Over 450 powerful women and a few good men came together for the 11th annual Special Needs Network Pink Pump Gala and fashion show. This year’s Women of Distinction honorees, actress Vanessa Bell-Calloway, autism self advocate Spencer Harte and TV Personality Robin McGraw, dazzled the audience with emotional acceptance speeches.
Celebs in attendance including Kym Whitley, Vivica A. Fox, Lela Rochon Fuqua, Tina Knowles Lawson, Holly Robinson Peete, Cookie Johnson, Essence Atkins, and Elise Neal who dressed in pink to symbolize the power of women philanthropy and to acknowledge the boldness of their collective efforts of supporting children and families.
Prior to the gala, Bumble BFF sponsored an “Image, Beauty, and Power in the Age of Social Media” beauty panel moderated by Areva Martin with beauty influencers including Style & Society’s Kinya Claiborne, celebrity makeup artists Allan Avendano, Starlynn Burden and medical aesthetician Candace Marino. Guests enjoyed breakfast, an insightful panel discussion and a Bumble Bff themed photo activation by Hollywood Photo Booths.
Proceeds raised at The Pink Pump Gala benefitted the Special Needs Network, a non-profit, community-based organization dedicated to addressing the needs of underserved families struggling with raising a child with autism and developmental disabilities.
By Kinya Claiborne, STYLE & SOCIETY
Kinya’s Wardrobe by Vici Collection // Hair by Milano Wig Collection and PrettyParty
Video by Daniela Gonzalez
Photos by Palije Ziba
