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CoachArt CHAMPIONS AWARDS DINNER

CoachArt, a non-profit organization serving children & adolescents with life-threatening illnesses via a unique mentor-matching program, gets a big assist from NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who presented the CoachArt 2009 Champion Award to Andrew Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants and longtime CoachArt supporter. KCBS anchor Suzanne Rico emceed the sold-out evening gala, which was held at Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica. The entertainment included musical performances by Tom Freund, guitarist for Ben Harper, as well as by Paula Ferraro and youth performers from the organization she founded, Music 4 The Kids. Ferraro was also honored as Coach of the Year for her work with some of CoachArt’s young participants, whom she coaches in songwriting and performing.