BizBash
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
Topics
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
  • Industry Buzz
  • BizBash Lists
Resources
  • On-Demand
  • White Papers & E-Books
  • Podcast
  • Magazine
  • Events
  • Awards
  • Subscribe
User Tools
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Get Featured
  • Press Releases
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Subscribe to Magazine
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
  • On-Demand
  • White Papers & E-Books
  • Podcast
  • Magazine
  • Events
  • Awards
  • Subscribe

Southern California's Top 100 Events 2013 - Benefits

October 1, 2013
1. Carousel of Hope Ball
1. Carousel of Hope Ball

#1 Benefit
The Carousel of Hope Ball honored George Clooney at the Beverly Hilton last year. Founded by Barbara and the late Marvin Davis in 1977, the blockbuster benefit takes place every other year and has raised $80 million for the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes since its inception, with help from corporate sponsors (like recent presenting sponsor Mercedes-Benz) and entertainment industry partners. Next: Fall 2014

Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages
2. Race to Erase MS
2. Race to Erase MS

#2 Benefit
Hosted by Nancy Davis at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Race to Erase MS raises big money for the organization and its Center Without Walls program. This year’s event was the 20th annual iteration, and the theme was “Love to Erase MS;” It raised $1.8 million. Next: May 2014

Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS
3. California Science Center's Discovery Ball
3. California Science Center's Discovery Ball

#3 Benefit
California Science Center’s Discovery Ball got a boost this year from the coolest prop imaginable: It took place under the wings of the space shuttle Endeavour, which the museum scored from NASA late last year in a major coup for the museum. Amid all the buzz, the museum sold out tables for the event—even before the invitation dropped. Coupled with live auction tallies, the event secured a record-breaking $1.5 million. Christina Sion heads up the annual event, which typically takes its cues from a new exhibit. Next: May 16, 2014

Photo: Nadine Froger Photography
4. Los Angeles Philharmonic Opening Night Gala
4. Los Angeles Philharmonic Opening Night Gala

#4 Benefit
The Los Angeles Philharmonic gala opens the season at Walt Disney Concert Hall. This year, the event celebrated the milestone 10th anniversary of the hall and honored its architect Frank Gehry. The concert featured Gustavo Dudamel, Yo-Yo Ma, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, plus installations by video artist and director Netia Jones. Next: September 2014

Photo: Ziva Santop/Mathew Imaging
5. Entertainment Industry Foundation's An Unforgettable Evening
5. Entertainment Industry Foundation's An Unforgettable Evening

#5 Benefit
The Entertainment Industry Foundation’s An Unforgettable Evening benefits the Women’s Cancer Research Fund. This year, honorary chairs Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks, Kate Capshaw, and Steven Spielberg welcomed guests to the event, presented by Saks Fifth Avenue at the Beverly Wilshire hotel. Chelsea Handler hosted. Next: May 2014

Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages
6. Chrysalis Butterfly Ball
6. Chrysalis Butterfly Ball

#6 Benefit
Drawing a celeb-heavy crowd to a private Brentwood estate, the 12-year-old Chrysalis Butterfly Ball is the nonprofit's biggest annual benefit, raising funds to support homeless and low-income individuals. In 2013, Max Greenfield hosted the affair. Next: June 2014

Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Chrysalis
7. Women in Film's Crystal & Lucy Awards
7. Women in Film's Crystal & Lucy Awards

#7 Benefit
Women in Film’s Crystal & Lucy Awards celebrated the organization’s 40th anniversary this year with a glittering gala at the Beverly Hilton. Jenna Elfman hosted, and Max Mara, Swarovski, and Kodak were among the sponsors. The program, which began in 1977, acknowledges women in a male-dominated industry through the annual award show and fund-raiser. Next: June 2014

Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
8. Concern Foundation's Block Party
8. Concern Foundation's Block Party

#8 Benefit
Concern Foundation’s Block Party at Paramount Pictures Studios raised $1.6 million this year, a significant increase over last year’s event. The 39th annual event had a “Salute to Television” theme and drew 400 guests with four entertainment stages and more than 60 restaurants offering tastings. Next: July 2014

Photo: Edo Photographer
9. Los Angeles Opera Season-Opening Gala
9. Los Angeles Opera Season-Opening Gala

#9 Benefit
This year the Los Angeles Opera celebrated the opening of its 28th season with a night that included the premiere of Carmen, conducted by Los Angeles Opera general director Plácido Domingo. There was also a preperformance champagne reception, a dinner catered by Patina, and entertainment. Following the performance, the celebration continued with hors d’oeuvres, desserts, dancing, and cocktails, all with Spanish flair. Next: September 2014

