Los Angeles Celebration Luncheon

The event recognizes television show producers and writers, and film executives and companies who affirm girls' rights by creating images of "strong, smart, and bold" women and girls. The luncheon attracts over 300 leaders in the entertainment industry, from television show producers and writers to filmmakers and executives who support the work of Girls Inc.

"The entertainment community plays a big role in shaping the aspirations of young women," says Girls Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer, Joyce M. Roché. "This is our way of recognizing those in the entertainment industry that understand the far-reaching impact they can have on young women by creating realistic, strong and empowered female characters."

Heline and Heisler began their careers as production assistants and got their first big break in 1991 when they wrote a script for the television show Doogie Howser M.D. They went on to join the writing staff of Roseanne in 1992 and shortly thereafter in 1994 signed on as co-producers for Murphy Brown. In 1995, they signed a deal with Disney and became executive producers of Ellen. Most recently, Heline & Heisler negotiated a deal to develop a series for NBC, which resulted in the TV show, Three Sisters.

Thomopoulos oversees HBO’s award winning original programming, including anthology series, miniseries and dramatic events. Her current project is the Band of Brothers, a 10-part miniseries based on Stephen Ambrose’s best seller of the same name. Her other work includes the six-part HBO mini-series The Corner which won four Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Miniseries.

Reed Humes, is an Emmy Award winning casting director with over 30 film credits. Her career took off with the motion picture School Daze written and directed by Spike Lee. Following Daze, Reed also casted other Lee’s films including: Do the Right Thing, Mo’ Better Blues, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X and Clockers. In 1997, she earned an Emmy for casting The Tuskegee Airmen for HBO pictures.

This year’s Celebration Luncheon will be co-chaired by:

• Cristina Fuentes, Senior Financial Advisor, American Express Financial Advisors Inc.

• Deborah Liebling, Senior Vice President, Original Programming & Development, Comedy Central

• Pat Mitchell, President and CEO, PBS

• Alfre Woodard, Actress

Preceding the luncheon...

Girls are offering their creative help to entertainment executives working within an industry facing the challenge of creating television shows that work in a new reality. While TV execs talk about redefining show plot lines, Girls Inc. girls will be presenting them with their very own proposals for new shows - focused on Superheroes and Powerful Girls.

On November 14th, 35 girls, ages 6 to 18, will join over 15 top entertainment executives to present them with the shows they’ve created. Guests will include: acclaimed children’s television show creator Tom Lynch, ("Caitlin’s Way" and "The Secret World of Alex Mack."); Karey Burke, Executive Vice President of Primetime Series Development for NBC Entertainment, ("Will and Grace" and "Providence"); Dolores Robinson, manager to such stars as Michael Clarke Duncan, Wesley Snipes, Rosie Perez and Holly Robinson Peete; Anne Thomopoulous, Senior VP of HBO Original Programming and Debbie Liebling, Senior VP of Original Programming and Development for Cartoon Network.

Other guests will include Girls Incorporated entertainment industry supporters like, CBS Entertainment, Carsey Werner Mandabach, HBO, Lifetime Television, MTV Networks/ Nickelodeon, BET, Disney/ABC Cable Networks, NBC and Comedy Central.