Grammy Award Winning Artists Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. to Perform at the Compton Jr. Posse's 7th Annual Gala Fundraiser on Saturday, May 17, 2014

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) May 15, 2014

The Compton Jr. Posse (CJP) will host its 7th Annual Gala Fundraiser on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 6 p.m. in the Ballroom at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Drive in Burbank. The “Cowboy Couture” themed event will feature entertainment by Grammy-Award winning recording artists Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. Actress and producer Patricia Heaton-Hunt (The Middle, Everybody Loves Raymond) will act as the Master of Ceremonies. Mayor Aja Brown of Compton will deliver the Keynote Address. Actress Portia De Rossi, Dr. William Burke founder of the Los Angeles Marathon, and Olympian Will Simpson will serve as hosts and awards presenters. Business woman and philanthropist, Jami Morse Heidegger will be honored with the Equestrian Excellence award. Joe Edmiston, Executive Director of the Mountain Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) will be honored with the Community Visionary award.

For 25 years, the Compton Jr. Posse’s award-winning program has given inner city kids a framework for success by teaming them with horses and highly skilled instructors including Olympic Gold Medalist Will Simpson. CJP provides year round after school programs using equestrian activities to inspire excellence in academics and to help develop responsibility, discipline and self-esteem.

Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. have enjoyed tremendous success through the years as recording artists, performers and authors. They have received 7 Grammy Awards and earned 15 gold and 3 platinum records, and enjoyed starring roles on television and stage. As lead vocalists of one of the top singing groups of the late 60’s and early 70’s, The 5th Dimension, they recorded such classics as UP, UP & AWAY, AQUARIUS/LET THE SUNSHINE IN, WEDDING BELL BLUES, ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER, and STONED SOUL PICNIC and more. McCoo and Davis boast nearly 50 years in the entertainment business and 45 years of marriage.

Mayor Aja Brown is an experienced community development professional with more than 10 years of experience working in urban cities. She has dedicated her career to initiating change in disadvantaged communities. Throughout her career, she has fought for transparency, collaboration and community involvement. In 2007, Mayor Brown worked with the City of Compton’s CRA Project Manager. On June 4, 2013, Mayor Brown made history in Compton as the youngest Mayor the city has ever elected.

Patricia Heaton Hunt is an award-winning actress currently starring in the ABC comedy The Middle, as Indiana housewife Frankie Heck. Previously, she starred in the hit television series, Everybody Loves Raymond . During that series she was nominated seven times and won two Emmy awards for her portrayal of Debra Barone. Her movie Mom’s Night premiered Mother’s Day 2014 and was most recently seen live on stage as Stella in the Second Stage Production of The Scene, for which she garnered a Lucille Lortel Award nomination.
Patricia is an avid supporter of CJP and dedicates much time and effort to support and promote the important work that is being done by the organization.

Actress Portia De Rossi was last year's Equestrian Excellence Award honoree. This year she will serve as an awards presenter for the event. De Rossi is known for her role as Lindsay Funkie in the Emmy-Award winning sitcom "Arrested Development." She previously starred as the enigmatic lawyer Nelle Porter on the hugely successful show, Ally McBeal, as well as the ABC comedy "Better Off Ted" and many others. De Rossi is an avid equestrian.

William Arthur 'Bill' Burke is an accomplished business and political leader in Southern California. He is best known as the founder and former long-time president of the City of Los Angeles Marathon which was founded in 1986. The Los Angeles Marathon, is one of the largest organized road races in the world. Since 1993, Dr. Burke has served on the Board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) as the representative of the Speaker of the Assembly. In the political arena, Dr. Burke served as the Consul General to the Republic of Mali for over fifteen years.

Will Simpson made the history books by winning the Olympic Show Jumping Team Gold Medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China riding Carlsson vom Dach. Simpson made his mark on the sport early in his career by setting an outdoor high-jump record of 7 feet, 914 inches on Jolly Good in 1985. Simpson has won more than 50 Grand Prix in his career, including some of the most prestigious competitions in the world including Spruce Meadows Masters in Calgary. For the past six years, Simpson has volunteered his time to Compton Jr. Posse, inspiring and coaching students whenever possible.

Jami Morse Heidegger is a business woman and third-generation heiress to Kiehl's Since 1851, a popular skin care line. She was responsible for Kiehl's 20 percent a year growth and sales of $40 million in the late 90s. After selling Kiehl's to L'Oreal, Heidegger focused on a new skin care line Retrouvé. Heidegger's longstanding commitment to the equine world includes a stint as owner of Show Stopper Magazine as well as philanthropic projects including the Compton Jr. Posse.

Joe Edminston is the Executive Director of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, a state agency established by the California Legislature in 1980. For three decades, he has been one of the most important public trust defenders in California, protecting public access to the state’s beaches. He has also been instrumental in providing CJP students with the opportunity to gain valuable outdoors experience through the MRCA Jr. Rangers program.

In 2010, CJP partnered with the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) to provide additional outlets for students. The MRCA Jr. Rangers program is designed for children with little or no experience in the natural world and offers a combination of environmental science, outdoor skills, experiential learning and leadership activities. In addition to classes and camping trips, Junior Rangers must complete twenty-four hours of community service, in both urban areas and at local parks and beaches. Graduates of the program earn a Jr. Ranger certification and are eligible to apply to careers with the California State Rangers. In 2012, CJP's Jr. Rangers represented the USA at the World Ranger Congress in Arusha, Tanzania.

Tickets to the CJP Gala start at $200 per person and tables of ten at $2,000. For additional information on ticket pricing and sponsorship opportunities please visit, http://www.comptonjrposse.org

For media inquires regarding the Compton Jr. Posse's 7th Annual Gala Fundraiser please contact Tamara White, at (310) 409-8273.

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