Photo: Steve Cohn Photography
10. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County's Dinosaur Ball
10. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County's Dinosaur Ball

#10 Benefit
The Dinosaur Ball is the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s biannual black-tie fund-raiser. This year, it took a brief pause from that name and was dubbed the Grand Centennial Celebration in honor of the museum’s 100th birthday—and it exceeded fund-raising goals to bring in more than $2 million. The benefit is slated to return in 2015. Next: June 2015

Photo: Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging
11. Concours D'Elegance
11. Concours D'Elegance

#11 Benefit (up from #12)
Concours D'Elegance at Greystone Mansion, hosted by the City of Beverly Hills as a fund-raiser for the former Doheny family venue, is a super-exclusive version of the high-end car show, with tickets limited to 3,000 attendees. There’s a fashion show, an award ceremony, and a vendor marketplace. Another popular incarnation of the Concours without a benefit component is free to the public and takes over Beverly Hills’s Rodeo Drive on Father’s Day weekend, drawing thousands. Next: May 4, 2014

Photo: Steve Burton/Courtesy of Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
12. HollyRod Foundation's DesignCares
12. HollyRod Foundation's DesignCares

#12 Benefit (up from #13)
What debuted in 1999 as a mixer for 50 people at Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete’s home has grown into an important fund-raiser with a guest count of about 500. The HollyRod Foundation’s DesignCares benefit raises money for those living with autism and Parkinson’s and includes a reception, fashion show, entertainment, and silent and live auctions. Past honorees have included Michael J. Fox, Donald J. Trump, and Muhammad Ali. Next: Summer 2014

Photo: Michael Kovac
13. U.S.C. Libraries Scripter Award Gala
13. U.S.C. Libraries Scripter Award Gala

#13 Benefit (up from #14)
U.S.C. Libraries Scripter Award gala, a black-tie event that honors writers for adapting books into film, honored authors Joshuah Bearman and Antonio Mendez and screenwriter Chris Terrio with the 25th annual award for their contributions to Argo this year at Doheny Memorial Library. Next: February 8, 2014

Photo: Gus Ruelas
14. Fulfillment Fund's Stars Benefit Gala
14. Fulfillment Fund's Stars Benefit Gala

#14 Benefit (up from #15)
This year the Fulfillment Fund’s Stars Benefit at the Beverly Hilton will be hosted by Ed Helms. It will also feature a performance by Pharrell Williams and honor, among others, Sidney Poitier. Next: October 23, 2013

Photo: Vince Bucci
15. Art of Elysium's Heaven Gala
15. Art of Elysium's Heaven Gala

#15 Benefit (up from #17)
Art of Elysium’s Heaven gala is held every year on Golden Globes weekend, and it's the largest annual fund-raiser for the group. Audi was this year’s title sponsor for the event, which took in more than $220,000. Next: January 11, 2014

Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Art of Elysium
16. Keep a Child Alive's Dream Halloween
16. Keep a Child Alive's Dream Halloween

#16 Benefit (up from #19)
Since 1994, the family-friendly Dream Halloween has raised $16.2 million. The affair benefiting Keep a Child Alive—which acquired the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation in 2012—offers treats for kids, arts and crafts activities, face painting, a sponsor reception, food from local eateries, stage shows, and live and silent auctions at Barker Hangar. This year the event will feature performances by Zendaya and Tori Kelly. Next: October 26, 2013

Photo: Michael Bezjian
17. Opening Night at the Hollywood Bowl
17. Opening Night at the Hollywood Bowl

#17 Benefit (up from #20)
Opening Night at the Hollywood Bowl kicks off the summer season. This year’s benefit concert raised more than $1 million for the philharmonic and its education programs. The night includes a V.I.P. preconcert reception, followed by dinner prepared by Patina and served in guest boxes prior to the concert. A fireworks display caps it off. Next: June 2014

