Rumer Willis, 36-year-old actress, singer, and all-around Hollywood royalty, decided to put her vocal cords to good use this week. I know what you’re thinking: “She has the voice of an angel?” Well, apparently, she does! And she lent it to a pretty epic cause at PATH’s 40th Anniversary Gala, which went down this Wednesday (October 9) at Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles.
Now, before you ask, no, PATH isn’t a secret society or a hip new nightclub where celebrities gather to discuss which kale salad is superior. PATH stands for “People Assisting The Homeless”—not “People Abandoning Their Hopes” as I mistakenly assumed at first glance. This incredible organization provides shelter, outreach, and affordable housing to over 26,000 people in California each year! That’s right. Over 26,000 people are now sleeping in actual beds instead of on awkward park benches that leave them with a lifetime of back pain. Talk about life-changing!
Rumer teamed up with Grammy-winning producer Toby Gad, because obviously you can’t fight homelessness without a Grammy-winner by your side, for a performance that likely melted faces. No, seriously. People are probably still trying to collect their jawbones from the floor.
But wait, there’s more! The event also honored PATH’s co-founder Claire West Orr, who we can only assume is the Gandalf of affordable housing. She’s been at it for 40 years—no big deal—just providing homes and hope to thousands while the rest of us struggle to figure out how to assemble Ikea furniture. The gala raised a ton of much-needed cash to build affordable housing and make homelessness a thing of the past.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, Ben Falcone was also there, probably cracking jokes and being delightful as usual, because let’s face it, every gala needs a comedian to remind us that saving the world can still be fun.
Rumer Willis sang, people clapped, money was raised, and California is one step closer to solving homelessness. It’s like a Disney movie, but with more social justice and less singing woodland creatures.
