IAEE Expo! Expo! Attendees Will Rock Out for A Place Called Home

December 2, 2014

The International Association of Exhibitions and Events will hold its sixth annual Humanity Rocks: A Celebration with a Cause on tap Dec. 10 during Expo! Expo! IAEE's Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2014 in Los Angeles.

Created in 2009 in collaboration with founding sponsor Global Experience Specialists (GES), this annual event benefits a local charity in the city where Expo! Expo! IAEE's Annual Meeting & Exhibition is being held.

This year's event will be held 9 p.m.-12 p.m. at the Conga Room. Tickets are $95 and can be purchased under 'optional events' in attendee registration, at onsite registration and at the door of the event as well.

Proceeds from this year's Humanity Rocks will benefit Los Angeles-based A Place Called Home (APCH). APCH was created in the wake of the 1992 Los Angeles riots and civil unrest. Founder Debrah Constance wanted to give gang-affected youth in South Central L.A. a safe place to go after school, do their homework, get a snack, watch T.V., hang out with friends and be with caring adults – basic needs that all young people have.

APCH started off in May 1993 with 12 children getting together in the basement of a neighborhood church.

By 1996, its membership had grown to 400 youth, and APCH moved to its present location, which has grown into a 25,000 square foot facility that features an athletic field, commercial kitchen, garden, dance, music and art studios, a library and computer lab, a dropout recovery center, and a teen center.

APCH provides a home away from home for more than 300 children and youth every day; and directly serves more than 1,000 youth and families every year, and thousands more community members via large scale events such as health fairs, concerts, screenings, and regular distributions of food, clothing, toys, books, school supplies and more. Watch a video about APCH's mission here.

"The team at GES looks forward to Humanity Rocks every year. We have a lot of fun dancing alongside our friends and it's all for a great cause," said Gina McDuffie, executive vice president of Global Marketing at GES.

She added, "We're really excited about this year's charity, A Place Called Home. In providing South Central Los Angeles kids with love, safety and enrichment, the caring staff helps kids develop their interests, imagination and capabilities. One day these kids may be event professionals dancing alongside us!"

A check will be presented to APCH during IAEE's Annual Networking and Awards Luncheon Dec. 11.

Jonathan Zeichner, Executive Director at APCH, said, "We are thrilled to welcome IAEE and all the Expo! Expo! attendees this year. The choice to benefit A Place Called Home will have a direct positive impact on the lives of hundreds of young people in South Central L.A., and we are very appreciative – this is a great example of corporate and industry citizenship at its best."

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact