Some stars collect awards. Kate Linder collects causes. The actress beloved by millions as Esther Valentine on The Young and the Restless has spent decades proving that daytime television’s longest-running sweetheart has one of the biggest hearts in show business, and on Sunday, November 15, she is putting that heart on full display again.
Linder and the ALS Network will present the 3rd Annual Kate Linder Art Extravaganza, a reception and art sale benefiting ALS research and care, at the 9176 Sunset Gallery from 2pm to 6pm. The honorary centerpiece of the afternoon is California artist Molly Wolveck, whose work will be celebrated alongside an impressive lineup of donated pieces.
What makes this year’s extravaganza sing is the generosity behind it. Additional art has been donated for sale from the private collections of Craig Byrd and Roy Oldenkamp, with even more contributors promised. Every dollar from art proceeds goes directly to the ALS Network in its fight against Lou Gehrig’s disease, a cause Linder has championed for years with the same warmth she brings to the screen.
The afternoon promises more than a gallery stroll. Artist Annie Wood will create a live painting before guests’ eyes, turning the gallery into a working studio for the day. And fashion designer Gary Allen of Allen Knots will host a full fashion show, proving that this is one charity event where art truly meets art.
There is no cover charge, which tells you everything about the spirit of the day. This is not a velvet-rope affair. It is an open door. Paid parking is available across from the ROXY and at street meters and surrounding valet lots, though organizers note there is no parking at the gallery itself. Guests can scan the QR codes to RSVP or donate, or simply show up ready to celebrate.
Linder’s dedication to the ALS cause has become as much a part of her legacy as her iconic television role. While many celebrities lend their names to charities, she has lent her time, her energy, and her considerable powers of persuasion, rallying the art community around families facing one of medicine’s cruelest diagnoses. The Art Extravaganza, now in its third year, has become a fixture on the calendar for collectors who want their purchases to mean something.
The event arrives at a moment when benefit art sales are having a renaissance. Across the country, cultural celebrations with charitable hearts are drawing crowds who want their evenings out to do some good. Linder understood that impulse before it was fashionable, and she has built an event that delivers both the glamour and the substance.
For the entertainment world, the extravaganza is also a reminder of how deeply daytime television stars are woven into the fabric of American philanthropy. Linder’s colleagues have long admired her advocacy, and the entertainment industry’s charitable traditions run deep. When a star of her stature throws open a gallery and says come as you are, people listen.
Molly Wolveck, the honored California artist at the center of the celebration, represents the creative spirit the day is built around. Her work, celebrated in a dedicated honorary tribute, anchors an afternoon where every canvas on the wall carries a double meaning: beautiful to look at, and powerful in what its sale can fund.
Those who cannot attend in person can still take part. Donations to the ALS Network can be made through the event’s QR codes or at TeamKateLinder.org, and the organization’s work continues year-round at alsnetwork.org. But for those in Southern California on November 15, the invitation is simple: come to the gallery, meet the artists, watch a painting come to life, catch a fashion show, and leave knowing your afternoon helped fund the fight of someone’s life.
RSVP today at TeamKateLinder.org. No cover charge. An open door. And art with a purpose.
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