LOS ANGELES — Entertainment powerhouses and dedicated philanthropists Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson are set to receive one of the non-profit sector’s most esteemed accolades. The dynamic couple will be honored with the Clarence & Jacqueline Avant Humanitarian Award at the upcoming annual gala hosted by the HollyRod Foundation.
The announcement, which highlights a lifetime of artistic excellence matched only by an unwavering commitment to social causes, brings renewed spotlight to the HollyRod Foundation’s enduring mission. For nearly three decades, the organization has served as a beacon of hope and a vital resource for families navigating the profound challenges of autism and Parkinson’s disease diagnoses.
This year’s star-studded gala, themed "Action in Motion," took place on November 7 in Los Angeles, drawing luminaries from sports, television, film, and corporate philanthropy to celebrate a shared dedication to community empowerment and healthcare advocacy.
Main Facts: Honoring Excellence and Compassion
The flagship event of the HollyRod calendar centers on celebrating individuals who translate their influence into tangible community impact. Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson join an elite roster of past Clarence & Jacqueline Avant Humanitarian Award recipients. Previous honorees include powerhouse names such as Naomi Campbell, Viola Davis, Don Cheadle, and Bridgid Coulter—figures who have similarly utilized their platforms to champion social justice, health equity, and humanitarian relief.
The Jacksons are widely celebrated not only for their legendary decades-long careers in Hollywood and on Broadway, but also for their tireless advocacy, mentorship, and charitable investments. Their inclusion as the premier honorees underscores the foundation’s ethos: that true influence carries a responsibility to uplift the vulnerable.
The November 7 gala also spotlighted a diverse group of change-makers across various fields, recognizing their personal resilience, advocacy, and community leadership:
- Maureen McCormick ("The Brady Bunch") and Bruce Sickler (American Airlines Customer Care Manager) were honored with the Angel on the Path Award for their steadfast support and service.
- Ahman Green, the Green Bay Packers’ all-time leading rusher who recently went public with his early-onset Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, received the Matthew Thomas Robinson Courage Award.
- Camille Joy Robinson (founder of the Ausomely Different Foundation and host of the Moments of Joy podcast) alongside Tanner Smith (Love on the Spectrum) were presented with the HollyRod Hero Award.
- Teoscar Hernández (Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder) and his wife, Jennifer Hernández, were honored with the HollyRod Champions of Belonging Award for their inclusivity efforts and community outreach.
Chronology: The Evolution of the HollyRod Foundation
To understand the weight of the Clarence & Jacqueline Avant Humanitarian Award and the significance of the "Action in Motion" gala, it is necessary to examine the deep roots and steady growth of the HollyRod Foundation over the past 27 years.
The Inception (1999)
The foundation was established in 1999 by actress and activist Holly Robinson Peete and her husband, former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete. The couple founded the organization in response to deeply personal family challenges. Rodney Peete’s father, Matthew Thomas Robinson—a beloved educator and television producer—was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a battle that lasted for years until his passing. The emotional and logistical toll of navigating the disease profoundly impacted the family, inspiring Holly and Rodney to create a system of support that others so desperately needed.
Broadening the Mission: The Autism Journey
As the foundation grew, the scope of its mission expanded. In 2006, the Peetes’ eldest son, Rodney Jr., was diagnosed with autism at age three. Recognizing the immense financial, educational, and emotional hurdles faced by families seeking proper autism diagnoses, early intervention therapies, and resources, Holly and Rodney incorporated autism support as a core pillar of the foundation’s mandate. This expansion transformed HollyRod into a comprehensive advocacy organization bridging two notoriously underserved medical fields.
Milestone Anniversaries and Signature Programs
Over the subsequent decades, HollyRod developed signature initiatives, most notably "Design Care," its premier annual gala that eventually evolved into the current signature fundraising event format. Over 27 years of operations, the foundation has raised tens of millions of dollars. These funds have directly subsidized care, provided compassionate support through programs like "Compassionate Care" (which offers financial assistance to uninsured or underinsured families dealing with Parkinson’s), and funded autism care centers such as the HollyRod Compassionate Care Center at UCLA.
The Modern Era: "Action in Motion"
Entering its 27th year, the foundation rebranded its operational ethos around the theme "Action in Motion." This shift emphasizes moving past mere awareness campaigns into direct, actionable support networks. The naming of the Clarence & Jacqueline Avant Humanitarian Award itself pays homage to legendary music executive Clarence Avant and his late wife Jacqueline Avant, giants in the entertainment and philanthropic worlds whose legacy of quiet, transformative giving continues to inspire generations.
Supporting Data: The Impact of HollyRod and the Honorees
The scale of the HollyRod Foundation’s impact is best measured through statistics compiled over its 27-year history, alongside the medical and social landscapes surrounding Parkinson’s disease and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The Burden of Parkinson’s and Autism
- Autism Spectrum Disorder: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 36 children in the United States is currently diagnosed with ASD. The financial burden of specialized therapies, behavioral interventions, and educational support places immense strain on working-class families, making organizations like HollyRod critical lifelines.
