Fulfillment Fund : to Honor Hollywood Producer, Educational Champion Mark Gordon at the 21st Anniversary of the STARS Benefit Gala

LOS ANGELES, April 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fulfillment Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Los Angeles students overcome obstacles to achieve a college education, will honor veteran film and television producer Mark Gordon with the Tom Sherak Award at the Stars 2015 Benefit Gala on October 14th at The Beverly Hilton Hotel.

This year marks the 21st anniversary of the Stars Gala, an event which has raised millions over the years to support the Fulfillment Fund's mission of making college a reality for Los Angeles students.

Gordon, an Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA winning producer, is a prolific Hollywood veteran with more than 75 motion picture and TV projects to his credit including "Saving Private Ryan" and "Speed" as well as hit TV shows such as "Grey's Anatomy," "Criminal Minds" and "Ray Donovan." Most recently Gordon launched an independent studio with Entertainment One that will finance and produce films and TV shows for the networks, cable channels and digital platforms. Upcoming film projects include the untitled Steve Jobs biopic, directed by Danny Boyle, and "Arms and Dudes," directed by Todd Phillips.

A devoted philanthropist and champion of public education, Gordon is the founder of Citizens of the World Charter Schools (CWC), which serves 1,300 students across five schools in Los Angeles and Brooklyn, New York. CWC will be expanding to include a middle school in Los Angeles in the fall of 2015, and two more schools in Kansas City in 2016. Gordon is also the former chairman of Teach for America Los Angeles. He is the President Emeritus of the Producers Guild of America, serving as its President from 2010 through 2014, and was honored in January with the PGA's 2015 Norman Lear Achievement Award. Gordon serves on the board of the Archer School for Girls and is a former board member of the Virginia Film Festival, Chrysalis, the Motion Picture and Television Fund, and UCLA Lab School.

"Mark Gordon is an exemplary philanthropist in the world of education," says Fulfillment Fund CEO Kenny Rogers. "He is a fervent supporter of youth in Los Angeles who utilizes his connections and power to promote the needs of those who can't advocate for themselves. We are honored to recognize Mark's tremendous work at the STARS Gala this year."

The award is a tribute to Tom Sherak, a Hollywood executive and philanthropist who served on the Fulfillment Fund Board of Directors for 20 years and guided the creation of the STARS Gala into a multi-million dollar annual fundraiser for the Fulfillment Fund.

"There is no better way to support the next generation of leaders and productive members of our society than an excellent education. The Fulfillment Fund and its mentorship programs are a critical part in this process," said Gordon. "I am proud to be honored by the organization and look forward to helping them further their mission and the wonderful work they are doing in our community."

Now in its 21st year, the Fulfillment Fund's STARS Gala has honored Ryan Kavanaugh (2014), Chris Meledandri (2013), Rob Moore (2012), Rich Ross (2011), James Gianopulos (2010), Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann (2009), Thomas Tull (2008), Marc Shmuger (2007), Tom Rothman (2006), Brian Grazer (2005), Amy Pascal (2004), Paula and Sumner Redstone (2003), Megan and Peter Chernin, Sheri and Les Biller (2002), Jeffrey Katzenberg (2001), Robert Iger (2000), Edgar Bronfman, Jr. (1999), Rupert Murdoch (1998), Barbara Lazaroff and Wolfgang Puck (1997), Candy and Aaron Spelling (1996), Darlene and Steven Fogel and Jackie and Howard Banchik (1995).

For more information and to purchase tickets, please call Lauran Huff of Levy Pazanti & Huff at [phone] x3 or visit www.fulfillment.org/stars.

Serving the Los Angeles community for 38 years, the Fulfillment Fund makes college a reality for students growing up in educationally and economically under-resourced communities. By providing a college access curriculum, college counseling, mentoring, scholarships and other individualized support, the Fulfillment Fund helps students get to college and realize their educational dreams. Nine in 10 Fulfillment Fund high school graduates go on to college, compared to only five in 10 low-income high school graduates nationally.

Risa Chapnick & Ariana Swan | [e-mail] | 818-305-6053

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SOURCE Fulfillment Fund