LIFE's 27th Annual "Lady in Red" Gala features Gladys Knight and Dana Carvey

PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL- (December 30, 2020) LIFE’s annual “Lady in Red” Gala always attracts the cream of the Southeast Florida philanthropic society. Now, its 27th annual affair has drawn an “empress” and a “president.” Indeed, the one-and-only Empress of Soul, Gladys Knight, and the multi-talented comedian and actor Dana Carvey, renowned for his spot-on impressions of President George W. Bush among others, will headline the event – which will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic – on Friday, Feb. 19, 2021.

“COVID-19 pandemic has upended our ability to do an in-person Lady in Red Gala – as it has adversely impacted so much of our everyday lives,” said Lois Pope, founder and chair of LIFE - Leaders in Furthering Education, who hosts the evening. “But the gala is always an evening of great entertainment and great fun, and this year will be no exception thanks to the participation of Gladys Knight and Dana Carvey.”  

The Lady in Red Gala it is also about doing great things for the most vulnerable and at-risk members of society. And this year continues that tradition: Proceeds will benefit disabled veterans through the “Pups4Patriots” program at American Humane, and South Florida youth through the Palm Beach County Food Bank’s Lois’ Food4Kids program. The former takes dogs languishing in shelters, provides them with specialized therapy dog training, and gives them free of charge to disabled veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other traumatic brain injuries. The latter is a year-round initiative that provides under-served, disadvantaged children with nutritious meals when they are not in school, on LIFE weekends, and during the summer. The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated an already tenuous situation for these children; one in five go hungry every night.

“So while we are enjoying all the great entertainment, we’re also making a difference in people’s lives,” said Mrs. Pope. “That’s always been our guiding principle.”

She credits the thousands of gala attendees and LIFE supporters for being able to fulfill this mission. “Everything that we have achieved with the Lady in Red Gala over these more than two decades – all the lives we have touched for the better, the difference we have made in helping disabled veterans, impoverished and underserved children, in saving dogs, cats, and other animals, and so much more – is because of them and their generosity, empathy, friendship, and commitment.”  

Of course, the success of the Lady in Red Gala is also attributable to the quality of its entertainment. Indeed, the great ones endure, and Gladys Knight has long been one of the greatest. Very few singers over the last 50 years have matched her unassailable artistry. She is a seven-time Grammy winner who has enjoyed #1 hits in Pop, Gospel, R&B and Adult Contemporary; triumphed in film, television and live performance; and made a difference as a philanthropist and humanitarian.

A native of Georgia, Ms. Knight began her singing career with her siblings at age eight in a group called the “Pips." The group opened for R&B legends in the 1950s, then headed to Motown and crossed over to pop music. As “Gladys Knight & The Pips,” they recorded their signature song, "Midnight Train to Georgia." Other group and solo hits include: “I Who Have Nothing,” “Where My Heart Belongs,” “That’s What Friends Are For,” “Every Beat Of My Heart,” and “I Heard It Through The Grapevine.”

Dana Carvey is the Emmy-Award winning actor and comedian who is best known for his iconic and indelible “Saturday Night Live” characters – most memorably Church Lady, Grumpy Old Man, Hans, of the Hans and Franz body building duo, and, of course, Garth – Mike Myer’s “excellent Co-Host” on the classic sketch turned feature film, “Wayne’s World.”  

He has received much praise for his uncanny comedic impersonations of American political figures (popular with both audiences and the subjects of his impersonation), including the elder George Bush, Ross Perot, Jerry Brown, and Bob Dole.  

Chairs of the gala are Lois Pope and Suzi Goldsmith. Grand Honorary Chair is Christine Lynn and Honorary Chairs are Bjaye and Frank Pilotte. Generous Corporate Sponsors for the night include: Ambassador Realty Corp., Conair Corporation, Van Cleef & Arpels, Wells Fargo Advisors, and Gladys & Sy Ziv Foundation, Ronald S. Kochman, President.

Tickets are $500. Contact LIFE to reserve your virtual link. Call 561.582.8083 or email life@life-edu.org.  

For more information about LIFE visit www.life-edu.org.