While raising money was the cause and the highlight of the night, the entertainment provided some real highs as well. I guess there was a foreshadowing of the 4 to 1 night when on the stage there was not one but 4 American Idol finalists. Fan favorites Scott MacIntyre, Brooke White, Michael Johns and Matt Giraud all performed. Scott and Matt provided a highlight near the end of the night with a rousing piano duel.
There were also a couple of young idols in the making. Eight year old Athena Creese opened the evening with God Bless America and eleven year old Jalon Watts brought everyone to their feet with an amazing performance of I Will Always Love You. Whitney and Dolly better watch out.The entertainment was great, but that was just a small slice of the stars in attendance. Childhelp Celebrity Ambassadors Megyn Kelly, Paulie Harraka, Cheryl Ladd and John O'Hurley were there. Bret Baier from Fox News, Lynn & Foster Friess and Jim & Kathy Coover founders of Isagenix all received awards from Childhelp. And from the political arena, former Vice President Dan Quayle and his wife Marilyn, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and Arizona Congressman John Shadegg were also present and having fun. The night would not have been possible without the generosity of Craig Jackson and his mother Nellie. Finally, you can't leave out the starlets that started it all over 50 years ago, Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson. Without them, there would be no Childhelp. Thank you for more than 50 years of service to the children.
For more pictures from this event, please visit my gallery. Also on my website are images from the VIP event the night before the gala.
