Sharon Stone, Charlize Theron, Wilson Cruz Set for THR’s Social Impact Summit

Sharon Stone, Charlize Theron, Wilson Cruz and Thomas Sadoski are among the stars who will discuss “The Future of Hollywood Philanthropy” at a special summit on July 11.

Co-hosted by the nonprofit Social Impact Fund and The Hollywood Reporter, the 2024 inaugural Social Impact Summit will see some of the entertainment industry’s biggest names —  celebrities who are committed to giving back — come together to talk about the role Hollywood can play in making a difference on local, national and global levels.

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Presented by biopharmaceutical company Gilead, a leader in developing antiviral medications, the Social Impact Summit will include a keynote speech by Stone, a longtime supporter and champion of amfAR.

To be held at the Directors Guild of America, the event will also feature panel discussions highlighting the work of Theron, the founder of the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project nonprofit, which helps young people in Africa; Cruz, who serves as board chair of GLSEN, which works with educators to create affirming environments for LGBTQ+ youth; and Sadoski, an ambassador for War Child USA, devoted to helping children and families in conflict zones; Andrea Pett-Joseph, talent manager, producer and president/executive director of the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation; and other industry leaders and talent to be announced.

The Social Impact Summit will further honor hunger-fighting nonprofit Feeding America as The Hollywood Reporter’s Philanthropic Organization of the Year, an award given to a group that innovatively works with the entertainment industry to make an indelible impact.

Actor Julie Bowen, a longtime supporter of Feeding America, who serves on its Entertainment Council, will present the honor to FA’s CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot. Feeding America was recently named the largest charity in the United States and works with a network of food banks, state food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs to help people facing hunger in the U.S.

“The nonprofit world counts increasingly on celebrities for help in amplifying their mission and engaging people to learn about and donate to urgent causes,” says Degen Pener, deputy editor of The Hollywood Reporter. “That’s why The Hollywood Reporter has partnered with the Social Impact Fund, a leader in advising celebrities on giving back, to host its inaugural Social Impact Summit, looking at creative and new ways that the entertainment industry can partner with charitable organizations all in an effort to change things for the better.”

The day before the summit, The Hollywood Reporter will publish its annual Philanthropy Issue, which presents an of-the-moment look at the top players who sit at the intersection of the entertainment world and charitable impact and giving.

Last year, the Social Impact Fund — which works with leading Hollywood philanthropists such as Kerry Washington, John Legend, Bradley Cooper, Ryan Reynolds, will.i.am, Hailey Bieber, Rosario Dawson, Shawn Mendes and Madonna — was named the 2023 Philanthropic Organization of the Year in The Hollywood Reporter’s annual charity-themed issue.

“Our inaugural Social Impact Summit comes at a pivotal moment in time,” says Craig Cichy, executive director of the Social Impact Fund. “Not only are cultural and social issues challenged, but fundamental needs are being under-addressed or with adverse commentary. I’ve always said ‘philanthropy always starts with something personal,’ and I’ve never found that to not be true. Hollywood philanthropy is no different. We’ll explore the future of philanthropy in Hollywood and beyond — what works great, and how we can do good, better. This first Summit only scratches the surface in planning for the future of philanthropy in Hollywood, and we have assembled a diverse group of thought leaders and experienced change makers to inspire new ideas and creative solutions.”

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