At the 8th annual TRANS4M gala, music icon Quincy Jones was honored by will.i.am for his over a 60-year career in music and his philanthropic efforts. Along with will.i.am, the event was co-hosted by Lynne and Marc Benioff, Gayle and Ron Conway, Van Jones, Dean Karmen, Lyn and Norman Lear, and Laurene Powell Jobs.
Defining the purpose behind the foundation and the gala, will.i.am said, “There’s more business around crime and incarceration than there are around preparation and providing a path towards excellence. I wanted to take the success that I had and the network that I’ve built to surround ‘my kids’ with tomorrow’s skillsets. Not only so they can fill jobs but create jobs and fight business with business because crime is a business.”
A collection of album covers that were credited to Quincy Jones lined the walls, in honor of the latest TRANS4M Gala honoree’s amazing career. From Frank Sinatra’s It Might as Well Be Swing and Michael Jackson’s Thriller was among the album covers that were on display. Following dinner, the audience joined in a Q and A with “Q.”
TRANS4M is an annual event hosted by will.i.am and the i.am.angel Foundation with the intention to ignite collaborative efforts among businesses, non-profits, and government leaders to transform underserved communities.
The foundation has already supported over 6,000 K-12 schoolchildren throughout Los Angeles’ most underserved communities to “stay in school, introduce and engage them in STEAM activities, graduate from high school with college-caliber grades and then successfully apply and attend four-year colleges and universities,” according to the TRANS4M gala press release. The Foundation seeks to provide funds for said students to graduate without debt.
In the past, TRANS4M speakers have included President Bill Clinton; Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti, NASA Astronaut Leland Melvin, inventor Dean Kamen, Jack Dangermond, President of Esri, Bea Perez, Chief Sustainability Officer of Coca Cola; Robert Ross, President of the California Endowment; as well as many other leaders, artists, and innovators.
