Don Cheadle, Bridgid Coulter and Faith Evans to Be Honored at HollyRod’s DesignCare Gala

The HollyRod Foundation — a nonprofit organization raising awareness and providing resources for families whose loved ones have received autism or Parkinson’s Disease diagnoses — will honor , Bridgid Coulter and Faith Evans with special awards at the DesignCare Gala on Oct. 4 in Los Angeles.

Married couple Cheadle and Coulter will share the Clarence and Jacqueline Avant HollyRod Humanitarian Award. The Avants were founding donors to HollyRod in 1999, and the couple follows in their spirit with philanthropic contributions to the organization’s cause.

The namesake’s descendants, Alex and Nicole Avant, say, “This award is about honoring the generosity, courage, and commitment to others our parents embodied every day. Don Cheadle and Bridgid Coulter have carried those same values throughout their lives and we are proud to see them recognized with the Clarence and Jacqueline Avant HollyRod Humanitarian Award. Honoring them not only celebrates their extraordinary contributions today but also inspires the next generation to follow in their footsteps.”

HollyRod founder Holly Robinson Peete adds, “For over two decades, the couple’s leadership and generosity have inspired countless lives, creating opportunities for marginalized voices and fostering meaningful change.”

Evans, meanwhile, will receive the HollyRod Champion Award for her support of HollyRod’s values. The singer-songwriter is an advocate for autism awareness and founded her own nonprofit dedicated to the cause, Ryder’s Room Inc.

The DesignCare Gala will also honor Vernon Jackson as a HollyRod Angel On Path and Sumit and Viraj Dhanda as HollyRod heroes. The event will feature a guest musical performance as well as a fashion show from designer Frederick Anderson.

The Gala will take place on Oct. 4 in Los Angeles.