Rocky Dawuni live @ Turn on LA - Creative Visions Foundation Fundraiser

Creative Visions Foundation (CVF) announces TURN ON LA, a lively, innovative fundraiser unlike any other, an event that will launch the Dan Eldon Creative Activist Awards by honoring filmmakers, artists, writers, photographers and leaders of social movements who have used media and the arts to tell stories that ignite action and impact our world.

Ghana’s international music star and creative activist, Rocky Dawuni, will give a rare live Southern California appearance.

Dawuni’s eloquence as well as his successful melding of musical celebrity and social action has made him a spokesperson for various causes worldwide.

Over the last few years, his music and electric live performances have attracted thousands to his concerts.

Rocky’s upcoming new album, “Afro Roots,” fully captures his unique fusion of Afro Beat and Reggae while confirming him as an artist in the tradition of both Fela Kuti and Bob Marley in utilizing his music to uplift, unify and inspire.

Award presenters include Christopher Nolan, Tom Shadyac, Maria Bello and Lindsay Price. Award recipients include Invisible Children, the organization that produced KONY 2012, a film about the pursuit of Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, seen by over 100 million people; Roko Belic, Director of Happy, a film done with Executive Producer Tom Shadyac that focuses on the global nature of happiness; Caine Monroy, creator of Caine’s Arcade and Nirvan Mullick who shot a film about the 9 year old who created a cardboard arcade that lit the imagination of kids around the world.

Hosted by film director, Jon Turteltaub, the evening promises to be wildly inspiring, with performances by international African Reggae star Rocky Dawuni, who recently shared the stage with Stevie Wonder at the Hollywood Bowl, Rozzie Crane, Sara Niemietz and Snuffy Walden.

Creative Visions is collaborating with media partner Variety Magazine, and sponsors including Whole Foods, Santa Monica’s Fraiche Restaurant owner, Keith Fox, Peroni, People Water, and Pressed Juicery as generous donors for a night of food, music, art, adventure and creative activism.  The dinner menu created by Keith Fox, will be accompanied by a beautiful hand picked wine selection by Wente Vineyards.

Inspired by artist, adventurer, and creative activist, Dan Eldon, a 22-year old photojournalist killed in Somalia in 1993, Creative Visions Foundation offers mentoring, tools and resources, fiscal sponsorship and a networking platform to over 65 projects and productions on five continents. The Dan Eldon Center for Creative Activism is a vibrant hub for filmmakers, writers, photographers, artists, journalists and others with a desire to “do something” to impact the world around them. CVF has impacted more than 80 million people and helped raise nearly $12 million for projects since it was founded by Dan’s mother, Kathy Eldon, and sister, Amy Eldon Turteltaub in l998.

Kathy Eldon, an author of 17 books and award-winning documentary film and producer Amy Eldon-Turteltaub, have led a revolution of creative activism that has united grass roots activists with leaders in film, television, art, journalism and media.

These two visionary women recently produced Extraordinary Moms for the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) featuring Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Julia Roberts and Rosie O’Donnell, and the Emmy-nominated documentary TBS film, Dying to Tell the Story featuring Christiane Amanpour, along with numerous books, articles, speeches and films that have inspired and connected millions of creative activists around the globe.

Date and venue: Thursday, September 20th, 2012. 6.00pm Reception 7.30pm Dinner 1210 4th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401.