Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka, Busy Philipps, Mary McCormack, and Rob Reiner Join Juicy Couture to Raise Funds for Los Angeles’ Children in Crisis

HOLLYWOOD,CA, April 26, 2012 – Celebrities and Hollywood insiders joined forces last night at The Hollywood Museum in the historical Max Factor building to support the children in crisis and their families in Hollygrove’s programs while raising more than $150,000.  “Hooray for Hollygrove– Celebrating 100 Years in Hollywood”, Presented by Juicy Couture, was hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka, Busy Philipps, and Mary McCormack with Rob Reiner serving as the night’s Master of Ceremonies. 

 Hollygrove is a non-profit organization focused on helping children recover from trauma, abuse and addiction, and ensuring that families thrive.  “Hooray for Hollygrove,” a milestone 100^th anniversary event, featured an exclusive cocktail reception, dinner, live auction and program highlighting the best of Hollygrove – then and now.   Attendees also got a special sneak preview of the young Norma Jean exhibit, featuring memorabilia from one of Hollygrove’s most famous residents, who later became known as Marilyn Monroe.   Several Hollygrove artifacts were on display from the 1930s when Marilyn Monroe lived at Hollygrove for 18 months. 

 “We hope that people will see that everyone, even celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, can need help,” said Darrell Evora, CEO of EMQ FamiliesFirst, the parent organization of Hollygrove.  “Today we’re continuing to do whatever it takes to help kids in crisis thrive. Thanks to the support of the Hollywood community we’re helping more children and their family members today than we ever have in the history of Hollygrove.”

 Live auction items such as a set visit to AMC’s hit show Mad Men, results show tickets to American Idol, and a three-night exclusive-resort vacation garnered more than $60,000 for Hollygrove.  Additional items including a walk-on role on CBS’ How I Met Your Mother, a “pitch” lunch with Sherryl Clark at Bad Robot Productions, and VIP Shopping Experience at Juicy Couture in Beverly Hills are still being auctioned online at http://www.charitybuzz.com/search?keywords=hollygrove through May 9. 

 “We are thrilled to partner with Hollygrove on their 100 Year Anniversary Event,” said LeAnn Nealz, President and Chief Creative Officer of Juicy Couture.  “Hollygrove has a rich history of caring for the most vulnerable children in the Los Angeles area. We at Juicy Couture are proud to be associated with such an incredible organization.”

 Since its inception, Hollygrove has cared for more than 25,000 children. In 1911, Hollygrove opened its doors in Hollywood with property donated by Senator Cornelius Cole (on the same plot as Paramount Studios) so that orphans could be in the country fresh air. In 2006, Hollygrove opened its campus to the community and began school-based and home-based services. Today, innovative programs relying exclusively on private funding include: Camp Hollygrove; the Endless Summer therapeutic after school program; Project Fatherhood; and Family Finding for foster care youth.

 About Hollygrove

Hollygrove now serves more kids than ever before in its 100-year history in Hollywood.  Hollygrove is the Los Angeles division of EMQ FamiliesFirst, the largest children’s behavioral health  provider in the western United States. The agency is recognized for innovative mental health treatment, foster care and social services that help families recover from trauma, abuse and addiction, and rebuild their lives. EMQ FamiliesFirst fights for sustainable change and advocates for improvements in the local, state and federal systems that serve children in need. For more information, please visit http://www.emqff.org

 About Juicy Couture

Juicy Couture embraces the bright and glamorous fun of its Los Angeles heritage by discovering the couture in the everyday, and delivering an element of surprise in all of its designs. Famous for ascending the tracksuit to its status as a casual luxury icon, the brand continues to evolve, bringing the same confident, whimsical and feminine attitude to everything it creates. Today, the global phenomenon offers an assortment that spans fashion apparel for women, girls and baby, handbags, shoes, intimates, swimwear, fragrance, accessories, jewelry, sunglasses and small goods.  Started by two fashion-obsessed friends in 1997, Juicy Couture quickly achieved global recognition and garnered millions of fans, many with famous faces. In 2003, Liz Claiborne Inc. acquired the company, and in 2010, Juicy Couture tapped LeAnn Nealz as Chief Creative Officer and President to guide the brand into its next phase of growth, while preserving the house’s playful and unique DNA.   North America is home to over 100 Juicy Couture and Juicy Couture Outlet stores. You can also shop Juicy Couture  in select department stores, online at JuicyCouture.com and in over 60 countries across Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Editorial Contacts:

Elizabeth Rosenberg for Hollygrove, EMQ Families First
310-598-0131
elizabeth@loftmkt.com

 Kristine Austin,
Hollygrove, an EMQ FamiliesFirst agency
408-718-8446
kaustin@emqff.org