LOS ANGELES, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles will honor outstanding members of the Los Angeles community at its Rising Stars Gala, October 30, 2008 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel. The awards recognize individuals who are inspiring and positive role models for young people. Producer Paula Wagner, actress Abigail Breslin and publicist Michael Sitrick will be honored. Honorary gala co-chairs are Roy E. Disney and Sherry Lansing. Comic actor Fred Willard will host and the evening will feature entertainment by the cast of the movie musical, Forever Plaid as well as international singing sensation Charice Pempengco. JoAnne Worley will open with a cabaret performance. Pam Dawber and Cynthia Garrett will conduct the "Make-a-Match" appeal. A fantastic opportunity drawing will be held and tickets are available at http://www.BBBSLA.org.

Cuba Gooding, Jr. will present the "Sherry Lansing Award" to producer Paula Wagner. Wagner has worked in the highest ranks of the entertainment industry as a powerful talent agent at Creative Artists Agency, as a successful producer through Cruise/Wagner Productions, and as co-owner and CEO of United Artists Entertainment, LLC.

Alan Arkin will present the "Young Heroes Award" to award-winning actress Abigail Breslin who serves as a positive role model to young people. Arkin co-starred with Abigail in her most memorable role in the critically-acclaimed movie Little Miss Sunshine.

Larry King will present the "Walt Disney Man of the Year Award" to Michael Sitrick, Chairman and CEO of Sitrick And Company." Sitrick has provided advice and counsel to more than 500 companies, including some of the nation's largest corporations and high profile individuals.

For more than 50 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles has been dedicated to empowering children who face economic, emotional and social challenges through a variety of programs, providing a professionally-supported, one-to-one mentoring relationship with a positive role model. Their work is as elementary as putting an adult friend in a child's life, and as essential as putting hope into a child's future. Big Brothers Big Sisters have proven successful in creating and nurturing relationships between adults and children. Mentoring works-one young person at a time. For information, please call 1-800-207-7567 or visit http://www.BBBSLA.org.

SOURCE Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles