Art & Style

Russell Simmons Honored, David Foster and Friends Perform Medley of Hits at 2017 Imagine Ball in LA (PHOTOS/VIDEO)

Published on October 17, 2017

Imagine LA’s 4th Annual Imagine Ball was an evening of music performances and charitable giving – all in the name of fighting homelessness and poverty in LA.

Held at The Peppermint Club in West Hollywood, this year’s gala honored entrepreneur and humanitarian Russell Simmons for his dedication to empowerment. During his acceptance speech, Simmons praised the LA community for coming together to help raise awareness about homelessness.

The evening’s ceremonies were emcee’d by comedian/actor Tom Arnold and featured a performance from Justine Skye.

Guests also were treated to a mini-concert from music super-producer David Foster and a collection of singers, including Pia Toscano, Sheléa, and Fernando Valera and Katherine McPhee, who performed a glowing rendition of the Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli duet “The Prayer.”

Toscano flawlessly performed classic Celine Dion songs that were produced by Foster, including “All By Myself.”

Sheléa next wowed the crowd with her covers of several songs produced by Foster, including Toni Braxton’s “Un-break My Heart” and Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing,” and “I Will Always Love You,” for which she received a rousing ovation.

Valera also performed with 15 year-old opera singer Laura Bretan, who came on stage to surprise the audience. And in a grand finale, Toscano, Sheléa, and Valera gathered on stage to sing Leonard Cohen’s classic “Hallelujah.”

Presented by entrepreneur John Terzian of H.Wood Group, and Val Vogt, the Imagine Ball raised more than $270,000 for Imagine LA to aid its efforts in fighting homelessness and poverty. The evening included an auction led by Melissa of Charity Angels. Among the items auctioned off included passes to a Drake concert, with a meet and greet; a Malibu Wine safari private tour and overnight stay; and a five-carat diamond tennis bracelet from XIV Karats.

Notable guests in attendance included Delilah Belle Hamlin, Colton Hayes, JR Bourne, Erin Foster, Jordan Clarkson and Patrick Scharzeneggar.

Video and photos from the 2017 Imagine Ball are below