By Judy Shields
Photos: The Hollywood Times, Judy Shields
Sheraton Universal Hotel, Universal City, CA (The Hollywood Times) 05/18/2026
This past Saturday night was one to be celebrated, as the Jonathan Foundation hosted their 12th Annual Fundraising Gala on the 21st floor of the Sheraton Universal Hotel, in Universal City. It was a beautiful view indeed. I was a pleasure to be part of this amazing night and to have met Raja Marhaba and her wonderful son Jonathan. I had tearful moment and a warm hug from Jonathan after speaking to them about the own son, who has dyslexia and his story. Jonathan even gave me a copy of his mother’s book “Unstoppable“. Thank you! I can’t wait to read it.
The Honorees were Danny Trejo (Desperado, Heat, the From Dusk Till Dawn series, Con Air, Once Upon A Time In Mexico), Mona Patel, MD, FAAP, Chief Integrated Delivery Systems Officer at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), and President of CHLA Medical Group, Dr. Connie Kasari, Professor of Human Development and Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles, has a joint appointment in the Department of Psychiatry.
Special Celebrity guest is Kellen Goff, a voice actor known for a variety of roles spanning video games, animation, and commercials. His most notable roles include Funtime Freddy, Glamrock Freddy, Sun, and Moon in the Popular Five Nights at Freddy’s video game franchise. He also showcased his talent as Foxy in the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie and Toy Freddy in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.
Celebrity Hosts was five-time Emmy Award winner Fritz Coleman, a retired weathercaster, who worked for NBC Channel 4.
Here are the red carpet interviews, enjoy:
The Jonathan Foundation “Annual Spring Fundraiser” sponsored by L’Oréal Paris, honors individuals who have supported the foundation and raises funds to address the needs of children with Autism, educational, emotional, and behavioral challenges through referral to professionals and organizations that provide advocacy, education, assessments, and resources to create a collaboration between families and school districts. The proceeds go to the student assessments program for children with special needs.
Danny Trejo’s speech and all of us signing happy birthday to him as it was his birthday on Saturday, May 16th and he turned 82:
Photos of the wonderful night:
There was an amazing auction with gift baskets for men, women and children, theater tickets and some awesome comic books too. Here are some photos I took:
Here are the five baskets I won to help raise money for The Jonathan Foundation:
Pictures taken after the auction had concluded:
About The Jonathan Foundation
The Jonathan Foundation is a private non-profit 501 (c) 3, formed in 2001. Founded by Raja Marhaba, it all began when both of her sons were diagnosed with ADHD and learning disabilities. Today, both of her boys, Jonathan and Omar, sit on the Board of The Jonathan Foundation and are actively involved. They connect with our special needs children on a level most people cannot because they live the path these children are currently walking. Please visit our website and social media for more information: www.
About Danny Trejo
Trejo has starred in dozens of films, including Desperado, Heat, the From Dusk Till Dawn series, Con Air, Once Upon A Time In Mexico, the Spy Kids movies, Machete, and Machete Kills, the Bad Ass trilogy, Dead Again In Tombstone and co-starred in Death Race 2, Death Race: Inferno, Muppets Most Wanted, Grand Daddy Day Care, 3 From Hell. Danny can also be seen in Madness In The Method, directed by Jason Mewes.
If you didn’t think Trejo was busy enough, he recently expanded his Trejo’s Tacos empire to include 8 locations in the Los Angeles area, including two new locations at the Original Farmer’s Market and in the Colony in West LA. Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts has also proven to be just as successful and will continue to expand in the near future.
