Diversity Awards Feting The Stars @ Fabulous New Hollywood & Highland Ballroom.

The Ninth Annual Diversity Awards will take place Saturday evening, Nov. 17, as one of the inaugural gala events at the new permanent home of the Oscars in the new state-of-the-art Hollywood & Highland Ballroom, it was announced by Jarvee Hutcherson, president of the Multicultural Motion Picture Association (MMPA).

With this year’s theme “Celebrating Diversity — Creative Minds Making It Happen,” the star-studded black tie dinner held annually by the MMPA will present awards for creative accomplishments and contributions to diversity in the cinematic arts and television. Among the recipients of Diversity Awards in recent years include Salma Hayek, Jackie Chan, Shirley Maclaine, Oliver Stone, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, Martin Landau and Angela Bassett, among others.

With awards presentations by Robert DeNiro, Renee Zellweger, Camryn Manheim and Bill Maher, to name a few, the evenings are always cherished for their joy, spontaneity, entertainment and excitement.

“Luminaries from the entertainment, corporate and governmental arenas will once again come together for an elegant dinner in a star-studded evening of entertainment, as we honor artists whose overall body of work has exemplified bringing people together and bridging gaps through talent and creative excellence that promotes diverse perspectives,” said Hutcherson.

The MMPA is comprised of individuals in the entertainment community who share a common commitment to celebrating the diversity of ideas, cultures and achievements in the cinematic arts. A dual purpose of this celebration is the ability to benefit MMPA’s Educational and Development Scholarship Fund.

This 501-C3 non-profit arts fund provides financial assistance and technical support to men and women seeking to further their skills behind the camera in the cinematic arts. More than 100 scholarships have been awarded to date, and their numbers continue to grow with each passing year, enabling young men and women of all backgrounds to bring thought-provoking and compelling works to the screen.

For further information contact 310/285-9743.