The Gordon Parks Foundation hosted its star-studded Annual Awards Dinner and Auction celebrating Parks’ rich legacy and honoring those that continue to make an impact in the performing and visual arts and humanitarianism. Honorees for the 2018 Awards included: director, screenwriter  and  filmmaker Ava  DuVernay (who was unable to attend, but accepted via video message);  businessman  and  philanthropist, Ronald  O. Perelman;  author Ta-Nehisi  Coates;  civil  rights  attorney Sherrilyn  Ifill;  photographer Sally Mann; and documentary photographerJamel Shabazz. The event hosted over 540 guests, and raised more than $1 Million.  The evening also featured a rousing 20 minute performance by Grammy Award Winning singer-songwriter, Mavis Staples, who gave a crowd rocking performance and an auction of 11 of Gordon Parks’ photographs.  

Special Guests included Spike Lee, Gayle King, Swizz Beatz, Maxwell Osborne, Marcus Samuelsson and many more.