World of Children Award, an organization dedicated to setting the gold standard in child advocacy, hosted its annual 2016 Alumni Honors event emceed by Brooke Burke-Charvet at the Montage Beverly Hills on April 12. The event commemorated past honorees who have continued their extraordinary efforts to change the lives of vulnerable children around the world.

This year’s World of Children 2016 Alumni Honorees and real life heroes included: Dr. Ashok Banskota(2011 Health Award), founding chairman of the Hospital and Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children (HRDC) in Nepal which focuses on treating underprivileged children with orthopedic disabilities; Ryan Hreljac (2003 Youth Award) founder of Ryan’s Well Foundation, which brings clean water and sanitation to vulnerable youth and their families; and Denisse Pichardo (2011 Humanitarian Award) of Caminante Proyecto Educativo, who focuses on rescuing and sheltering youth victims of the sex tourism industry in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. Each 2016 Alumni Honoree received a specially designed James Banks Design medal and a cash grant of $30,000+ to continue their outstanding work with children.

During the event, attendees purchased the featured handcrafted Lapis Beaded Bracelets from the “Unlock the Future” jewelry collection made exclusively for World of Children Award by Adam Shulman and Heidi Nahser Fink of James Banks Design. Each bracelet purchase helps to “Unlock the Future” for a child being served by a World of Children Award Honoree program. The collection is available exclusively at World of Children Award events and through World of Children.

The 2016 Alumni Honors event raised more than $300,000 for vulnerable children and will be directed to the programs run by the three 2016 Alumni Honorees through grants for their organizations. Since its founding in 1998, World of Children Award has allocated millions of dollars in cash grants and program support to over 100 Honorees who are the driving force behind programs serving children worldwide. For more information, visit World of Children.

Photo Credit: Joe Scarnici / Getty Images for World of Children Award