Approximately 100 people attended the golf tournament, held at the Angeles National Golf Club in Sunland, Calif., and upwards of 400 people attended the "Night of the Stars" awards and after-party at the Hollywood Highlands in the Kodak Theatre complex in Hollywood, California.
The FSC also once again expresses its thanks to the evening's award winners, and to everyone who contributed - through sponsorships, ads, or by just attending - so that the Free Speech Coalition was able to collectively raise between $50,000 - $100,000 to help fund its many efforts. And a very special mention to Chris Jester of Split Infinity for donating his check in the amount of $10,000, awarded him for his efforts battling child pornography, to the Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP), and to Eddie W. for adding another $25,000 on top of that, a surprise gesture of generosity by the founder of Eddie's Kids.
"This was my first 'Night of the Stars' day, and I have to say I was pretty overwhelmed by how well both events went and by how generous everyone was," Michelle L. Freridge, FSC executive director said. "I tried some new things, which is always a risk, but the whole day seemed to go smoothly and everyone certainly seemed to be having a great time. Now I just have to figure out what to do differently next year!"
"To say that I was overwhelmed with the outpouring of support for ASACP is an understatement," said Joan Irvine, ASACP Executive Director. "Having industry leaders like Eddie W. of Goalie Entertainment and Chris Jester of Split Infinity recognize our efforts was a solid acknowledge and personally heartwarming. Their contributions will help fund the ongoing development of technical tools to battle CP on the Internet while simultaneously gathering the statistical data that indicates that the adult entertainment industry is not involved in the horrific abuse of children."
"'Night of the Stars' was one of the classiest industry events in recent memory," Alec Helmy, owner of XBiz, said. "Great crowd, great food, and unforgettable moments. It was an honor to be part of this industry-wide unity event."
"A new venue and the camaraderie born of our collective battle to ensure the right to free speech, free expression and the right to privacy made this 'Night of the Stars' an inspiration to continue doing business and sharing our freedoms and friendships as American citizens," Tim Connelly, publisher of AVN Magazine, said.
Free Speech Coalition is the trade organization of the adult entertainment industry. Its mission is to safeguard the industry from oppressive governmental regulation and to promote good business practices within the industry.
For more information, visit www.freespeechcoalition.com.