Robert L. Johnson Participates In "Lunch With A Leader" Auction For Communities In Schools Los Angeles

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Robert L. Johnson, founder and chairman of The RLJ Companies and founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), participated in the 2014 School Day Lunch with a Leader Charity Buzz auction. This event benefitted the Los Angeles chapter of Communities In Schools (CIS), the nation's leading high school dropout prevention organization and was presented in partnership with the Creative Artists Agency Foundation.

"I have had a wonderful experience over the years working with corporations and celebrities to support numerous charitable endeavors," said Johnson. "When the opportunity with Communities In Schools of Los Angeles was presented, I was delighted to donate my time as part of an auction effort benefiting students in underserved communities and show my support of students aspiring to achieve their goals."

The winning bidders, Jimi Petulla and Brian Kraft, will join Johnson for an hour lunch this week at a location in the city. Petulla and Kraft are the co-founders of Recording Radio Film Connection, a school that trains its students for careers in recording, radio, television, and film by placing them as apprentices in real studios and production companies.

Communities In Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA) was founded in 2007 through the support of the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Foundation. CISLA works with 13 schools and over 15,000 students to effectively address the drop-out crisis by targeting students who are failing or at-risk of dropping out. Communities in Schools works with over 1.3 million students nationwide.

About The RLJ Companies: The RLJ Companies, founded by Robert L. Johnson, is an innovative business network that provides strategic investments in a diverse portfolio of companies. Within The RLJ Companies portfolio, Johnson owns or holds interests in businesses operating in a publicly traded hotel real estate investment trust, private equity, financial services, asset management, automobile dealerships, sports and entertainment, and video lottery terminal (VLT) gaming. The RLJ Companies is headquartered in Bethesda, MD, with affiliate operations in Charlotte, NC; Little Rock, AR; Los Angeles, CA; San Juan, PR; and Monrovia, Liberia. Prior to founding The RLJ Companies, Johnson was founder and chairman of Black Entertainment Television (BET). For more information visit: www.rljcompanies.com.

Media inquiries: Traci Otey Blunt 240.744.7858 or [email protected].

SOURCE The RLJ Companies