Friendly House 33rd Annual Awards Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton.

 Friendly House 33rd Annual Awards Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton.

WestHollywoodToday.blogspot CA October 30 2023 Photos by Karen Ostlund
                                                                         

Honoree John Paul DeJoria, Keely Shaye Smith and Angus Mitchell.

Comedian Rosie O’Donnell hosted the Friendly House “Stronger Together” Annual Awards Luncheon on October. 28 2023, which honored John Paul DeJoria, Yoshiki and Eloise Gene-Black.
                                                                              

Lawrence Zarian and Jennifer Dorogi.

It was a full house at the Beverly Hilton's Ballroom to support Friendly House Luncheon, which was the first residential substance abuse recovery program created by women for women.
Honoree Paul DeJoria, a philanthropist, received the Person of the Year award, while international musician Yoshiki was given the Humanitarian Award.
Gene-Black received the Excellence in Service Award.
There was also a special memorial tribute to Friendly House alumna Carrie White, who is a celebrity hairstylist and author.
                                                                                 

Rika Broccoli with kids.

This sit-down event has no alcohol on the tables, because most guests have suffered previous substance abuse from drugs and alcohol.
Keely Shaye Smith presented  the 33rd Annual gala with a performance of “The Masked Singer” winner Bishop Briggs.
 In addition to the lunch, money was raised live with a silent auction, which was chaired by Rika Broccoli and co-chaired by Brandy Ledford.
                                                                           

 Mara Gourdine, Angus Mitchell, Hilary Roberts, Brandy Ledford, John Paul DeJoria and Eloise DeJoria.

Friendly House has been on the front-lines of assisting women through their recovery journey for 72 years with its 12-step based program. The program is structured to assist women in “reclaiming their dignity and acquiring the necessary skills, support and resources to maintain a purposeful life,” said the organization’s mission statement.

Among the services, Friendly House’s therapists and counselors offer a variety of treatments, such as motivational enhancement therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and varied somatic therapies.
In 2023, Friendly House continues to pursue the empowerment and recovery of women of all racial and ethnic backgrounds and gender. One of the organization’s goals is to address racial inequities and mental health disparities in BIPOC and LGBTQ+ offer  substance abuse treatments regardless of resources, Friendly House said. FriendlyHouse.org