It all starts with hope. Homeboy Industries is the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. For over 30 years now, the impactful program has made a difference in the lives of so many. From offering an 18-month employment and re-entry program to providing services such as tattoo removal and substance abuse resources, Homeboy Industries has and continues to be a beacon of light for a countless amount of people; and gives formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people an opportunity to start a new chapter in their lives.
On Saturday, March 12, 2022, celebrities gathered together to celebrate the unparalleled work of Homeboy Industries at their Lo Máximo Awards and Fundraising Gala hosted at the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, California. Lo Máximo is Homeboy Industries’s largest fundraiser of the year, and this year’s awards ceremony saw great success with a completely sold-out event and all proceeds benefitting Homeboy Industries’s life-changing work.
The spectacular event was hosted by none other than legendary actors and best-friends, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, who are both long-time supporters of Homeboy Industries. The marvelous night honored Marisela Gutierrez, who came to Homeboy Industries in 2016 and began her journey of healing after facing cycles of incarceration and substance use. Gutierrez completed Homeboy Industries’s 18-month program along with an internship at Project 180, and soon after joined the staff of the organization where she continues to serve as an inspiration and mentor to so many.
The Lo Máximo Awards also recognized Joseph Raymond Lucero. Lucero was born into a family who had been gang-involved for three generations, but after the birth of his son, he wanted to change his life and serve as a motivation for others. A pivotal and influential figure in Lucero’s life who helped catalyze the start of his new chapter is Homeboy Industries’s founder, Father Gregory Boyle. Now, Lucero is a familiar face in some of the most fan-favorite projects including the hit FX series Mayans M.C., as well as appearances in Dirt, ER, The Shield, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, The Closer, Shameless, S.W.A.T., FBI, and Blue Bloods.
The extraordinary event truly was a touching and uplifting one. It shows that there’s always an opportunity for a second chance at life as long as you have a wonderful support system who will be there for you and guide you every step of the way. That is exactly the kind of safe haven Homeboy Industries provides. Homeboy Industries serves as a family to many people looking for the hope this organization continues to bring.
This year’s awards ceremony also presented two-time Oscar-winning actor, producer, author, and activist, Jane Fonda with the Homeboy Kinship Award. The Homeboy Kinship Award was also given to Mike Stoller, who has composed hits for Elvis Presley, the Coasters, and many more. Stoller is the founder of the Music Heals program, which is a trauma-informed, therapeutically based music immersion experience designed for the formerly gang-involved men and women from Homeboy Industries.
Some of the many exceptional celebrity guests who attended the event and showed their support towards Homeboy Industries’s phenomenal work includes Maria Shriver, Phil Rosenthal, Connie Britton, Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, Saffron Burrows, and Ross McCall.
Check out some more photos below from Homeboy Industries’s 2022 Lo Máximo Awards and Fundraising Gala. To learn more about Homeboy Industries’s admirable work, visit their website here and follow Homeboy Industries on Instagram: @HomeboyIndustries and on Twitter: @HomeboyInd.
Photo Credits: Tim Plant / Shutterstock
