Face Forward Presents Its 8th Annual Gala Honoring Lana Parrilla, Kelly Osbourne And London Bridge Survivor, Roy Larner

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Face Forward will host its 8^th Annual Gala on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood, with an Arabian Nights themed extravaganza. Guests will celebrate a magical night alongside A-list celebrities including musicians, actors and actresses while enjoying a hookah bar, cigar lounge, belly dancers and exotic animals.  Attendees will gather for a heartfelt evening to celebrate the bravery of survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking and other cruel acts of crime who have overcome adversity and have reclaimed their lives with help from Face Forward and co- founders Deborah and Dr. David Alessi  

"Face Forward's annual fundraising efforts enable us to help even more survivors in their journey to achieve both physical and emotional healing and recovery," expressed Mrs. Alessi. "This year has been exceptional for us with amazing patients and exciting new partnerships which will help us raise more awareness and the funds needed to help treat even more survivors from around the globe."

Robin Thicke will hit the stage to celebrate the lives all of survivors of acts of violence. The "Blurred Lines" and "Lost Without You" Grammy award nominee will lift the spirits in the room by performing some of his greatest hits, guaranteed to have the crowd on their feet and feeling good.

The night will include an extravagant live auction with items including a 5-night vacation at Niyama Private Islands Maldives, an African Safari by Micato Safaris, and two return First Class tickets on Etihad Airways. Etihad Airways operates daily flights from Los Angeles to Abu Dhabi with convenient connections to destinations across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Asia. The airline also operates daily services to Abu Dhabi from the key US gateway cities of Chicago, Dallas, New York and Washington, D.C, along with three flights a week from San Francisco.

Additional event and auction sponsors include: Alessi Institute, Roberto Cavalli, Kandima Maldives, Syneron Candela, Viking Cruises, Synergy Financial, Alyse Parfums, Mont Blac Executive Car Services, Asombroso Tequila, Vino Direct, BTL Svc and St. Petersburg Vodka.

The evening will honor a versatile group of influential honorees who have impacted the world with their strength and dedication to better other people's lives. Television personality, musician and Face Forward Honorary Committee Member Kelly Osbourne will be recognized with the Voice Award for her leadership, hard work and strong advocacy against violence.

Once Upon a Time star and Face Forward Global Ambassador, actress Lana Parrilla will be honored with the Beacon of Hope Award for her continuous support of the mission of Face Forward and for using her celebrity platform to be an advocate for change, and inspiring fans from around the globe to give back to support many worthy causes.

Additionally, Face Forward will be honoring London Bridge survivor and hero, Roy Larner for his heroic spring to action efforts that helped save many lives during this heinous act of hate and terrorism.  Larner collapsed from severe blood loss, spent 12 nights in the hospital and endured more than 80 stitches in his head, ear, arms, and hands after he physically fought off the terrorists and risked his life. Face Forward does more than just provide pro bono reconstructive surgery to adults and children who have suffered from domestic violence, human trafficking, or other cruel acts of crime; they also create a welcoming and safe environment for these survivors to start a fresh new life, and reclaim their confidence. Mrs. Deborah Alessi is a survivor of domestic abuse and a true advocate of this worthy cause. To assist other survivors with a second chance at life, Mrs. Alessi and her husband, renowned facial reconstructive surgeon, Dr. David Alessi, both donate their time and services 100% to the organization, providing survivors of violence with physical, mental, and emotional aid.

About Face Forward

Since its creation in 2007, Face Forward has worked with community leaders around the world to identify victims of violence who are working toward recovery yet carry the burdening physical evidence of past abuse. Face Forward does more than just provide pro bono reconstructive surgery to adults and children who have suffered traumatic and severe physical abuse; they also create a welcoming and safe environment for these survivors to start a fresh new life, and reclaim their confidence. The organization co-founders Mrs. Deborah and Dr. David Alessi both donate their time and skills 100% to the organization to provide Face Forward patients with the necessary surgeries and counseling services. Face Forward is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and funds raised by the organization help with ancillary costs, travel expenses for patients including airfare, accommodations, transportation, nursing aftercare and more. For more information go to http://www.faceforwardla.org/

About Robin Thicke:

