Actor & Comedian Ed Helms To Host The 19th Annual Fulfillment Fund STARS Benefit Gala With A Special Guest Performance By Grammy Award© Winning Artist Pharrell Williams

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fulfillment Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Los Angeles students overcome obstacles to achieve a college education, will honor Chris Meledandri, Founder and CEO of Illumination Entertainment at this year' STARS 2013 Benefit Gala.  This star-studded event will take place on October 23^rd at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Actor and comedian Ed Helms will host the festivities with a special guest performance by Grammy Award© winner Pharrell Williams.  Additionally, Academy Award© winning actor, Sidney Poitier will receive the Founder's Humanitarian Award and Josh Klinefelter of Aurora Capital will be honored with the Founder's Distinguished Service Award.

"Thanks to Hollywood's generous support of STARS, the Fulfillment Fund has been helping Los Angeles students overcome obstacles to go to college for more than three decades," said Kenny Rogers, Fulfillment Fund CEO.  This year we're proud to be honoring Chris Meledandri for his commitment to extending educational opportunity to students from low-income communities.  With Ed Helms hosting, a special performance from Grammy Award© winning musician Pharrell Williams and an honorary award for long-time Fulfillment Fund supporter Sidney Poitier, this promises to be our best event ever!"

"I'm honored to support the Fulfillment Fund and celebrate all of the great work that Chris, Sidney & Josh are doing. It's going to be an inspiring evening," states special guest performer Pharrell Williams.

Now in its 19^th year, the Fulfillment Fund's STARS Gala has honored Rob Moore (2012), Rich Ross (2011), James Gianopulos (2010), Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann (2009), Thomas Tull (2008), Marc Shmuger (2007), Tom Rothman (2006), Brian Grazer (2005), Amy Pascal (2004), Paula and Sumner Redstone (2003), Megan and Peter Chernin, Sheri and Les Biller (2002), Jeffrey Katzenberg (2001), Robert Iger (2000), Edgar Bronfman, Jr. (1999), Rupert Murdoch (1998), Barbara Lazaroff and Wolfgang Puck (1997), Candy and Aaron Spelling (1996), Darlene and Steven Fogel and Jackie and Howard Banchik (1995).

Historically, the Stars Gala has raised over $2 million.

The Co-chairs for the STARS 2013 Gala include Heather and Skip Brittenham, Megan and Peter Chernin, Drs. Melina and Eric Esrailian, Hillary and Adam Fogelson, Sally Whitehill and Mark Gordon, Cherna and Dr. Gary Gitnick, Donna Langley and Ramin Shamshiri, Kelly and Ron Meyer, Lona Williams and David O'Connor and Madeleine and Tom Sherak.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please call LPA Events (310) 201-5033 or visit www.fulfillment.org/stars

Serving the Los Angeles community for over 35 years, the Fulfillment Fund makes college a reality for students in educationally and economically under-resourced communities.  By providing a college access curriculum, college counseling, mentoring, scholarships and other individualized support, the Fulfillment Fund helps students get to college and realize their educational dreams.  More than 90% of Fulfillment Fund high school graduates go on to college, compared to 54% of low-income students nationally. 

SOURCE The Fulfillment Fund