LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Jennifer Garner (L) and J.J. Abrams attend The 2017 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell on November 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)

Jennifer Garner and J.J. Abrams Reunite to Help Raise Nearly $4 Million for the Baby2Baby Gala

The Paul Mitchell Presents 2017 Baby2Baby Gala in Los Angeles brought together heavy-hitters and influencers across a wide range of industries to raise nearly $4 million dollars to support its work providing basic essentials to children living in poverty.

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Gwyneth Paltrow attends The 2017 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell on November 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)

To date, the organization has distributed over 34 million items including more than 20 million diapers. Most recently, Baby2Baby distributed over 3.6 million basic essentials to provide relief to the families and children who had been impacted by the recent series of catastrophic natural disasters.

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Chrissy Teigen attends The 2017 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell on November 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)

The evening kicked off with a surprise Carpool Karaoke featuring James Corden and Baby2Baby Angel Kate Hudson. In a taped segment, the duo entertained guests with a rendition of Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby” and discussed the importance of Baby2Baby’s mission. Baby2Baby Board Member and Gala Chair Jessica Alba then welcomed guests and introduced Baby2Baby’s Co-Presidents Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein.

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Jessica Alba (L) and Cash Warren attends The 2017 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell on November 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)

The organization honored Gwyneth Paltrow for her support of Baby2Baby and ongoing dedication to children in need around the world. Tom Ford presented Paltrow with the Giving Tree Award, which the organization awards annually to a mother who uses her position in the public eye to advocate on behalf of the low-income children the organization serves. Past honorees include Jessica Alba, Drew Barrymore, Kate Hudson, Kerry Washington and Jennifer Garner.

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Gwyneth Paltrow accepts the Giving Tree Award from Tom Ford at The 2017 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell on November 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)

In an empowering acceptance speech, Paltrow said, “We’re living in very interesting times. We need to rely on each other and we need to go into our communities and help and lift each other up. There are people who really need us, which is why I am here tonight.”

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Nicole Richie (L) and Kristen Bell onstage at The 2017 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell on November 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)

The evening featured Baby2Baby Board Member Nicole Richie and Baby2Baby Angel Kristen Bell, who took to the stage and encouraged guests to make donations. The evening also featured remarks from Jessica Biel who spoke passionately about the dangers low-income families face without access to basic necessities. “As a mom, I can’t imagine having to wash and reuse diapers for my baby,” said Biel. “Mothers do what we have to do and we get it done. Hearing the stories of these families broke my heart but also energized me, knowing that I could be a part of their solution. And you can, too.”

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Jessica Biel attends The 2017 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell on November 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)

Additional guests included Jennifer Garner, Chrissy Teigen, Julie Bowen, Kelly Rowland, Sterling K. Brown, Jessica Capshaw, Zoe Saldana, Selma Blair, Jaime King, Molly Sims, Dax Shepard, Rachel Bilson, Russell Simmons, J.J. Abrams, and Mayor Eric Garcetti.

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Molly Sims attends The 2017 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell on November 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Julie Bowen attends the 2017 Baby2Baby Gala at 3LABS on November 11, 2017 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)

Baby2Baby Angel Busy Philipps welcomed two-time Grammy nominee SWV who brought down the house with an incredible performance before the A-list stars made their way to the after party, DJ’d by Samantha Ronson.

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: DJ Samantha Ronson performs during The 2017 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell on November 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Kelly Rowland dancing at The 2017 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell on November 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)

For Sawyer Patricof and Weinstein, the evening represented the culmination of a six-year commitment to supporting low-income children and a significant year of growth and impact for the organization, which served on the frontlines of disaster relief efforts and provided immediate assistance to families with small children that had been devastated by this year’s onslaught of record-breaking hurricanes. In total, Baby2Baby sent 3.6 million basic essentials to Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and just a few weeks ago, to families whose lives were destroyed by the fires in Northern California.

“While the devastating images of these last few months are still fresh in our minds, there is something that strikes us all at Baby2Baby. Children right here in Los Angeles live in these same dire circumstances every day. These kids might not be homeless from a hurricane but they are still homeless,” said Sawyer Patricof and Weinstein in an empowering speech. “We feel lucky to be able to mobilize so quickly for families in need across the country, but we are also committed to taking care of our own. There are 353,959 children living in poverty in L.A. alone and we will not stop until every single one of them has the necessities they deserve.”

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Rachel Zoe attends The 2017 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell on November 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Marco Perego (L) and Zoe Saldana attend The 2017 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell on November 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)

Designed by Los Angeles’ top event producer, Yifat Oren of Oren Co., the evening brought together a wide range of the city’s best chefs who joined forces and donated their time and talent to create one of the city’s most culinary-rich events. The dinner extravaganza was led by Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo from Animal, Son of a Gun, Jon & Vinny’s, and Trois Familia, with custom cocktails crafted by The Spare Room and a curated wine selection from Helen’s Wine Bar, Veuve Clicquot, and Barrymore Wines. Additional restaurants who participated included Trois Mec, Au Fudge, Burritos La Palma, Craig’s, Destroyer, Felix, Genghis Cohen, Hayden, Here’s Looking at You, KazuNori, Kismet, Luv2eat Thai, McConnell’s, Milk Bar, Republique, Rossoblu, Sqirl, Stumptown, Valerie Confections, Wexler’s Deli, Winsome and more. The star-studded night also featured a custom installation designed for Baby2Baby by acclaimed multimedia artist Alex Israel.

Before the dinner, guests mingled during the cocktail portion where an incredible silent auction took place featuring a meet-and-greet with Kevin Durant, a Chanel Paris Fashion Week Experience, an LA Dodgers game first pitch, a private dining experience from Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo, exclusive access to the 24th Annual Vanity Fair Oscar party, a private island getaway in the Maldives and many more one-of-a-kind experiences.

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Katie McGrath and J.J. Abrams attend The 2017 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell on November 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)

Baby2Baby, a non-profit organization led by Co-Presidents Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein, provides low-income children, ages 0-12 years, with diapers, clothing and all the basic necessities that every child deserves. This year alone, Baby2Baby will serve more than 150,000 low-income children in Los Angeles and tens of thousands more in 20 cities across the country through the Baby2Baby National Network. To date, the organization has distributed over 34 million items including more than 20 million diapers. To learn more about Baby2Baby please visit www.baby2baby.org