Lionsgate and Activision honored for philanthropy
By Daily Press staff
The 10th Annual Spirit Awards was held at Fairmont-Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica. This year’s Spirit Awards also marked the 125th anniversary of the American Red Cross and kicked off a three-year, $1 million Community Disaster Response Campaign for the Santa Monica chapter.
Hundreds of items ranging from apparel to zoo tickets were up for bid during a silent auction. Collectibles, artwork, meals, tickets to Southern California attractions, merchandise, travel and vacations, sports and entertainment memorabilia and a guitar donated by Flea from the Red Hot Chilly Peppers were auctioned off to the highest bidders.
Pre-dinner music was provided by jazz singer and pianist, Walter Barrilueaux. He was displaced from his home by the disaster in New Orleans, came to the Santa Monica Red Cross for services and is now living and performing in the Santa Monica area.
Guests previewed an exclusive film clip from a documentary shot in Santa Monica and throughout the South about local volunteers who worked on the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita disaster relief efforts. Hosting the presentation were film makers P.J. Palmer, John Logsdon, Matt Ogens and Charles Haid.
Music for after-dinner dancing was provided by the Tom Nolan Band.
The Red Cross of Santa Monica’s 2006 Spirit Awards themselves honor an extraordinary commitment to service on behalf of the American Red Cross.
In addition to the chapter’s own volunteers, honorees included Kitty Dukakis who was recognized for her international humanitarian work and efforts with youth and youth empowerment. She received the Spirit of Service Award.
A posthumous Spirit of Volunteerism Award went to Santa Monica Red Cross volunteer, Santa Monica Police officer and USMC Reservist, Major Ricardo Antonio “Rick” Crocker who was killed in action in Al-Anbar province, Iraq last May.
Approximately 20 members of Rick’s USMC unit based at Camp Pendleton provided an honor guard for the award which was accepted by Jeanette Garcia, Major Crocker’s mother. The Spirit of Volunteerism Award will henceforth be known as the Rick Crocker Spirit of Volunteerism Award in his memory.
SMPD Chief, James T. Butts, Jr. escorted Garcia to the podium and City Councilman Bobby Shriver presented the award. A large contingent of Santa Monica police officers attended the event and paid tribute to Crocker.
Santa Monica companies, Lionsgate (Lions Gate Entertainment) and Activision, Inc. received Spirit of Philanthropy Awards for their philanthropic support of the chapter and its hurricane disaster relief efforts.
All proceeds from the 2006 Spirit Awards benefit the American Red Cross of Santa Monica which is a publicly supported, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides health and safety education, youth services, CPR and first aid training, disaster awareness and disaster relief efforts.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 14, 2006. Read the original PDF.