More than most, L.A.’s Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas are pop stars who use their platform for good — and it runs in the family. The chart-topping pair’s mother, Maggie Baird, has been involved in raising awareness around the climate crisis and sustainability for most of her life.
At the first annual fundraiser for Support+Feed (the non-profit Baird founded three years ago), the family’s initiatives and vision for a better world were celebrated with a dinner, awards ceremony and live entertainment at APB and Niku Nashi on Melrose Ave., Tues., Oct. 14.
Janelle Monae, who founded the organization Wondalunch (which provides plant-based foods to families in need across Los Angeles) was honored with a special Inspiration Award, alongside activist Isaias Hernandez recognized for his work amplifying environmentalism and the intersectional nature of the climate crisis. Support+Feed’s Julie Schmid was also honored for her volunteer work and support of the Los Angeles community.
Guests enjoyed drinks by APB and a beautiful spread of plant-based sushi by Niku Nashi. An intimate acoustic performance from D4VD rounded out the festivities for the evening, which was presented in partnership with The Darkroom, Interscope Records, Live Nation, Main Street Advisors, Wasserman Foundation and WhatIF Foods.
Other guests included mega-producer Benny Blanco; actress Alicia Silverstone; music artists Vince Staples and Moby; author/fitness personality Amanda Kloots; filmmaker RJ Cutler; Black Pearl CEO Samata Pattison, Chef Supreme Dow (founder of Harvest Academy that provides vegan meals for the unhoused); Gwenna Hunter (creator of the First Vegan Food Bank in LA at Hope on Union); and Wawa Gatheru (founder of Black Girl Environmentalist, a national community dedicated to empowering Black girls, women and gender-expansive people across the climate movement).
Support+Feed has provided over 400,000 plant-based meals and pantry items to underserved communities since its inception three years ago. It has also created educational programming, all via partnerships with community organizations, local and minority owned restaurants, and hundreds of volunteers. The organization is focused on sustainability, feeding the hungry and encouraging everyone to try a plant-based diet, starting with eating one plant-based meal every day. Take the pledge here. 
Source publication: Los Angeles Magazine