Julia Roberts doesn’t spend many nights away from her home and kids to attend Hollywood parties and galas.
But you can always count on her to be at GLESN’s Respect Awards, which honor people and organizations that help improve the lives of LGBTQ youth.
Roberts was at this year’s Respect Awards last night to present the Visionary Award to Jess Cagle, the editorial director of Time Inc.’s Style & Entertainment Group.
“It is my pleasure every year to support GLSEN,” the Oscar winner said. “I love this night. I told the kids backstage…that this is like my third favorite night of the year—and one and two, but don’t tell anyone.
“But one of the three nights might be my birthday, which is next Friday,” Roberts continued. “If you wake up next Friday and think, what should I get Julia for her birthday then donate to GLSEN. I’m going to be 49, so a $49-donation would be great. Thank you.”
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In addition to Cagle, GLSEN also handed out awards to Kate Hudson, YouTube star Connor Franta, 15-year-old student advocate Edward Estrada and Target. The evening also raised about $1.1 million for GLSEN.
Hudson, who received the Inspiration Award, talked about her work with her mother Goldie Hawns Hawn Foundation, especially the organization’s Mind Up curriculum.
“My mother talks about how she was driven to bring a solution to children who were suffering from high levels of stress, who were completely lacking the skills to navigate such a complex world and she was incredibly moved by the statistics of school violence and bullying, youth depression, suicide and this is really important to us—the persistent failure of the education system to help children cope with these issues and flourish,” Hudson said. “So it goes without saying that I got very involved with my mom and her mission and now after 15 years, we’re reaching a million children and watching them soar to become more tolerant and passionate.
“It’s so wonderful for me tonight to be here with another organization that shares a similar vision for our next generation and those to come,” she said. “It’s so important. To create any real change and real movement, we all know that it starts with our children in their home environment and in their schools.”
Celeb guests and presenters at the event, which took place at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, gala also included Jim Parsons, soccer star Robbie Rogers, Charlie Carver, Matt Bomer, Milo Ventimiglia, Kate Mulgrew, Nina Dobrev and Chelsea Kane.
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