Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/24/2014 -- On the evening of Thursday June 19, 2014, with Olympic gold medalists and Special Olympics athletes in attendance, Gary Dartnall and Julie Coyne hosted an event at their home to raise funds and awareness for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games. The World Games will be the largest sports and humanitarian event in the world next year and, with 7,000 athletes and 177 countries participating, the largest sporting event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympics.
Guests mingled in the elegantly decorated garden and enjoyed a buffet of delights and drinks with live musical entertainment by Bill Sharpe & Friends. Throughout the course of the evening, attendees bid on the silent auction items to raise funds for the World Games, some of which were provided by the Four Seasons Hotels, Il Ceilo Restaurant, Rockwell Watches and Candy Ice Jewelry.
Later in the evening two Special Olympics athletes and LA2015 board members, Dustin Plunkett and Debi Anderson, shared their stories and passion for the importance of World Games. Rafer Johnson, the 1960 Olympic decathlon gold medalist and founder of Special Olympics Southern California, made a heartfelt speech about his nearly 50 year involvement with the mission that began with a request from Special Olympics founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. LA2015 Chairman Rob Friedman, who is Co-Chairman at Lionsgate Entertainment, detailed the level of support needed to fund the 25-sport competition, which will take place from July 25-August 2, 2015. LA2015 President and CEO, Patrick McClenahan, gave a presentation outlining the vision for the World Games, which is to leave a legacy of inclusion and acceptance for the City of Los Angeles, the nation and the world.
Some of the other esteemed guests included; Nigel Lythgoe (Creator and Judge, So You Think You Can Dance), John Naber (4-time gold medalist swimmer at 1976 Olympics), Matthew Joynes (Host), Elga Sharpe (Host),Adam Coons (Host), Jeff Carr (LA2015 COO), Mehdi Eftekari (Host, General Manager Four Seasons Los Angeles), Jolene Engel (host), Domingo Zapata(Artist).
For more information contact:
Jane Owen
Jane@janeowenpr.com
424.279.9424
World Games LA 2015: http://www.la2015.org/