Jason Mraz to Perform at Shane’s Inspiration’s 18th Annual Gala

Multi Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Jason Mraz will headline Shane’s Inspiration’s star-studded gala on Friday evening, March 29th at The Beverly Hills Hotel. “The Greatest Playground Reimagined” celebration will be co-hosted by Carrie Ann Inaba (The Talk / Dancing with the Stars). The festivities will include celebrity red carpet arrivals, cocktail reception, live and silent auctions, dinner, awards program, live entertainment and much more.

“We are honored to have the incredible Jason Mraz perform at our gala this year. His commitment to inclusion through his foundation is in direct alignment with our own, which creates social inclusion and inclusive play for children of all abilities. We are extremely grateful to be partnering with this extraordinary talent and advocate," remarked Tiffany Harris, Co-Founder & CEO of Shane's Inspiration.

This year’s honorees include Kim Culmone, Mattel's SVP Global Head of Design who spearheaded the creation of the differently-abled Barbie dolls, will receive the Visionary Leadership Award. Evan Ruggiero, an award-winning, one-legged Broadway tap dancer, will receive the Courageous Spirit Award. He will also dazzle guests with an incredible and memorable performance. Nora Yacoubian, a community and inclusion advocate who helped launch Shane’s playgrounds at home and abroad, will receive the Community Leadership Award presented to her by Los Angeles City Councilmember, Paul Krekorian.

Shane’s Inspiration is the global leader in creating inclusive playgrounds and educational programs for children with disabilities. Funds raised from the gala will provide support for the global nonprofit’s signature programs that teach compassion and acceptance towards people with disabilities. For tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and additional information, visit shanesinspiration.org.

Past celebrity gala supporters have included Andy Garcia, JK Simmons, President Bill Clinton, Sean Hayes, Mena Suvari, Pauley Perrette, Kaley Cuoco, Jerry O’Connell, Rebecca Romjin, Jon Huertas, Laura San Giacomo, David Koechner, Micah Fowler, Mason Cook, Dmitry Chaplin, Emmanuel Kelly, Elisabeth Rohm, Brian Dietzen, Ernie Hudson, Paula Abdul, Halle Berry, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jill Hennessey, Kathryn Hahn, Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, Garcelle Beauvais, Ben Vereen, Michael Chiklis, Madison McLaughlin, Pooch Hall, Alexis G. Zall, Sean Murray, Sam Daly, Joe Mantegna, and many others.

Thanks to a generous grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, Shane’s Inspiration is excited to re-imagine inclusive play as they celebrate the re-opening of their very first inclusive playground in Griffith Park. The newly designed playground will include all-new equipment and sensory elements that their team helped develop over the past 20 years in tandem with their extraordinary partners at Landscape Structures Inc.

The grand re-opening of Shane’s Inspiration flagship playground in Griffith Park is slated for Thursday, March 28th in honor of Shane’s birthdate.

Shane’s Inspiration came to life in 1998 when television producer/writer Scott Williams, ("NCIS"), his wife Catherine Curry-Williams, and their close friend Tiffany Harris, wanted to memorialize the tragic loss of the Williams' infant son. Realizing that Shane’s disability would have prevented him from playing on a regular playground with typical children, the trio decided to commemorative his life by building the first fully inclusive playground in the western United States. Since opening their first universally accessible playground in Griffith Park 20 years ago, the Los Angeles based international nonprofit has grown into a global movement with 70 playgrounds worldwide, and 75 additional projects currently in development. With playgrounds on every continent, Shane’s Inspiration is recognized as a world's leader in creating inclusive playgrounds and educational programs that unite children of all abilities.

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