Past Events

The Exceptional Children's Foundation’s 61st Anniversary "Coming Together" Gala was held on Sunday, November 18, 2007 at:

Hyatt Regency Century Plaza
Century City, CA

Honoring Jack and Helen Nethercutt and Joseph Tilem.

View the 2007 Gala Brochure for more information.

Press

Hundreds Enjoyed “Coming Together” at Gala

The 61st anniversary gala had many firsts. It was the first gala since the Kayne Eras Center became part of ECF, which inspired the gala’s “Coming Together” theme. It was the first time that 535 people attended the event. It was the first time in the organization’s history that the gala raised nearly $1 million to support the vital programs and services offered to thousands of Los Angeles County residents.

The elegant event, held at the Hyatt-Regency Century Plaza Hotel on November 18, featured silent and live auctions, a gourmet dinner and entertainment provided by the Phil Norman Tentet and singer Madelyn Deutch. Award-winning actor Edward Herrmann served as the guest emcee.

Gala co-chairs, Suzanne Kayne and Stephen Shapiro, were delighted with the event’s success. Suzanne is Kayne Eras’ chairman of the board and is a new member of ECF’s board of directors. She has been an active fundraiser for the organization and was the recipient of the Outstanding Philanthropist Award at the National Philanthropy Day in Los Angeles n 2005. Stephen, also a member of Kayne Eras’ board, will join the ECF board of directors when the merger is legally consummated. He is co-founder and principal of Westside Estate Agency Realtors.

During the gala, ECF honored three longtime and passionate supporters who personally know the value of the programs the organization provides.

Joseph Tilem, attorney and former Beverly Hills mayor, received the Community Leadership Award for his many years of board leadership at ECF and for his other significant contributions to the Beverly Hills community. Tilem’s late brother, Allen Tilem, was an artist with a developmental disability who was a longtime participant in ECF’s Art Center program. He told a touching story of seeing Allen’s artwork in the work space of a bank he used and spoke of the influence the art program had in Allen’s life.

The Community Philanthropy Award was presented to Jack and Helen Nethercutt, chairman and vice chair of the Merle Norman Cosmetics board, for their ongoing support of Kayne Eras. The Nethercutts’ son, Trent, was a student at Kayne Eras and now lives in one of its residential facilities where he learns and grows every day. Helen is inspired by her son’s progress and appreciates the extraordinary services he receives. The Nethercutts also generously stepped forward as the gala’s title sponsor.

“It is truly fitting that we celebrated the union of our two organizations by honoring Joe Tilem and the Nethercutts at our annual gala,” said Scott. “Their personal compassion and dedication to those with disabilities has been expressed by outstanding volunteer service, leadership and generosity. All of us are inspired by the example they set.”

In addition to the formal awards presentations, Barbara Cull, Kayne Eras’ founder, presented ECF President and CEO Scott Bowling with her “Golden Bulldog.” She explained that the bulldog, the school mascot for Kayne Eras, represented the tenacity and goal-oriented mindset she employed to grow Kayne Eras into the respected educational entity that it is today. As Scott takes over leadership of Kayne Eras through the recent merger, she wanted him to have the Golden Bulldog as a symbol of her confidence in his ability to embrace and lead the organization into the future.