The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) gears up for its sixth annual Humanity Rocks: A Celebration with a Cause to be held Dec. 10 during Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2014 in Los Angeles.
Created in 2009 in collaboration with founding sponsor Global Experience Specialists (GES), this annual event benefits a local charity in the city where Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition is being held. Proceeds from this year’s Humanity Rocks will benefit Los Angeles-based A Place Called Home (APCH).
APCH was created in the wake of the 1992 Los Angeles riots and civil unrest. Founder Debrah Constance wanted to provide a safe place for gang-affected youth in South Central L.A. to go after school, complete homework, get a snack, watch TV, hang out with friends and be with caring adults. The charity started off in May 1993 with 12 children gathered together in the basement of a neighborhood church.
“The team at GES looks forward to Humanity Rocks every year. We have a lot of fun dancing alongside our friends and it’s all for a great cause,” said Gina McDuffie, executive vice president, global marketing, GES. “We’re really excited about this year’s charity, A Place Called Home. In providing South Central Los Angeles kids with love, safety and enrichment, the caring staff helps kids develop their interests, imagination and capabilities. One day these kids may be event professionals dancing alongside us!”
By 1996, its membership had grown to 400 youth, and APCH moved to its present location, which has grown into a 25,000 square-foot facility that features an athletic field, commercial kitchen, garden, dance, music and art studios, a library and computer lab, a dropout recovery center, and a teen center. APCH provides a home away from home for more than 300 children and youth every day; and directly serves more than 1,000 youth and families every year, and thousands more community members via large scale events such as health fairs, concerts, screenings, and regular distributions of food, clothing, toys, books, school supplies and more.
A check will be presented to APCH during IAEE’s Annual Networking and Awards Luncheon on Dec. 11. Jonathan Zeichner, Executive Director at APCH expressed his enthusiasm.
“We are thrilled to welcome IAEE and all the Expo! Expo! attendees this year. The choice to benefit A Place Called Home will have a direct positive impact on the lives of hundreds of young people in South Central L.A., and we are very appreciative – this is a great example of corporate and industry citizenship at its best.”
IAEE’s Humanity Rocks: A Celebration with a Cause would like to thank the sponsors of this year’s event:
- Founding Sponsor – Global Experience Specialists (GES)
- Gold Sponsor – Production Resource Group LLC (PRG)
- Silver Sponsor – CORT Trade Show Furnishings
- Bronze Sponsor – Convention Data Services Inc.
- Host Venue – The Conga Room