Robin Thicke has established himself as one of the most respected singer songwriters in soul and R&B music today. Born in Los Angeles, Robin Thicke taught himself to play piano at the age of 12 and by 16 was writing and producing songs for top R&B artists. At the age of 21, he had written and produced songs on over 20 gold and platinum albums including Michael Jackson, Marc Anthony, Pink, Christina Aguilera, Usher, Jennifer Hudson and others. One year later he signed with Jimmy Iovine and Interscope Records. The musician and composer released his critically acclaimed debut album, A Beautiful World, in 2003 under the name Thicke. The collection was followed by a succession of five critically acclaimed gold and platinum selling album releases. Robin's sixth studio album, Blurred Lines, was released in July on 2013. The album garnered three GRAMMY nominations. The collection debuted at #1 on Billboard Top 200 while, "Blurred Lines," the single, continued its 12-week reign on the Billboard Hot 100 chart making Robin the first artist to take the top spot on both lists since December 2012 and only the 17th act to earn the distinction in the past ten years. "Blurred Lines" scored the highest audience ever recorded and broke records by climbing to #1 on 5 radio charts simultaneously (Top 40, Rhythm, Urban, Hot AC & Urban AC) – the first time this has ever been done by an artist. Robin's recent singles include the undeniably danceable pop record "Back Together" featuring Nicki Minaj, emotionally charged track "Deep" featuring Nas, and a R&B classic "Morning Sun." http://www.robinthicke.com/

Niyama Private Islands Maldives
Find a very private setting for intimate, one-of-a-kind experiences. With twin islands Play and Chill, Niyama Private Islands Maldives offers up the luxury of choice.
At Play: Frolic in the treetops. Rush into the infinite horizon. Kick things up a notch in villas set on white sands and tailored to adventurous honeymooners, active couples and style-savvy families.
At Chill: Revel in a peaceful moment within the cocoon of Niyama Spa. Drift in culinary heaven offshore. Soothe your soul to the slow rhythms in over-water studios. Lounge against the flowing oceanscape in an underwater playground.
Discover your island niche and settle in, or jump back and forth between high-energy indulgences and cool serenity. Visit http://www.niyama.com/en/

About Etihad Aviation Group

Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) is a diversified global aviation and travel group comprising five business divisions – Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways Engineering, Etihad Airport Services, Hala Group and Airline Equity Partners. The group has minority investments in six airlines: airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Jet Airways, and Virgin Australia.

From its Abu Dhabi base, Etihad Airways flies to, or has announced plans to serve, more than 110 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. The airline has a fleet of over 120 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. In 2013, it placed firm orders for 204 aircraft, which included 71 Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777Xs, 62 Airbus A350s and 10 Airbus A380s. For more information, please visit: etihad.com

About Alessi Institute

Licensed in the US and the UAE, the doctor to the stars is known for pioneering less invasive cosmetic procedures such as, the single incision eyelid and eyebrow lift and the FAB Facelift, generating minimized recovery time and improved results. As a double-board certified plastic surgeon and ENT specialist, Dr. Alessi genuinely understands the interworking of the head and neck. In addition to being a facial expert, Dr. Alessi is also a philanthropist, dedicating his time and skills to helping physically abused women around the globe by providing all pro-bono reconstructive surgery for the patients of his charity, Face Forward. He has given countless patients a new start, from Hollywood starlets, to victims of acid burns, gunshot wounds and severe physical abuse.  Dr. Alessi is the founder and medical director of Alessi Institute located in Beverly Hills, California and also practices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.  Dr. Alessi has been featured on Larry King Live, CBS The Doctors, The Montel Williams Show, CBS News, ABC's 20/20 and Eyewitness News and in publications including Elle, Los Angeles Times, Men's Fitness Magazine, Beverly Hills Times, and Glamour among others.  To learn more visit: http://www.facialinstitute.com/

Kandima Maldives

Forget normal, the mundane. Out with the everyday, the expected. Kandima Maldives, which opened in March 2017 is anything but ordinary! Try out the NEW Maldives – a new type of (desti)nation with ten different restaurants and bars, the longest pool in the country, an awesome Beach Club, an Oh-so Kool Kids Club and plenty of on-site activities and events to choose from. Kandima Maldives is much more than a holiday, it's a lifestyle. Located on a lush tropical island in Dhaalu Atoll, it's just a 40-minute seaplane flight from Male International Airport to this seriously stylish, 3km-long island. It's the first, true, lifestyle resort in the Maldives, which embodies all the positive values of the country, whilst adding its own innovative, vibrant and playful style.  This island (desti)nation is a game-changer. It's a place for everyone! Relax, be active, have fun, try new hobbies, just play and get Kandimatised! What are you waiting for? Visit: http://kandima.com/index.php/en/

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SOURCE Face Forward