The Pat Brown Institute Annual Dinner celebrates civic leadership, fosters community connections, and raises critical funds to support the Institute's mission of promoting equitable public policy, groundbreaking research, and empowering communities to shape California’s future through the power of participation.
Since 1992, The Pat Brown Institute’s Annual Dinner has been a popular gathering of Los Angeles civic leaders, elected officials, and philanthropic leaders. Historically, the dinner was held in April to celebrate Governor Pat Brown’s birthday.
HISTORY
The PBI Awards Dinner typically brings together 300 to 600 guests and is known as an opportunity to network with the who’s who in the world of civic engagement. Over the years, the Institute has recognized an impressive list of honorees and convenes community stakeholders, campus leadership, and students to connect with elected officials, civic leaders, labor, and philanthropy.
Traditionally, the Institute recognizes honorees related to that year’s theme. Themes have included: Recognizing Leadership in Public Health (2022), Advancing Racial Equity in Healthcare (2021), A Call to Action (2021), Unleashing the Power of Participation (2019), and Women Transforming Our Worlds (2018).
As the sole fundraising event of the year, the Annual Dinner is a critical source of general operating funds. It is also an opportunity to showcase the Institute's programs, recognize donors, uplift Cal State LA, create community, and connect students with a meaningful experience.
Honorees and Presenters
In addition to an impressive roster of over one hundred honorees, the Dinner often features VIP presenters and guests which have included Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gray Davis, and Jerry Brown; mayors Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Eric Garcetti, and current Mayor Karen Bass who was a 2007 awardee when she was serving as Speaker of the California State Assembly. For over a decade, ABC news anchor Marc Brown was the master of ceremonies. Other notable hosts have included Patt Morrison, the LA Times columnist and radio/television personality.
The Institute has recognized trailblazers like Mayor of Los Angeles Tom Bradley (1993), US Senator Dianne Feinstein (2004), and the Hon. Willie L. Brown (2010) who was the longest serving Speaker of California State Assembly and the first African American to serve as Mayor of San Francisco.
PBI has a long-standing tradition of uplifting public servants from both sides of the aisle. Notable honorees include US House of Representative Judy Chu (2005), Alex Padilla (then California Secretary of State), former U.S Ambassador Gaddi Vasquez (2019), and United States Secretary of Commerce co-founded the Natural Resources Defense Council John Bryson (2007).
In addition to mayors, governors, legislators, and Secretaries of State, the Institute has honored local leaders, LA County Supervisors, and members from the State Assembly including former State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (2017), former US House of Representative and now LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis (2004), and Director, LA County Department of Health Dr. Barbara Ferrer (2022).
The Institute has recognized social justice and civic rights change-makers like attorney Connie Rice (1997), attorney and Founder of Policy Link Angela Glover Blackwell (2005/2019), the Managing Director of Civil Society Fellowship Nike Irvin (2019), CEO MLK Community Healthcare Dr. Elaine Batchlor (2021), and Southern California’s ACLU Executive Director Ramona Ripston (2010). The Institute also highlights members of the bench like California Supreme Court Justice the Honorable Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye (2015), and labor leaders like Maria Elena Durazo (2015) who now serves in the California State Senate.
PBI has recognized dozens of philanthropic leaders including Eli Broad of the Broad Foundation (2011), Erika Glazer of the Glazer Foundation (2013), President and CEO, California Community Foundation, the President and CEO of The California Community Foundation (2020) and Dr. Elaine Batchlor CEO of MLK Community Healthcare. (2021)
Brown family members have been honored including Former State Treasurer Kathleen Brown (2019), Former Governor Jerry Brown (2008), and filmmakers Sascha Brown Rice and Hilary Armstrong. Periodically Board members have been recognized including Stewart Kwoh, the Founder/President Emeritus of Asian Americans Advancing Justice.
In addition to high-profile honorees, the Institute also uplifts local community leaders like teachers, activists, and journalists like the four-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and The Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez (2007).