Inner-City Arts celebrated its 20th year with a rip-roaring 2009 Imagine Gala & Auction, on October 15 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Honorees were TV producer Philip Rosenthal, his wife, actress Monica Horan Rosenthal, and their children, Ben and Lily. Chaired by Anna and Ray Romano (of Everybody Loves Raymond), the gala featured the culinary skills of many notable celebrity chefs.
Versa-Style Dance Company and Inner-City Arts students kicked off the evening with a high-energy hip-hop dance number. Six-time Emmy nominee Paul Reiser emceed with entertainment by special musical guests, Los Lobos and performance artists Gabriel Cortez & Dario, who recited an original and jarring poem about LAUSD budget cuts. The event raised over $575,000 of unrestricted funding that will be used towards keeping Inner-City Arts programming available at no costs to the students.
