Meow Meow Foundation Honored at Pasadena Civic Auditorium
Doug Forbes and Elena Matyas of Meow Meow Foundation speak on stage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium before a capacity crowd with Roxie honored in the Magic Mirror. | Photo Michelle Matthews
On Friday, February 13, Meow Meow Foundation was honored before the opening performance of A Snow White Christmas in front of 2,500 students, teachers, parents and government officials.
Becky, Kris, Bonnie and Nigel Lythgoe of Lythgoe Family Panto—also producers of renowned TV and theatrical productions and performers themselves—invited foundation principals Doug Forbes and Elena Matyas to address an energized crowd about their children-centric misson.
Video courtesy of Grace Liang
Video courtesy of Sharon Matyas
“Man, if Roxie were here right now,” said Forbes, “she would sing and she would dance and she would give all of you her superhero hugs and sloppy kid kisses.” Forbes said that even though Roxie could not celebrate her seventh birthday recently, he and Matyas would do everything they could to ensure that all the children in that audience would celebrate “birthday after birthday, holiday after holiday” through their drowning prevention initiatives.
Forbes pointed to everyone in the audience and said, “This is what community looks like. This is what love means.”
Thousands of Pasadena Unified and Los Angeles Unified School District children begin to arrive at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium for the special performance and presentation. | Photo Doug Forbes
(Left to right) Senator Anthony Portantino, Doug Forbes, Elena Matyas, Kris Lythgoe, Assemblymember Chris Holden, Bonnie Lythgoe. | Photo Michelle Matthews
California Assemblymember Chris Holden presented Meow Meow Foundation with a $1 thousand check. Senator Anthony Portantino honored the foundation with a California State Senate Certificate of Recognition for its efforts to combat childhood drowning. And San Rafael Spanish Immersion Elementary School—where Roxie would have entered her second year—helped coordinate a magical event.
“This outpouring of love and support for Roxie and for our foundation is simply beautiful,” said Matyas. “We are deeply humbled by the school systems, Senator Portantino, Assemblymember Holden and the Lythgoe family who have helped us immensely in our fight to triumph over tragedy.”
The theatrical performance included popular television and music stars including Tony Award winner Neil Patrick Harris and Grammy Award winner Michelle Williams (Destiny’s Child).
For more on Lythgoe Family Panto go here.
Our ad in the Program graciously provided free of charge by the Lythgoe family.