On August 20th, Mr. Gossett will be receiving the Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award at the 4th Annual Hope Gala in Century City, from the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. This award highlights his accomplishments and his work establishing the Eracism Foundation.
About the HDSA:
The Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) is a national non-profit voluntary health agency dedicated to finding a cure for Huntington’s Disease. They provide vital support, information and educational services to improve the lives of those affected by HD, offer resources and guidance for HD families through a national network of volunteer-based chapters and affiliates as well as through HDSA Centers of Excellence for Family Services and also promote and support research to find a cure for HD. For more information, visit their website.
The U.S. Dream Academy tonight held its 8th annual Power of a Dream Gala, which raised over $600,000 for its nationally-recognized nonprofit afterschool and mentoring program.
Gala co-chairs U.S. Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Mark L. Pryor (D-AR), along with Congresswomen Maxine Waters (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), and Diane Watson (D-CA), and former Secretary of Defense William Cohen and his wife Janet Langhart Cohen were among the 500 attendees who joined U.S. Dream Academy CEO Wintley Phipps to honor three individuals who have shown by example the positive results of following your dreams and serving as role models for at-risk youth.
Mr. Gossett received the prestigious 2009 Legacy Award for his work with the Eracism Foundation. Previous honorees had included former Pres. Bill Clinton, Cicely Tyson and Neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Carson.
DC native Taraji P. Henson was presented with the 2009 President’s Award, and LDS Business College dean of academic outreach Keith Poelman was honored as 2009 Mentor of the Year for his volunteer service at the Dream Academy Learning Center in Salt Lake City, UT.
Mr. Gossett has been an enduring public presence for more than five decades and ranks as one of the most respected actors of stage, screen, and television. He has appeared in almost 160 television and film productions since his career began in 1958.
In 1983, he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film, An Officer and a Gentleman. Mr. Gossett also performed in the renowned television miniseries Roots and was a member of the original Broadway cast of A Raisin in the Sun. In 1961, he starred alongside Sidney Poitier in the film adaptation of the play. During his career, Mr. Gossett has won several Emmy, Golden Globe, and NAACP Image awards.
In 2006, Gossett launched The Eracism Foundation with the aim of eradicating the systematic impacts of all forms of racism by providing programs that foster cultural diversity, historical enrichment, education, and antiviolence initiatives. By addressing these issues, connecting individuals to their history and culture, The Eracism Foundation empowers the recipients of these services to improve the quality of life in their respective communities.
Mr. Gossett will deliver the commencement address.
Actor Louis Gossett Jr. introduces Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu in Indian Wells. (Richard Lui The Desert Sun)
Desert Town Hall-Indian Wells speakers series is in its 17th season bringing famous leaders, writers and icons to the Coachella Valley. Tutu, who won the Nobel Peace Prize 25 years ago, was widely viewed as a guiding force along with Nelson Mandela in bringing an end some 15 years ago to the apartheid system that had long persecuted South Africa’s blacks. Tutu spoke out against the racial injustice, calling for economic sanctions against his home country. He rose to become one of its key voices of conscience.
Mr. Gossett was honored to introduce Archbishop Tutu at this prestigious event. Among the things Tutu talked about was the election of President Barack Obama. “That you could choose for your president a man who is part African what an unbelievable thing,” he said.
Read the full story at mydesert.com and watch the video below!
Actor Louis Gossett, Jr. receives the Maverick Spirit Award duirng the 19th Cinequest Film Festival at the California Theater on March 3, 2009 in San Jose, California. (Photo Courtesy Black News Tribune)
Honored as the Keynote Speaker in Atlanta regarding “The Value of The Family”.
Currently is featured in the HBO documentary series The Black List which features prominent African-American in the fields of business, arts and culture and politics. This is being aired for Black History Month.
Currently featured along with other Academy Award Winning Actors winner in the February 2009 edition of Vogue Italia (Oscar issue)
Currently is featured in the HBO documentary series The Black List which features prominent African-American in the fields of business, arts and culture and politics. This is being aired for Black History Month.
He gave interviews on XM Sirius Joe Madison Show and The Tom Joyner Show and AOL Black Voices
Featured as the host of Let Freedom Sing a Black History Month special on TVONE
Presented Will Smith with an NAACP Image Award during the live televised on Fox
