Awardees Kai King (center rear), Caroline Donnola (center front) and A’Dunyae Lee (right rear) with benefit dinner hosts (left rear): Aswad Steel, Julian Stephens, Eulanna Allen, Luis Garcia; (left front) Shellena Eskridge, Flaca Hendren, Lavese Collins, Gio Kendall, Amani Barnes and Latiisha Hester.

On October 6, "A Partnership for Youth," the Bay Area Center for Independent Culture’s (BACIC) second annual gala award’s dinner, benefiting the Bay Area All Stars, was held at Scott's Seafood Restaurant in Oakland's Jack London Square. The benefit was co-chaired by BACIC President Joyce Dattner and BACIC President's Committee member Jim Greene. The dinner raised $45,000, exceeding both its attendance and financial goals!  Kai King, an All Stars youth producer and outreach team leader, and A'Dunyae Lee, the All Stars Talent Show emcee, producer and youth outreach team leader, each received youth leadership awards. The All Stars Volunteer Leadership Award was presented to BACIC's Volunteer Manager, Caroline Donnola, by Eulanna Allen, one of a growing number of youth volunteers Donnola has trained. Gillian Teichert, a 15-year All Stars Project supporter and generous donor to the Bay Area All Stars received the All Stars’ Donor Leadership Award.  Community Leader awards went to Rosario Navarrette, a Bay Area All Stars donor and Talent Show judge with a 20-year history of community organizing around domestic violence issues, and Chris Wiltsee, Director of Youth Movement Records, who was nominated by All Stars youth volunteers.

The Bay Area All Stars held its sixth talent show on November 13 at Oakland Technical High School. Twenty-seven acts danced, rapped, sang and spoke their hearts out before an audience of 177 relatives, friends and community supporters.  Young people also took center stage on the tech team, box office, registration, and security.

Performers’ shout-outs of appreciation were directed to the All Stars and to emcee A'Dunyae Lee, "The Specialist." A number of audience members signed up at the end of the day to perform and/or volunteer at the next All Stars audition in March, 2005. 

During December, All Stars youth volunteers will join BACIC's team of seasoned volunteer fundraisers to ensure the success of its Sidewalk Spectaculars, the All Stars’ holiday street-corner fundraising effort.  The BACIC/All Stars Holiday and Volunteer Recognition Party will take place on December 17 at BACIC's San Francisco office.

If you’d like to know more about how you can volunteer with the Bay Area All Stars, contact Caroline Donnola at becomeavolunteer@bacic.org. To reach the Bay Area All Stars by phone, call 415-986-2565.