Women descended to the sold-out luncheon at the Skirball Cultural Center to celebrate mentorship and the power of women lifting each other up.
Step Up, the national nonprofit that mentors girls on the path to their goals, held its 2026 Inspiration Awards, Presented by TOMS®, on September 25 at the Skirball Cultural Center. More than 560 guests packed the sold-out lunchtime event, which set a fundraising record for the organization.
Guests heard directly from the Step Up teens, young adults and mentors at the heart of the organization’s work, and joined Step Up CEO Delores Druilhet Morton in recognizing this year’s honorees: Demi Moore, actress, producer and New York Times bestselling author; Ali Larter, actress, entrepreneur and bestselling author; global superstar Becky G, whose award was accepted on her behalf by Alejandra Gomez; Priah Ferguson, actor, producer and entrepreneur; Leila Milano, SVP of Global Digital Distribution & Product Counsel at TelevisaUnivision; and Step Up Teen Honoree Natalia Benitez.
Moore and Larter, currently castmates on Paramount’s Landman, discussed their careers in entertainment, the mentors who shaped them, and the impact of women supporting one another.
Druilhet Morton set the tone as she introduced the pair, declaring, “Confidence changes everything!”
Larter reflected on the role mentorship has played in her life. “I’ve always believed in supporting other women,” she said. “I’m so grateful for the incredible women I have in my life. The women in my world, we don’t compete with each other. That mindset is essential.”
Moore echoed the message. “It’s not a competition; it’s about coming together and lifting each other up,” she said. “For me, there is no better feeling than being able to show up for someone else.”
The audience included Julie Bowen (Modern Family), Ramona Young (The Paper), Hayley Law (Riverdale), actor Rebecca Gayheart, creator Drew Afualo, Fiona Palomo (Outer Banks), Odeya Rush (Lady Bird) and Kimberly J. Brown (Halloweentown).
A live fundraiser during the luncheon brought Step Up’s overall gala contributions to $770,000 — a new record for the organization. The momentum carries into the next stop on the Inspiration Awards calendar, Step Up’s Chicago event in November.
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LRM Online’s Gig Patta was on location to speak with the honorees and many guests before the luncheon.
Watch the exclusive interviews below. Let us know what you think.
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Source: LRM Online Exclusive
