiving the nutritional care that he needed. It was at that time that I came in contact with Project Angel Food which definitely played a role in the much needed assistance that allowed him to extend his life as long as he did. Since that time, I’ve been supporting Project Angel Food and joined the Board of Directors three years ago. My gratitude, love and support of Project Angel Food will always be special and personal to me because of this.

4. How can someone attend the 2014 Angel Awards

Angel Awards 2014 takes place on Saturday, September 6 at Project Angel Food where we will honor Aileen Getty with our first-ever Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation Leadership Award and celebrate 25 years of Volunteer Service. People can support the event by going online immediately to www.angelfood.org to purchase tickets, purchase a digital tribute or make a donation to this very worthwhile event which contributes greatly to our mission of continuing as an agency of “yes” to our most fragile neighbors. Money raised from the evening will raise vital funds for the preparation and delivery of meals to thousands of clients too sick to shop or cook for themselves.

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ABOUT THE EVENT

Project Angel Food’s Angel Awards, which is the nonprofit’s annual fundraising dinner, will feature a menu created by celebrity chef Govind Armstrong of Post and Beam, Willie Jane and 8oz Burger Bar restaurant fame. The awards will be held at its headquarters in Hollywood. Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award-winning actress Sharon Stone will present the first Elizabeth Taylor Leadership Award to philanthropist Aileen Getty, founder of Gettlove and the Aileen Getty Foundation. Getty is also Taylor’s former daughter-in-law. The Angel Awards will also feature a live auction conducted by Andrea Fiuczynski of Sotheby’s.

The inaugural Elizabeth Taylor Leadership Award honors the actress/activist’s legacy in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS, which continues today through The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF). For more than 20 years, Taylor consistently supported Project Angel Food, both personally and through her foundation. In fact, ETAF’s first grant of $150,000 was bestowed on the agency in 1992. She served as a Project Angel Food trustee for 22 years and was honored with her own Angel Award 15 years ago in 1999. Even after Taylor’s passing in 2011, ETAF proudly continues funding the agency, awarding a sizeable grant to Project Angel Food as recently as this May.“People know Elizabeth Taylor as an Academy Award winning movie star, but at her core, she was a compassionate woman who advocated for those in dire need. It’s through the continued generosity of her foundation that we’ve been able to provide vital nourishment to those who desperately need it,” said Laurie Lang, Executive Director of Project Angel Food. “Like Ms. Taylor, Aileen Getty has worked tirelessly to advance the quality of life for our community. Her selflessness and generosity are awe-inspiring. When we created The Elizabeth Taylor Leadership Award, Aileen was our first choice and we are very proud to honor her.”

“Elizabeth Taylor’s leadership for HIV/AIDS causes and Aileen Getty’s advocacy for the homeless echo a passionate commitment for helping the most vulnerable citizens of our community,” said Joel Goldman, Managing Director of ETAF. “We appreciate Project Angel Food for honoring Ms. Taylor with this award in her name, and applaud them for recognizing Aileen’s amazing work. We are confident Ms. Taylor would agree Aileen is its perfect first recipient.”

Aileen Getty founded Gettlove in 2005. Gettlove’s mission is to help Hollywood’s chronically homeless navigate the complex journey out of homelessness into permanent housing sustained by relationships and services that promote a sense of belonging to community. In addition to Aileen’s hands-on work with Gettlove, the Aileen Getty Foundation supports organizations and endeavors that enhance the environment, our communities and the lives of individuals though innovation, preservation, connection and kindness. Aileen also serves as an ambassador to ETAF.

Sharon Stone received an Angel Award in 2004 honoring her commitment to Project Angel Food’s mission and her continued contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Other Past Angel Award honorees include: Jane Lynch (“Glee”), Whoopi Goldberg (“Ghost”), Shirley MacLaine (“Terms of Endearment”), designer/philanthropist Xorin Balbes, Director/Producer Paris Barclay (“The West Wing”), Nathan Lane (“The Birdcage”), Olivia Newton-John (“Grease”), and many others.

To purchase tickets to Angel Awards, please visit http://angelfood.org or email Becca Bloom at bbloom@angelfood.org The last day to order tickets is on August 29, 2014 by 5 p.m.