will.i.am's i.am Angel Foundation Benefit Featuring Stevie Wonder, NE-YO, Flo-Rida and More

On February 9, 2012 Empire Entertainment was proud to produce the 1st annual TRANS4MATION EXPERIENCE event on behalf of seven-time Grammy winner will.i.am and his charitable organization, the i.am.angel Foundation. The purpose of the event was to raise money to support trans4ormation and revival in distressed communities, beginning with will.i.am’s own hometown, Boyle Heights in east Los Angeles. Held at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on the eve of the Grammy Awards, over 1000 people came out to support i.am Angel Foundation including Estelle, Jessica Alba, Paris Hilton, Lee Ann Rimes, Mayor Anthony R. Villaraigosa of Los Angeles, Jay Sean and many others. will.i.am is best known for being a multi-platinum music artist, producer and front man for The Black Eyed Peas, though he is an innovator, entrepreneur and philanthropist as well. As the evening’s host, his message of trans4rming lives through education, opportunity and inspiration was driven home by an emotive program of speakers and video reels. Dr Robert Ross, President and CEO of California Endowment, David Silver, CEO of College Track and Carola McGiffert, Senior Advisor and Director of 100,000 Strong Initiative at the US Department of State all spoke about their commitment to developing communities and ensuring that more students have access to a college degree. Anthony R. Villaraigosa, the mayor of Los Angeles, spoke enthusiastically about will.i.am and his efforts to support his community and Golden Boy Oscar de la Hoya took the stage to rousing applause as he reminisced about his childhood roots in East LA. Guests were taken through a 360-degree projection of moving footage of East LA created by designer Richard Lasalle and seated in a stunning ballroom of sleek white leather lounge banquettes with graffiti inspired décor by notable grafitti artist Man One. They enjoyed the sumptuous menu of Wolfgang Puck before the highly anticipated three-hour high-energy concert performance began. Some of the highlights included will.i.am’s opener “It’s a New Day,” Coco Lee’s touching rendition of Adele’s cover, “Someone Like You,” K’naan’s crowd hit and World Cup theme song, “Waving the Flag” and Flo-rida’s latest chart topper, “Good Feeling.” Ne-Yo danced his way onstage with his smooth sounds of “All Because of You,” later joined by Taboo, jamming “Give Me Everything Tonight.” Legendary soulster and twenty-two time Grammy winner Stevie Wonder then took the stage for his feel–good harmonica and keyboard medley of “Superstition,” “I Wish,” “I just Called to Say I Love You,” and “My Cherie Amour.” Then the Black Eyed Peas set began with crowd pumping dance favorites, “Time of My Life,” “Dirty Bit,” “Let’s Get it Started” and Pump It, a duet with Coco Lee. Apl de ap beatboxed his hit, “You Can Be Anything,” and “Bebot.” The concert ended with Black Eyed Peas favorite “I Got a Feeling” with the whole audience dancing in their seats. All told, the event raised a whopping five million dollars in donations and commitments for the i.am.angel Foundation and their efforts to transform communities. Empire Entertainment served as overall event producer for the i.am.angel Foundation TRANS4MATION EXPERIENCE, managing all aspects of the event including venue contracting, logistics, catering, décor, onsite talent management and coordination, production, security and onsite management, collaborating with the i.am. angel Foundation, partners and donors. To find out how you can get involved with i.am.angel Foundation and help trans4rm communities around you, visit their website at iamangelfoundation.org “Inspiration without innovation is not good enough anymore. We need to have a clear vision for the future and then we need to transform that future. We transform the future by transforming communities and making the lives of people better.” will.i.am