CoachArt to Honor UTA CEO & Co-Founder Jeremy Zimmer and TV anchor sisters Robin Roberts and Sally-Ann Roberts at 2013 "Gala of Champions"

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- CoachArt, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that provides arts and recreational activity coaching to youth with chronic and life-threatening illnesses, will honor United Talent Agency CEO and Co-Founder Jeremy Zimmer and television anchor Robin Roberts and her sister, television anchor Sally-Ann Roberts at the annual "Gala of Champions" on Oct. 17 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. This year's celebration will recognize Zimmer with the "CoachArt Champion" award and the Roberts sisters with the "Champion of Courage and Hope" awards for their philanthropic efforts to improve the lives of youth living with chronic illnesses.

The gala will bring together business leaders, community members, volunteers and CoachArt families under one roof for an evening that celebrates "the art of improving lives." Attendees including Bryan Cranston and Chandra Wilson will join together to acknowledge the powerful work and dedication of volunteers and supporters throughout the year and celebrate this year's award winners.

"This year's honorees have made a long-lasting difference not only in CoachArt kids' lives, but also in the community," said Dr. Thyonne Gordon, executive director of CoachArt.  "We are thrilled to give them this well-deserved recognition for their achievements at the 2013 'Gala of Champions.'"

For the last ten years, CoachArt has been connecting chronically ill children with recreational volunteers to provide free lessons in the arts and athletics. CoachArt's unique program offers a creative outlet to distract patients from the pain, therapies and isolation often associated with chronic illness and provides a sense of normalcy. Through participation in the arts and athletics, siblings and patients alike build increased confidence, hope, and self-esteem. Currently, CoachArt works with over 500 volunteer coaches and 90 arts and athletics organizations to serve nearly 2,000 students annually.

In 2012, the gala drew more than 600 attendees that together helped raise nearly $1 million. Attendees included executives from Disney Interactive, The Grammys, Warner Bros. Digital, AdLy, Electus Entertainment, and special recognition was given to Robert Kyncl of YouTube/Google and actor Nestor Serrano.

Multiple sponsorship opportunities are still available for the 2013 Gala. For additional information regarding sponsorship opportunities or tickets for the Gala of Champions, go to http://www.galaofchampions.org/ or contact Carolyn Mason at [email protected].

About Jeremy Zimmer
Jeremy Zimmer is Chief Executive Officer and a founding partner of premier global talent and literary agency United Talent Agency, where he also sits on the firm's six-member board of directors. Zimmer oversees more than 130 agents and over 350 employees in Beverly Hills and New York who collectively represent many of the world's most widely-known, award-winning artists working in all current and emerging areas of entertainment, including motion pictures, television, digital media, video games, music, books and touring. The agency is also globally recognized in the areas of film and television packaging, film finance, corporate consulting, branding, licensing, endorsements and the representation of production talent.

About Robin Roberts
Robin Roberts is co-anchor of ABC's "Good Morning America." Under her leadership, the broadcast won three consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Morning Program. Her headline-making interviews include President Barack Obama on his support of gay marriage, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, and NBA Superstar LeBron James. Robin also hosts two primetime specials for the network, "In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts: All Access Nashville" and the Academy Awards red carpet pre-show. She also hosts the series "In the Game with Robin Roberts" on ESPNW and digital. In July she was recognized with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYS. Additionally, Robin is author of "8 Rules to Live By" and co-wrote "My Story, My Song: Mother-Daughter Reflections on Life and Faith" with her beloved mother. Her new memoir out next Spring will tell the story of her courageous battle against MDS. She has joined forces with Be the Match to inform the public about the need for more bone marrow donors, and is also active as a speaker for charity and civic functions.

About Sally-Ann Roberts
Sally-Ann co-anchors the highest rated local morning news program in Louisiana, Channel 4's Eyewitness Morning News. She has reported thousands of stories over the years but is most inspired by reporting positive news stories of community volunteers and heroes, city rebuilds following catastrophes, etc. For work in the community, Sally-Ann has received awards and recognition from the Young Leadership Council, YWCA, Junior League, Toastmasters International, Kiwanis International, among others. Sally-Ann is the author of three books, Your Power is On! A Little Book of Hope, Going Live...An Anchorwoman Reports Good News, and the novel Angelvision.

About Coach Art
CoachArt improves the quality of life for chronically ill children and their families by providing free lessons in the arts and athletics. CoachArt matches volunteer mentors with its students to provide lessons based on the child's preferred activity. Over the past ten years CoachArt has served more than 2,500 children, and in 2011 CoachArt managed more than 15,000 donated volunteer hours by 665 volunteers and more than 78 program partners. To find out how to become involved with CoachArt as a volunteer mentor or to take part in the activities, please visit www.CoachArt.org stats or call 213-736-2850.

Media Contact
Jennifer Banovetz
(323) 202-1066
[email protected]

SOURCE CoachArt