Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello are always game to get gussied up for a red carpet event and a good cause. This time, the super sexy duo made it to the Peggy Albrecht Friendly House awards luncheon. Fresh off their upcoming drama “Stano,” Joe looked sharp in a steel grey suit while Sophia appeared in all her goddess glory donning a floaty floral.
To the music of the Taiko drummers, the more than 600 guests were welcomed into the International Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton where surprise host, Margaret Cho, dished out the laughs.
“Magic Mike” hunk Joe was honored for his support of addiction treatment and was given the Man of the Year Award. MusiCares’ Senior Director Harold Owens took home the Excellence in Service Award, while entrepreneur and television personality Eden Sassoon was handed the Woman of the Year honor. Tattoo artist and beauty mogul Kat Von D was away but there in spirit, picking up the Shining Star Award.
The “do” featured a live auction with a collection of unique lots including an Oceania Polynesian Cruise, Maui and French Riviera vacation packages, and framed photos of rock and roll legends by noted photographer Katy Winn.
Although Cho kept the afternoon upbeat, she also noted the more serious work of the Peggy Albrecht Friendly House. “Together,” Cho noted, “we can build bridges of communication and provide hope and services to those who need it most.”
GEFFEN’S GIFT
There is one thing you can count on, Malibu’s David Geffen is leaving a permanent imprint on… well, just about everything. From music to medicine and the arts, his name and generosity seem to be everywhere.
His latest present comes in the form of an historic $150 million donation for a grand expansion of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
LACMA has ambitious plans to build an extension that would be considered one of the world’s great cultural treasures.
Geffen’s gift has been called a “game changer” and would be the single biggest donation on record toward an American museum.
The organization is seeking $650 million for the ambitious project and additional funds will increase the goal by $450 million.
The total is what LACMA will need to break ground on the modernist Peter Zumthor structure, which has been likened to be as much of an area show stopper as Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall.
The new complex will have a name, of course, and what would be more fitting than—what else?—“The David Geffen Galleries.”