The Actors Fund has announced a star-studded lineup for the 2018 Looking Ahead Awards hosted by Garrett Clayton (“Hairspray Live!,” “Teen Beach Movie”) and Ashley Argota (“The Fosters”) on Sunday, October 28 from 4-8pm at the magnificent Taglyan Complex in Hollywood.
The fifth annual gala, which raises support and awareness for The Actors Fund’s Looking Ahead Program, features exciting “blue carpet” arrivals, cocktail hour, gourmet dinner, awards ceremony and live performances. Tickets are now on sale at www.actorsfund.org/LookingAheadAwards.
The Looking Ahead Awards celebrates leaders in the current and former young performer community who inspire the world by living the Looking Ahead Program’s core values of growth, education, leadership and community service.
The Judy & Hilary Swank Award for Parenting, honoring the parent of a former young performer, will be presented by actress Ari Graynor (“The Front Runner” with Hugh Jackman, Showtime’s “I’m Dying Up Here”) to her mother, Joani Geltman.
The Looking Ahead Award for Education, honoring a former young performer who has made education a priority in their life, will be presented by Debbie Allen to Raven-Symoné, star and executive producer of Disney Channel’s “Raven’s Home.”
The Looking Ahead Award for Community Service, honoring a former young performer who exemplifies giving back to the community, will be presented by Kenny Ortega to actress, producer and global youth advocate Monique Coleman (“Gimme Mo,” “Dancing With The Stars,” “High School Musical” trilogy).
The Elizabeth Taylor Award for Social Awareness, honoring the youth cast of a current TV show that is raising awareness about important societal issues though their roles, will be presented by Vivian McMurray (Elizabeth Taylor’s great-granddaughter) and Tarquin Wilding (Elizabeth Taylor’s grandson) to the young stars of Disney Channel’s hit series “Andi Mack” — Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Joshua Rush, Sofia Wylie and Asher Angel.
The evening will also feature live performances by Makayla Phillips from NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” and Dream Talent Crew (dancers Jade Bucci, Gabe DeGuzman, Conner Finnerty, Sheaden Gabriel, Saryna Garcia, Liv Simone, Leanne Tessa & Sharlize True).
The Looking Ahead Program was created in 2003 in partnership with SAG-AFTRA to work with youth between the ages of 9 and 18, helping them develop the values, skills and confidence they need to make successful transitions to fulfilling adult lives. Now serving more than 500 youths, families and alumni, the program aims to create a nurturing environment where young performers get support through individual, family and education counseling, leadership development, community service and social events. Looking Ahead is guided by an Advisory Committee of professionals in youth development and youth-related entertainment, which is co-chaired by actor and recording artist Corbin Bleu and freelance casting director and former head of casting at Nickelodeon Sharon Lieblein.
Previous Looking Ahead Awards honorees include Tatyana Ali, Lance Bass, Max Burkholder, Jordana Brewster, Mario Lopez, Kellie Martin, Tia & Tamera Mowry, Margaret O’Brien, Charlotte Rae, Fred Savage; the parent(s) of Hilary Swank, Wilmer Valderrama, Corbin Bleu and Holly Robinson-Peete; and the youth casts of “This Is Us,” “black-ish” and “The Fosters.”