- Parkinson’s Disease: Nearly one million people in the United States are living with Parkinson’s disease, a number expected to rise significantly as the population ages. The cost of long-term neurological care, medication, and specialized nursing often bankrupts families without robust support systems.
HollyRod’s Direct Financial and Community Impact
- Grants and Care: Through programs funded largely by the annual gala, HollyRod has provided thousands of hours of pro-bono or subsidized therapies for children with autism.
- Parkinson’s Relief: The foundation has distributed millions of dollars in financial assistance grants to Parkinson’s patients and caregivers, helping cover expenses such as in-home care, medication, and transportation to medical facilities.
- Public Awareness: HollyRod’s public campaigns have reached tens of millions of households, reducing the social stigma historically associated with neurological and neurodevelopmental diagnoses.
Honoree Profiles in Data and Resilience
The selection of the 2024–2025 class of honorees reflects intersecting metrics of cultural influence and resilience:
- Ahman Green’s Disclosure: Green’s openness regarding his early-onset Parkinson’s diagnosis brings much-needed visibility to athletes and younger populations who develop the disease, challenging the misconception that Parkinson’s exclusively affects the elderly.
- Teoscar and Jennifer Hernández: Representing elite athletics and civic engagement, the couple has leveraged the platform of Major League Baseball and the Los Angeles Dodgers fanbase to promote inclusion for individuals with diverse developmental needs.
- Tanner Smith: As a breakout star of Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum, Smith has single-handedly shifted global perceptions regarding the capabilities, employment potential, and social lives of adults on the autism spectrum.
Official Responses: Voices from the Foundation and Community
The announcement of Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson as the primary honorees was met with profound enthusiasm from the organization’s leadership.
Holly Robinson Peete, co-founder of the HollyRod Foundation, articulated the philosophy guiding this year’s selections during the pre-gala press announcements:
"Every honoree this year has taken our mission and put it into real, everyday action — for their own families, their communities, and the families we serve," Robinson Peete stated. "That’s exactly the spirit behind ‘Action in Motion,’ and we couldn’t be prouder to celebrate them. Sam and LaTanya have spent decades not only defining excellence in the arts, but quietly and powerfully showing up for people when it matters most. They embody the legacy of Clarence and Jacqueline Avant."
Co-founder Rodney Peete echoed his wife’s sentiments, emphasizing the communal nature of the foundation’s 27-year journey:
"When we started this organization nearly three decades ago in honor of my father, we hoped to make a dent in a very complex medical and social landscape. To see icons like Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson step forward to support this cause—alongside courageous advocates like Ahman Green and Tanner Smith—proves that compassion is contagious. This gala is a celebration of resilience, but more importantly, it is a call to keep moving forward."
While Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson have historically kept elements of their extensive philanthropic work out of the aggressive spotlight, representatives for the couple expressed their deep appreciation for the recognition, noting their long-standing admiration for the work Holly and Rodney Peete have spearheaded in the medical advocacy space.
Implications: The Broader Cultural and Philanthropic Impact
The alignment of Hollywood royalty, professional athletes, and healthcare advocates at the HollyRod Foundation’s annual gala carries significant implications for the future of philanthropic engagement in the entertainment industry.
1. De-Stigmatizing Neurological and Neurodevelopmental Conditions
By honoring public figures who are living with or directly impacted by Parkinson’s disease and autism—such as Ahman Green and Tanner Smith—the foundation continues to dismantle historical stigmas. When high-profile athletes and television personalities openly discuss neurodiversity and neurodegenerative conditions, it normalizes these diagnoses in public discourse. This cultural shift encourages earlier diagnoses, more proactive medical treatments, and greater workplace accommodations.
2. The Power of Celebrity Advocacy in Fundraising
In an era of digital fatigue, traditional fundraising galas face increasing competition for donor attention. However, events anchored by multi-generational cultural icons like Samuel L. Jackson, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, and Maureen McCormick demonstrate the enduring power of star-driven philanthropy. These high-profile endorsements translate directly into increased corporate sponsorships, higher ticket sales, and expanded donor bases, ensuring that grass-roots programs like HollyRod’s "Compassionate Care" remain fully funded.
3. A Blueprint for Sustainable Non-Profit Longevity
Celebrating 27 years of continuous operation places the HollyRod Foundation in an elite tier of family-founded non-profits. As economic fluctuations challenge the charitable sector, HollyRod’s model—rooted in personal authenticity, intersectional health advocacy (bridging autism and Parkinson’s), and strategic community partnerships—serves as a blueprint for sustainable organizational growth.
As the curtains closed on the November 7 "Action in Motion" gala in Los Angeles, the message was clear: through the combined efforts of dedicated founders, courageous honorees, and humanitarian leaders like Samuel L. and LaTanya Richardson Jackson, the HollyRod Foundation is well-positioned to drive meaningful, systemic change for decades to come.
For more information regarding the HollyRod Foundation, its ongoing community programs, or to purchase tickets and contribute to the 27th-anniversary initiatives, please visit the official organization website at hollyrod.org.
Layla Zulfa
Neng Nana
