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15th Annual Dream Halloween®
By Staff Writer
Each October, the Children Affected by AIDS Foun-dation opens its doors to hundreds of families to attend Dream Halloween® in-costume and trick-or-treat for toys, meet their favorite costume characters, play games, watch the live stage show, create arts and crafts and enjoy delicious food.
Taking place at Barker Hangar in the Santa Monica Air Center, this year's 15th Annual Dream Hall-oween® will proclaim Jamie Lee Curtis as host and Jada Pinkett Smith and her daughter Willow Smith as honorary event chairs. Wilmer Valderrama, Jason Priestley, Melina Kanakaredes and Doris Roberts are honorary vice co-chairs for the event. Funds support Children Affected by AIDS Foundation (www.CAAF4kids.org).
"The LA Scene"-themed Hall-oween celebration includes Holly-Weird, Mali-Boo, 9021-Uh-Oh and Bel-Scare Estates. These landmark towns feature trick-or-treating for toys, costume characters, games, arts and crafts and food from Blue Velvet, Chaya, Citrus at Social, Dessert Alert, Drago Ristorante, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Roy's of Woodland Hills, Global Cuisine by Gary Arabia, Law Firm of Keesal, Young & Logan, Lucky Strike Lanes, New Zealand Natural Premium Ice Cream, Pastries by Edie, Roy's Woodland Hills, Sashi Sushi & Sake Lounge, Tanino Ristorante and Universal Studios Hollywood.
One-of-a-kind dolls created in the likeness of Jada Pinkett Smith and Willow Smith will be presented by Bob Eckert, Chairman and CEO, Mattel, Inc. and Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO, Toys"R"Us, Inc. A one-of-a-kind Hot Wheels® will be made with actor Wilmer Valderrama as well and will be presented by Tim Kilpin, Mattel General Manager and Senior Vice President Boys/Entertainment and Jason Priestley, last year's recipient. All three celebrities will auction these unique items with the proceeds benefiting the foundation.
In addition, Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO, Toys"R"Us, Inc. will receive the foundation's Ribbon of Dreams ® Award in the Children's Advocate Award Category and Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, LLP will be honored with the Industry Award Category for their work in helping the organization achieve its mission.
"World-wide there are more than two million children living with HIV and an additional 15 million who have been orphaned due to AIDS. Events like Dream Hall-oween® Los Angeles allow us to raise critical funds to support these children in need," says Joe Cristina of Mattel, Inc. "Our gracious sponsors, event attendees, performers and volunteers have helped us to raise more than $30 million since our inception in 1993."
Mattel, Inc. and Toys"R"Us, Inc. are Founding and Presenting sponsors of Dream Halloween® Los Angeles. Other event sponsors include American Airlines, Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, Besser Design Group, Jill and Tom Barad, Freeman Companies, and Latham & Watkins. American Baby and Parenting Magazines are Media partners. These generous businesses provide the underwriting, travel, décor, toys and other children's activities that make Dream Halloween® an incredible success each year.
For tickets and information, call (310) 201-5033.
About CAAF
Worldwide there are more than 33 million people infected with HIV and more than 15 million children orphaned by AIDS. The number of children affected by AIDS in the U.S. alone is currently estimated at nearly 125,000.
The Children Affected by AIDS Foundation was founded in Los Angeles in 1993 by Joe Cristina, a Mattel, Inc. executive whose desire to help children was inspired by the outpouring of support he received when he disclosed his own HIV-positive status. It is the only organization devoted to providing social, educational, recreational and other critical support for children impacted by HIV/AIDS in the U.S. and other countries. CAAF accomplishes its mission domestically and abroad through four programs including domestic grant making, domestic initiatives, international grant making and international
initiatives.