Photo: Craig Mathew/Mathew Imaging
Latest in Home
Indiana Pacers
Sports
How ESPN Rose to the Occasion with Intricate Floral Installations to Celebrate the NBA Finals
Play Playground Nashville
Nashville
7 New Venues in Nashville for Summer 2025 Meetings and Events
Sport Beach ran for four days during the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity in June in Cannes, France.
Sports
See Inside Sport Beach—The Game-Raising Activation That Had Everyone Talking at Cannes Lions
Event Space at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
New York
12 New Venues in New York for Summer 2025 Meetings and Events
Related Stories
Orange County Fair
Top 100 Events
Southern California's Top 100 Events 2013
1. Tournament of Roses
Home
Parades, Walks & Holiday Events
1. City of Los Angeles Marathon
Home
Sports Events
1. Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival
Home
Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Events
More in Home
Sports
How ESPN Rose to the Occasion with Intricate Floral Installations to Celebrate the NBA Finals
Mr. Flower Fantastic replicated the iconic logos of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers out of flowers in the lead-up to the NBA Finals.
Indiana Pacers
Nashville
7 New Venues in Nashville for Summer 2025 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these trending restaurants, resorts, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in Nashville, Tenn.
Play Playground Nashville
Sports
See Inside Sport Beach—The Game-Raising Activation That Had Everyone Talking at Cannes Lions
Stagwell's buzzy experience returned for a third year, its biggest build yet.
Sport Beach ran for four days during the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity in June in Cannes, France.
New York
12 New Venues in New York for Summer 2025 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzzworthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in New York.
Event Space at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
Event Production & Fabrication
WorldPride DC: How Event Organizers Created a Safe Space for the LGBTQ+ Community in the Nation's Capital
The massive celebration was a challenge for many reasons, but the global Pride event was still authentically D.C. Hear from organizers at Destination DC and Capital Pride Alliance.
WorldPride D.C. took place May 17-June 8.
Event Tech & Tools
Event Tech Check: Cool New Tools for Attendee Engagement, Destination Sourcing, and More
BizBash takes a deep dive into the newest tech solutions for events of all types, plus the latest must-know industry news.
Spanning several rooms of the Mercer Labs Museum of Art and Technology in New York City, a recent Don Julio experience allowed visitors to step inside tech-driven installations that were powered by cinematic projections, 4D spatial audio, and evocative scents like the warm aromas of roasted agave and rich oak. See more: See Inside This High-Tech, Multisensory Experience from Don Julio
Most Popular
Brands & Event Pros
Industry Innovators 2025: Sephora
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Cannes Lions 2025: 90+ Bold Builds and Big Ideas From the French Festival of Creativity
Brands & Event Pros
Industry Innovators 2025: 10 Brands That Took Experiential Marketing to a Whole New Level
Innovators
Industry Innovators 2025: Netflix
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
50 Cool Event Ideas You May Have Missed From Liquid I.V., Martha Stewart, Foot Locker, and More
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Gov Ball 2025: 25+ Eye-Catching Brand Activations From the NYC Music Festival
Brands & Event Pros
Industry Innovators 2025: 10 Brands That Took Experiential Marketing to a Whole New Level
These companies broke through the noise with creative activations, events, and experiences that engaged attendees, fans, and consumers.
2025 Industry Innovators Article Image Brands
Opinion & Experts
Top Trending Stories on BizBash: June 2025
Wondering what the rest of the industry is up to? Here, BizBash offers a peek over the fence at what other event profs have been reading this month.
Hennessy returned to Gov Ball with its revamped Hennessy Highline. Festivalgoers stopped by for live mural paintings, DJ sets between performances, custom photo ops, and an interactive claw machine where fans lined up for a shot at exclusive Hennessy premiums, as well as cocktails like the Henny-Rita, Hennessy Berry Mojito, and Hennessy Pineapple. See more: Gov Ball 2025: 25+ Eye-Catching Brand Activations From the NYC Music Festival
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Cannes Lions 2025: 90+ Bold Builds and Big Ideas From the French Festival of Creativity
LinkedIn, Spotify, Canva, Pinterest, Meta, and dozens of other top brands showed up in a big way at the world’s most creative week. Take a look inside their splashy activations.
LinkedIn's Rooftop & Studio
Sports
Fanatics Fest 2025: This Mega Celebration of Sports Fandom Returned For a Bigger, Bolder Second Year
The second-ever Fanatics Fest was a championship-size arena where $200 million in memorabilia and countless celebrity sightings meshed with high-energy activations and experiences that nodded to the culture and swagger of NYC.
The second-ever Fanatics Fest returned to New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Center June 20-22.
Chicago
9 New Venues in Chicago for Summer 2025 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzzworthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in Chicago.
The Talbott Hotel
Sponsored
The Future of Meetings Is in Cincy
Cincy is redefining what's next in meetings and events.
Downtown Cincinnati's $240 million reimagined Duke Energy Convention Center
Page 1 of 303
Next Page
BizBash
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  1. Privacy Policy
  2. CCPA: Do Not Sell My Personal Info
  3. Contact Us
  4. Site Map
© 2025 Connect Biz, LLC. All rights reserved.