Martin Sheen Honored for Lifetime of Humanitarian Work

This year’s “Hollywood Under the Stars” got underway with a Veuve Clicquot VIP reception once again sponsored by longtime SVMOW volunteers and supporters Nancy Babka and Carla Garrett.

The event also paid tribute to actor Martin Sheen, who has supported St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, with the “Vincent’s Heart Award,” presented by Sister Chris Maggi, Daughter of Charity. The Award takes its name from St. Vincent de Paul, in recognition of Sheen’s “standing in solidarity with those who have been forgotten and discounted.”

Sheen, veteran star of film and television, urged the 400 plus crowd to “look into their hearts and find something worth fighting for, to unite the will of the spirit with the work of the flesh, and in doing this the world will discover fire for the second time.”

New this year was the designation of Isaias Pena as Host Angel Chef. Pena, the Caruso Regional Chef of Hank’s and Que Padre in Palisades Village served as the event’s culinary ambassador and high-dollar event sponsor.

Longtime supporter Rick Llanos served as honorary host. Under the famed Paramount Studios arch, Llanos told guests, “I’ve been involved with SVMOW as a Junior Advisory Board member, where we created new, inventive ways to expand SVMOW’s reach, such as our Cart for a Cause food truck as well as our Cart for a Cause Cookbook. More recently, I’m an active member with SVMOW, participating in many of our wonderful events, always spreading the word on all the amazing work SVMOW does.” This year we partnered with nearly a dozen top Angeleno chefs and patissiers to present a gourmet, chef-curated evening of tastings, complemented by a live, 10-piece band presented by de Bois All Stars for dancing under the night sky.

In addition to Peña, among the chefs and restaurateurs on hand preparing some of their signature savory dishes were Chef Gino Angelini of Angelini Osteria, Chef/owner Nika Shoemaker-Machado of Georgia’s Restaurant, Chef Robert Fry of Evil Twin, owned by Dylan Weiss and Chef George Huynh of Smoke City Char Bar, Chef Raphael Francois’ rustic French charmer Tesse, contemporary Indian hot spot Arth Bar + Kitchen and Westwood Village favorite, Wolfsglen. Rounding out the gustatory line-up were select desserts such as Etoile Filante Patisserie’s one of-akind macarons, John Hensley of Lark Cake Shop who presented his handcrafted baked goods, Läderach Chocolatier Suisse and pastry chef Elfie Astier of Hotcakes Bakes.

In addition, generous corporate and community sponsors included Delta Dental, US Bank, Wallis Annenberg GenSpace, Albertsons/Vons Foundation, Toyota Motors, Paramount, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Batjac Productions, Filipino American Chamber of Commerce (FACC-GLA), Voya Financial, Fidelity Investments, and long-standing supporters Nancy Babka and Carla Garrett and Rick Llanos and Nelly Llanos Kilroy.