A party is planned at the pier this Sunday to benefit the Special Olympics Southern California.
Pier del Sol will host its annual event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pacific Park and will include continuous entertainment — live music, square dancing, a petting zoo, a VIP brunch with some of Los Angeles’ top restaurants, as well as a silent auction.
More than 35 top restaurants including Spago, Bastide, Josie, Patina, Max, Angelini Osteria, Melisse, Sona, Valentino and the Water Grill will serve their appetizing specialties at the VIP brunch. Everyone is invited to the pier for a fun-filled day of thrilling rides and challenging game booths hosted by celebrity guests.
Previous honorees and celebrity guests include producer Kathleen Kennedy, Stacey Snider of Universal Studios, Doc O’Connor of CAA, Olympic gold medalist Rafer Johnson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver, Uma Thurman, Ethan Hawke and many others.
A special award ceremony will be held at noon to honor Timothy J. Leiweke, president and CEO of Anschutz Entertainment, the STAPLES Center and the Los Angeles Kings. Leiweke will be recognized for the extensive time and effort he has dedicated to SOSC and the local community, as well as numerous charitable causes.
Pier del Sol has raised more than $2 million to benefit the athletes of the Special Olympics.
Since its inception in 1997, Pier del Sol has raised more than $2 million to benefit the athletes of SOSC, an organization that strives to make a positive impact upon the lives of individuals with mental retardation. More than 11,000 children and adults with mental retardation participate in the organization’s year-round program of sports, training and competition.
General admission tickets are $35 and include unlimited rides, six game booth tickets and a meal coupon for Pacific Park’s food plaza. VIP tickets, which include unlimited rides and games at Pacific Park and the special VIP brunch, are $100 for an individual ticket and $375 for a VIP package (five tickets). Tickets are available through Ticketmaster by calling (213) 480-3232 or on the Internet at www.ticket-master.com. For more information, call (310) 215-8380, ext. 135.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 15, 2003. Read the original PDF.