Equality Now, an international human rights organization dedicated to women’s and girls’ rights, honored four powerhouses for change at the third “Make Equality Reality” fundraising gala.
The honorees included Jaha Dukureh (Equality Now partner, female genital mutilation (FGM) survivor activist, and TIME 100 honoree), Jane Fonda (two-time Academy Award winning actress, activist, and Equality Now Adolescent Girls’ Legal Defense Fund Advisory Board Member), and Laurie MacDonald & Walter Parkes (award winning film producers of “He Named Me Malala”).
The fundraising gala returned to the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills for the third time, on Monday, December 5th. The event brought together a diverse and dynamic group of change makers, celebrities and philanthropists to honor women making extraordinary changes to the women’s rights landscape.
Equality Now also partnered with ROUND + SQUARE, an exciting new conscious fashion brand. ROUND + SQUARE’s first collection was designed exclusively in support of Equality Now, which will receive 30% of the brand’s sales profits from these specially-crafted items.
Celebrity attendees included host Matt McCoy; Presenters Debbie Allen, Gloria Steinem (also an Event committee co-chair), Lily Tomlin; Gala co-chairs Sue Smalley PhD, Susan Hassan, and Paula Ravets PhD; Honorary host committee members Maria Bello, Sarah Brokaw, Janie Bryant, Goapele, Maggie Grace, Judy Hofflund & Tom Hansen, Bethany Joy Lenz, Aubrey Plaza, Paul Reiser, Joss Whedon, and Daphne Zuniga; Additional guests including Gloria Allred, Genevieve Angelson, Petra Flannery, Jami Gertz, Kathy Griffin, Melanie Griffith, Lizzy Jagger, Kamala Lopez, Maureen McCormick, Elizabeth Olsen, Ruby Rose, Mae Whitman, and more. The evening also featured a special acoustic performance from iconic band The Bangles.
Make Equality Reality was generously supported by Vanguard of Change partner, The Ultraviolet Edge, Urban Decay’s global initiative to empower women. Their incredible $100,000 donation will support Equality Now’s work to create a just world for women.
