Orphaned Starfish Foundation LA Raises over $200,000 at its Inaugural 1OAK Launch Party
buzzz worthy. . .
1Oak, Tori and Vinny Smith, Kim Stein and LA Startups Trendy Butler, Speakr and SURKUS Expand OSF to Los Angeles During Star-Studded Red Carpet Event
LOS ANGELES, June 10, 2016 -- In true Hollywood fashion, the Orphaned Starfish Foundation (OSF) was launched Wednesday night at the Sunset Strip's trendy 1OAK LA at a red carpet filled "club night" fundraiser. In the span of a few hours over $200,000 was raised to benefit the foundation's 50 international programs helping over 10,000 orphans in 25 countries around the world.
Celebrities arrived to support including Dolvett Quince of The Biggest Loser, actor Anthony Michael Hall, legendary Beastie Boys' DJ Mix Master Mike, American Ninja Warrior Host Matt Iseman and more. (GALLERY).
The concept to expand the chapter of the New York City based foundation in LA was the brainchild of OSF founder Andrew Stein andTrendy Butler CEO Jeremy Barnett after Barnett and fellow Trendy Butler co founder Ali Najafian embarked on a trip to one of OSF's orphanages in Bogota, Colombia. Trendy Butler, a technology and value driven men's subscription clothing startup sought the participation of their fellow entrepreneurs with SURKUS, a rapidly growing crowdcasting application service and influencer marketing leader Speakr to ensure the event would be a massive success.
"We really wanted to expand awareness of OSF here in LA," said Jeremy Barnett CEO of Trendy Butler and new Chairman of OSF Los Angeles. "We also wanted to bring in our fellow startup entrepreneurs who are young, scrappy and hungry just like we are to make a point that even though we're all hustling 80 plus hours a week to be successful, we can still take some time to help children around the world who really need it."
"The outpouring of support we received from the Los Angeles community was very humbling," said Andrew Stein. "Special thanks to 1Oak and Kim Stein for donating the venue. Supreme thanks to Trendy Butler, Surkus, & Speakr for helping us get this done. And a very special thank you to our largest donors Tori and Vinny Smith for bringing their friends from Los Angeles and Orange County to support OSF. Their matching donation of $100,000 last night was beyond inspirational."
About Orphaned Starfish:
Since 2001, ORPHANED STARFISH programs have addressed the challenges facing orphans, victims of abuse and at-risk youth by providing them with technology training, job training and job placement. OSF funds the construction and operation of vocational computer-based training facilities, including computers, furnishings, teacher salaries, job placement services, internships and scholarships for higher education. OSF also provides english language software & classes, and helps with job placement whenever possible. Orphaned Starfish now serves over 10,000 children in 50 computer centers in 25 countries around the world. www.orphanedstarfish.org
CONTACT: Ben Cooke 310-720-1214, Email
