This year we are excited to celebrate 30 years of our CDF Beat the Odds® program here in California. On April 21, 2021, we will recognize the milestone in a virtual ceremony that will feature scholars from the past and present who will talk about the program’s impact on their life. Also, we will honor Avis and Mark Ridley-Thomas, longtime supporters of Children’s Defense Fund-California and our work. We hope that you will join us for this celebration.
- Become a sponsor
- Buy a ticket for the virtual ceremony
- Make a donation to support the California Beat the Odds® program
Gifts will directly support Beat the Odds scholars, our fight for racial justice and equity, and our COVID-19 response efforts.
Our Mission
Since 1973, Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) has worked to ensure every child has a Healthy Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. CDF began the Beat the Odds® program to celebrate the potential of young people. We honor individual high school students who have overcome tremendous adversity, demonstrated academic commitment and given back to their communities. To help ensure their success, CDF-CA supports them with college preparation, mentoring, skills building, internship placements and a $10,000 scholarship upon enrollment in a college/career program. Supporting this event is also an investment in CDF-CA’s work to change the systems, laws and practices that are historically biased and that serve to perpetuate ruinous outcomes for poor children in California. Stand for children by becoming involved in our efforts.
Sponsor the Event
You can still join our current BTO sponsors with support for CDF-CA. This year, your gift will be 100% attributable to our mission and impact work. It will also allow us to increase the traditional support we provide BTO honorees, and provide critical support especially as we adapt to meet the challenges brought on by the COVID pandemic.
Because this year is like no other, and our work is at the center of the inequities that are being lifting up both by the pandemic and the current civil protests, please consider supporting CDF-CA in any of the following categories.
Thank You to Our 2021 Beat the Odds Supporters
Katie McGrath & J.J. Abrams
Annenberg Foundation
Ambassador Frank Baxter & Kathrine Baxter
Carol Biondi
The Broad Foundation
Jacqueline & Andrew Caster
Aileen Adams & Geoffrey Cowan
David Geffen Foundation
Jonathan & Susan Dolgen Family Foundation
Leslie & Cliff Gilbert-Lurie
Lisa Essakow & Stephen Gunther
Dr. James & Caryn Hobbs
Cindy & Alan Horn
Ruth-Ann Huvane
Kevin Huvane
Johnny Carson Foundation
Lyn & Norman Lear
Heidi & Damon Lindelof
Beth & Bob Lowe
Agatha & Steve Luczo
Nancy & Greg Meidel
Wendy & Barry Meyer
Jane, Dax & Maisie Munna
Liza & Conan O’Brien
The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
Avis & Mark Ridley-Thomas
Dan Seaver
Bill Resnick & Michael J. Stubbs
Nadine Schiff-Rosen & Fred Rosen
SEIU 721
Ellie & Tom Wertheimer
**list in formation
Contact us
We are here to answer all the questions you may have about the event.
For further information on ways to support this deserving event, please call 5B Events at 310–559–9334 or email harvin@5bevents.com.
For information on the Beat the Odds scholarship program, contact Saira Soto at (213) 355–8787 or ssoto@childrensdefense.org.
For media and press inquiries, contact Cadonna Dory at cdory@childrensdefense.org.