On December 12, the 1000 Mothers to Prevent Violence nonprofit organization will hold its 6th Annual Purple Gala at the Jack London Aquatic Center at 5:30 p.m. where they will honor a “Survivor of the Year” who lost a loved one to violence, and a “Law Enforcement Officer of the Year” who has gone beyond the call of duty to protect and to serve. Tickets are $75 per dinner.

The money raised through sponsorship donations of the event goes to providing programs for families, such as counseling and advocacy services, which also includes an after school Martial Arts program for grieving children and outreach and prevention services.

“Thousands of families are coping with the death of a loved one from violence, often times a young child or teenager, in the most difficult of circumstances,” said founder Lorrain Taylor. “We are asking for family, staff, colleagues and friends to please join us in our efforts to provide much needed programs communication and services to victim/survivors of violence.” Celebrity guest speakers will be Dusty Baker and Dave Steward, baseball legends from Oakland, Bishop Ernestine Reems and Teresa Reed, Fire Chief, Oakland Fire Department, as well as ABC 7 TV news anchor, Cheryl Jennings, who will emcee. The 1000 Mothers to Prevent Violence organization, was founded by Lorrain Taylor because she needed support after the deaths of her 22-year-old twin sons to gun violence.

Based on her own experience, 1000 Mothers was founded to provide support and services to these families; from helping organize funerals to navigating the paperwork and bureaucracy of local government and law enforcement.

For the past nine years, 1000 Mothers has supported hundreds of families who lost loved ones in the streets of Oakland and the surrounding cities of Hayward, Alameda, Antioch, San Leandro, East Palo Alto and Newark.

The Jack London Aquatic Center is located at 115 Embarcadero Street, Oakland. For more information, call 510-583-0100 or email Mothers1000@aol.com.

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