The Giving a Smile Foundation will host its inaugural gala, Smile Under the Stars, on Thursday, December 11, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills.
The black-tie event aims to raise funds for two fully equipped mobile dental units that will deliver free, high-quality care to underserved children and young adults up to age 24 in greater Los Angeles communities.
Highlights include a gourmet dinner prepared by the Beverly Hilton’s culinary team, live entertainment, patient testimonials, and live auctions and pledges for contributions.
Kelsey Grammer will serve as master of ceremonies, and Robin Thicke will provide a headline performance.
The gala will also honor four supporters with special awards: Lorrie Bartlett, a longtime entertainment executive at Creative Artists Agency, will receive the Guiding Light Award; JR Dzubak, chief executive officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of West San Gabriel Valley & Eastside and former president of the Beverly Hills Rotary Club, will receive the Visionary Impact Award; Dr. Katja Van Herle, a Beverly Hills endocrinologist affiliated with UCLA Medical Center, will receive the Healing Hands Award; and Mayor Sharona Nazarian, the first Iranian American woman to serve as Beverly Hills mayor, will receive the Humanitarian Leadership Award.
“This foundation is deeply personal to me because it lets us invest directly in the next generation of our community,” said Dr. Justin Raanan, co-founder and board president of the Giving a Smile Foundation. “A healthy smile is more than cosmetic; it’s a foundation for confidence, opportunity, and leadership. By removing the barrier of cost, we’re giving young people the essential gift of dental health, one that will serve them for the rest of their lives and empower them to step forward as the leaders we need.”
The foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by dentists Dr. Rodney Raanan, Dr. Justin Raanan and Dr. Steven Rifkin, provides free dental services, oral hygiene education, and community outreach in partnership with dental residents from top schools.
Proceeds will support the organization’s mission to deliver preventive dental care and build long-term oral health for low-income families.
Tickets and tables are available at givingasmile.org/annual-gala-2025
Comments (0)