First Star's Sixth Annual Celebration for Children's Rights - 'Come Be a Kid Again' November 15, 2009 Honoring Humanitarians and Visionaries for Their Devotion to Helping Children

First Star to Honor Jeff Bleich, Former-Special Counsel to the President of the United States and Partner with Munger, Tolles & Olson, LLP; Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Musician/Actor/Philanthropist; Stephen Davis, President, Hasbro Studios and his family, Peggy, Hannah, Will and Cadence; Melissa Helmbrecht, Chair and CEO, SplashLife, Inc.; and Louise Horvitz, MSW, Psy.D
Fox 11 and My13 News' Christine Devine Returns as Host
First Star Youth Ambassador Dakota Fanning to Attend

• Press Release
• Source: First Star
• On 2:31 pm EST, Tuesday November 10, 2009

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- First Star, a leading national advocacy group dedicated to improving life for child victims of abuse and neglect, will hold its sixth annual Celebration for Children's Rights event on November 15, 2009 at the historic Wilshire Ebell. Families from the Los Angeles business, entertainment, medical and legal communities, along with many celebrities, will join First Star in honoring this year's award recipients -- Jeff Bleich, Former Special Counsel to the President and Partner on Leave with Munger, Tolles & Olson, LLP; Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Musician, Actor, and Philanthropist; Stephen Davis, President, Hasbro Studios and his family, Peggy, Hannah, Will and Cadence; Melissa Helmbrecht, Chair and CEO, SplashLife, Inc.; and Louise Horvitz, MSW, Psy.D -- for their humanitarian efforts on behalf of children.

The evening's theme, "Come Be a Kid Again," brings us back to the place of joy and wonderment that is childhood. The unique, casual event includes live entertainment, carnival games for guests of all ages, catering by Los Angeles' finest as well as luxury prizes from top sponsors, including American Airlines.

Established in 1999, First Star improves the lives of America's abused and neglected children by strengthening their rights, illuminating systemic failures, and igniting reform to correct them. Through the pursuit of research, public engagement, policy advocacy, and litigation, First Star's nonpartisan, multidisciplinary approach fosters collaborative action among organizations, advocates, practitioners and policy makers working to benefit children.

Christine Devine, anchor of the No. 1-ranked Fox 11 Ten O'clock News and sister station Channel 13, returns to host the event. Devine is an 14-time Emmy winner, and for the past 15 years she has profiled foster children seeking adoptive homes on her "Wednesday's Child" segment. Last month she was honored by Congress with the "Angels in Adoption" award.

"With our whole society in stress, it's important not to forget the 800,000 foster children and the 3.5 million abused and neglected children in our midst," states Peter Samuelson, President and Co-Founder of First Star. "These children are our future. Giving them legal representation and a platform for their voices to be heard is our mission and it has never been more vital than right now."

"I'm honored to be part of First Star. First Star understands that every child needs one thing above all else: a consistent, loving person in their life," states Jeff Bleich, former Special Counsel to the President. "By motivating, training, and connecting loving people to the children who need them, First Star makes all of our lives better."

Last month, First Star published a second edition of its groundbreaking 2007 Child's Right to Counsel Campaign and Report Card. These reports serve as objective, performance-evaluating tools in which all 50 states and the District of Columbia receive A through F letter grades based on statutes, court rules and practice. They raise public awareness that not all child victims of abuse and neglect who receive court action are entitled to the basic civil legal right of attorney representation in foster care and dependency hearings. They have ignited legislative reform in poorly performing states.

About First Star

First Star is a national 501(c)(3) public charity established in 1999 to strengthen the rights and improve the lives of America's abused and neglected children through education, public policy, legislative reform, and litigation. Our nonpartisan, multidisciplinary approach fosters collaborative action among organizations, advocates, practitioners and policy-makers working to benefit children.

We work towards a day when children's voices are heard and their basic civil rights recognized if they must pass through the child protective system. The professionals who these children interact with are well-trained, well-coordinated, and fairly compensated, and the court system that adjudicates their welfare and determines their future is open and accountable to the public for its actions and decisions.

For additional information, honoree bios, interviews or images, please contact Natalie Svider or Lindsey Rowe at CelebrationPR@FirstStar.org. For event tickets, please visit www.firststar.org/news/comebeakid.

    Media Contact:
    Natalie A. Svider, First Star Media & PR Co-Chair
    818-370-2468 / CelebrationPR@firststar.org

    Lindsey Rowe, First Star Media & PR Co-Chair
    805-815-7693 / CelebrationPR@firststar.org

    For ticket information:
    Robin Winston, Levy, Pazanti & Associates
    310-201-5033 / robin@lpaevents.com

Buzz up!