Press Release: The 2018 Looking Ahead Awards

THE ACTORS FUND’S 2018 LOOKING AHEAD AWARDS TO HONOR
RAVEN-SYMONÉ, “ANDI MACK” CAST, MONIQUE COLEMAN & JOANI GELTMAN

Hosts Garrett Clayton & Ashley Argota and special guests Debbie Allen & Kenny Ortega celebrate young Hollywood at fifth annual fundraising gala

WHAT: The Actors Fund’s Looking Ahead Program will present The 2018 Looking Ahead Awards on Sunday, October 28, 2018 at the magnificent Taglyan Cultural Complex in Hollywood. Hosted by Ashley Argota and Garrett Clayton, The Looking Ahead Awards honors leaders in the current and former young performer community who inspire the world by living the program’s core values of growth, education, leadership and community service. Ari Graynor will present The Judy & Hilary Swank Award for Parenting to her mother, Joani Geltman; the stars of Disney Channel’s “Andi Mack” (Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Joshua Rush, Sofia Wylie & Asher Angel) will receive The Elizabeth Taylor Award for Social Awareness from Elizabeth Taylor’s great-granddaughter Vivian McMurray and grandson Tarquin Wilding; Raven-Symoné will be presented with The Looking Ahead Award for Education from Debbie Allen; and Monique Coleman will receive The Looking Ahead Award for Community Service from Kenny Ortega. This year’s fifth annual gala will also feature exciting live performances from Makayla Phillips and Dream Talent Crew.

WHO: Debbie Allen (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Asher Angel (“Andi Mack”), Ashley Argota (“The Fosters”), Parker Bates (“This Is Us”), Issac Ryan Brown (“Raven’s Home”), Garrett Clayton (“Hairspray Live!”), Monique Coleman (“Gimme Mo”), Ari Graynor (“The Front Runner”), Sky Katz (“Raven’s Home”), Peyton Elizabeth Lee (“Andi Mack”), Darius Marcell (“Andi Mack”), Vivian McMurray (Elizabeth Taylor’s great-granddaughter), Kenny Ortega (“Descendants,” “Hocus Pocus”), Navia Robinson (“Raven’s Home”), Raven-Symoné (“Raven’s Home”), Makayla Phillips (“America’s Got Talent”), Joshua Rush ("Andi Mack"), Tarquin Wilding (Elizabeth Taylor’s grandson), Sofia Wylie (“Andi Mack”) and more.

WHEN:

Sunday, October 28

3pm — Press Check-In

4-5pm — Blue Carpet Arrivals

WHERE:

Taglyan Cultural Complex, 1201 Vine Street, Hollywood, CA 90038

CONTACT: Scott Appel Media / scottappelmedia@gmail.com / 818-919-0515

ABOUT THE ACTORS FUND:

The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that fosters stability and resiliency, and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan. Through offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Fund serves everyone in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio and dance with programs including social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing, and secondary employment and training services. Visit www.actorsfund.org.

ABOUT LOOKING AHEAD:

The Looking Ahead Program was created in 2003 in partnership with SAG-AFTRA to work with youth between the ages of 9 and 18, helping them develop the values, skills and confidence they need to make successful transitions to fulfilling adult lives. Now serving more than 500 youths, families and alumni, the program aims to create a nurturing environment where young professional performers get support through individual, family and education counseling, leadership development, community service and social events. Looking Ahead is guided by an Advisory Committee of professionals in youth development and youth-related entertainment, which is co-chaired by actor Corbin Bleu and freelance casting director and former head of casting at Nickelodeon Sharon Lieblein. Visit www.lookingaheadprogram.org

The 2018 Looking Ahead Awards is generously sponsored by Disney Channel/Disney XD, SAG-AFTRA, US Bank and The Osbrink Agency.

Social Media Info: @TheActorsFund #LookingAheadAwards