Oscars Suite Benefits the Wounded Warrior Project

Over the weekend, the Wounded Warrior Project’s Style & Beauty Suite was held in honor of the 2014 Oscars at the beautiful Avalon Hollywood. The stylish event brought veterans and their families together alongside Hollywood stars and tastemakers to enjoy their very own special (and much-deserved) day of pampering. A few of the celebrities who came out in support of the event included Angelique Cabral (“Enlisted”), Jenifer Lewis (Think Like a Man),Wendy Davis (“Army Wives”), Nestor Serrano (“24”), boy band IM5, former Cheetah Girl Sabrina Bryan, soap star Jen Lilley, and R&B singer Kenny Lattimore.

We and they alike got our swag on thanks to fabulous sponsors including Raw Skin Ceuticals, which has a line of chemical-free, gluten-free, and cruelty-free skin care products; ISO Beauty; iiJin, a clothing line that has just opened its newest store here in Los Angeles; Dearfoams, which gifted us some delightfully comfy and playfully designed slippers; PackIt, which makes colorful, portable, and foldable coolers and lunch boxes; 100%GUMDROP, a jewelry company that was on hand to create custom pieces for the veterans in attendance; and Tag Along Teddy gave me an adorable little tiger and purse. And for all you soap fans out there, we had the pleasure of chatting with “Days of Our Lives” star Jen Lilley, who told us all about how playing a villain on a soap opera is every bit as delectably wicked you thought it would be.

As we jammed out to the beats care of DJ Kid Fish (who played a set which included “Getting Jiggy with It”), we got our nails done by the lovely ladies of OPI and noshed on a delicious lasagna lunch thanks to Ciao!Cristina Italian restaurant. As we ate, we got to learn a bit more about the organization thanks to “Breaking Bad” star Dean Norris, whose pre-recorded PSA played on a loop on one of 3 large screens set up in the interior of the suite.

The Wounded Warrior Project was created to assist injured service members. At one point, all activities ceased and a hush came over the room as Norbie Lara, a WWP alumni and war veteran, took the stage to share with us the harrowing story of how he lost his arm in a 2004 firefight in Iraq. The experience also left him with a brain injury and severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Little by little, though, with the help of the WWP, he was able to readjust to civilian life. A true hero!

For more information on the Wounded Warrior Project, please visit their Website and follow them on Twitter.

(Top photo courtesy Karen Reuter)

- Sarah Osman, YH Staff; additional reporting by Katie Marzullo, YH Staff Editor