Los Angeles (June 17, 2004) – Celebrities, politicians and a guest list of Los Angeles Who’s Who enjoyed a night under the stars at a benefit held Saturday evening, June 12th, at a private Brentwood residence. The event – Come Be A Kid Again: First Star’s Celebration for Children’s Rights – was held to honor advocates for children’s rights. Attended by Congresswomen Loretta Sanchez and Linda Sanchez, Dick Clark, Garry Marshall, Kristin Davis, Alicia Silverstone and Esai Morales, the event included an eclectic dinner provided by LA’s hottest restaurants (including the Fairmont Hotel, The Union Cattle Company), an on-site carnival, a silent auction and entertainment by Vonda Shepard. [Photographs]

A First Star Image Award was presented to the NBC television show, American Dreams, which consistently portrays inspiring images of an American family to tens of millions of households across the country and therefore serves as a powerful, positive role model for all families. Kathleen Kennedy, whose extraordinary producing career includes the feature films The Color Purple, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, The Sixth Sense, Snow Falling on Cedars and Seabiscuit, received a First Star Humanitarian Award for her dedicated and long-standing support of children's rights. A First Star Humanitarian Award went to Jacqueline Caster, Founder and President of the Everychild Foundation, an innovative Los Angeles women's philanthropy targeting local children in need. Phyllis Klein, former pre-school director, tutor and well-known philanthropist, was also honored with a First Star Humanitarian Award.

The event’s sponsors included GUESS!, United Talent Agency, MGM Studios, ICM, City National Bank, the law firm of Greenberg Traurig and Privilege Magazine. Event support was provided by Buzz Bags and the Sirens Society.

Based in Washington, D.C., First Star is a national 501(c) 3 charity dedicated to bringing best practices to child protection in America. Motion picture executive Peter Samuelson, President and Co-founder of First Star, assured guests that, "All proceeds of the event will benefit the welfare, advocacy and protection of the more than 3 million U.S. children in institutions, foster care and on the streets. A portion of the proceeds from this event will fund the First Star Congressional Roundtable on Children. The costs of this event have been fully underwritten by the Host Committee and our generous sponsors."