Los Angeles, California; New York, New York — GINA ALEXANDER INC., - WWW.GINAALEXANDER.COM - creators of world-famous “Photo Handbags” that have garnered a huge celebrity-following --- including Halle Berry, Matthew McConaughey, Penelope Cruz, 50 Cent, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw and Green Day to name a few --- will sponsor a Benefit to launch the Hope Center Orphanage and Grief Recovery Plan for under-served children in the Philippines.
HOPE worldwide, Ltd., WWW.HOPEWW.ORG, is an organization that helps children all over the world, especially those whose lives have been ravaged by the AIDS epidemic, and was featured on Oprah Winfrey’s Christmas Special. The benefit will raise money specifically for Filipino children who are victims of child prostitution and sexual abuse.
Owner and designer Gina Alexander has a strong passion to protect all children, using her namesake company to help achieve that worthy goal. She has been active in children’s charities since the inception of her company. In addition, she was recently inducted as a member of the Board of Directors of “HOPE for Children”, an organization GINA ALEXANDER, INC. has donated monies to assist with children adoptions.
“Adopting my daughter inspired me to be more involved in adoptions,” says Gina Alexander. “I’ve helped friends and colleagues adopt from other countries like Russia , Ethiopia and of course the USA . But now I want to give my total focus to my people in the Philippines… after learning that the “Filipina woman” is the biggest import to other countries as caretakers, nannies, hostesses and learning how they are led into prostitution, I was moved to do something about it and be a positive role model for my Filipina sisters.”
“I have a deep love for my people,” affirms Gina, “and a strong desire to see more abandoned children in the Philippines become adopted by Filipinos in the USA . I’ve been a volunteer for HOPE worldwide for 17 years and HOPE for Children (its sister company) helped me adopt Katelyn, my daughter, at 2 weeks old; she is now 5. I always look at her and ask myself where would she be if we did not open our hearts and minds to adoption. Adoption is an incredible act of love.” Gina Alexander’s Philanthropy Projects (GAPP) has already helped many underprivileged or abandoned children find happy, healthy homes, like Samuel Hadjian, Gina’s godson, who was adopted by the Hadjian Family from Ethiopia after the child was found abandoned on the steps of a church. The fundraising event for HOPE Worldwide, Ltd. will benefit the Center of HOPE in the Philippines and will take place on Sunday, June 01, 2008 at the Twin Palms Restaurant in Pasadena, California.
Among the many invited celebrities expected to walk the red carpet are: musician Kenny G, Sanjaya Malakar of “American Idol”, actress Kelly Hu (“X-Men”), Peter Jensen (former Quarter back for the NY Jets & NY Giants), actress and Grammy-nominated singer Tia Carrera (“Wayne’s World”, “True Lies”, “Relic Hunter”), actress Nia Peeples (“North Shore”, tv’s “Fame” and “Walker, Texas Ranger’), KTLA Morning News Early Edition co-anchor Cher Calvin, actress Victoria Rowell (“The Young and The Restless”), actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Janie Hendrix (sister of Jimi Hendrix and CEO of Experience Hendrix), Apl.de.ap of the Grammy-award winning “Black Eye Peas”, Moon Bloodgood of “Daybreak”, tv’s Carrie Ann Inaba (“Dancing with the Stars”, “Dance Wars: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann”) and actress Tamlyn Tomita (“The Joy Luck Club” and “Karate Kid”) with more celebrities and VIPS’s being invited daily.
ABS-CBN Global, N.A., The Filipino Channel (TFC) and Balitang America are the media sponsors of the star-studded gala.