On Saturday, May 3rd, 2014, actor Bryan Greenberg and Microsoft will host the third annual brunch party to raise funds for The Olevolos Project at Gallow Green of the McKittrick Hotel, Home of Sleep No More, from 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Olevolos Project’s Scholarship Program and support the educational and affiliated needs of disadvantaged and orphaned students from the Olevolos Village of Tanzania. After being founded in 2007, The Olevolos Project continues to nurture a passion for learning and helps develop young village leaders through formal schooling, tutoring programs, and extra-curricular activities.
Riding the success of his previous two brunch fundraisers, Greenberg has helped raise over 5,000 for The Olevolos Project. This year Greenberg has assembled another star-studded host committee consisting of Alex Gannes, Alexis Nataf, Ambyr Childers, Andrea Szempruch, Delroy Lindo, Dory Gannes, Eddie K Thomas, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Geoff Stults, Hilarie Burton, Hill Harper, James Lafferty, Jamie Hector, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jonathan Azu, Justin Danko, Kelly Brady, Margo Gannes, Matt Levine, and Victor Rasuk.
I’m always a skeptic when celebrities are involved with charities. Are they really involved or just lending their name for publicity? From my recent chat with him, Greenberg is definitely hands-on and deeply involved with The Olevolos Project:
Celebrities often lend their names to charity events and their involvement ends there, How heavily involved are you with The Olevolos Project?
Bryan Greenberg: It means a lot to me. I’m pretty involved with it. In 2010 I went to Tanzania with some friends on safari. I was blown away by the exotic animals I was seeing up close. But surprisingly what shocked me more was the level of poverty the people were living in. We take for granted how good we have it here in the states. Even with little things like running water. So I wanted to help out. And my cousin Dory Gannes had already started the Olevolos Project which sponsors children’s education in Tanzania. So we started throwing fundraisers in NYC together 3 years ago. It’s been quite a success. The money raised goes directly towards the children’s education, housing, food, and clothes.
Were you able to get a few of your celebrity friends involved?
Bryan Greenberg: I made great friends with Hillarie Burton and James Lafferty while working on One Tree Hill. So I just reached out to them. I love that they support The Olevolos Project. Those two are the best! Also, I have some cast mates from October Road, How To Make It In America, Unscripted, and other film projects coming to supports as well. I’m blessed to have worked with so many amazing people. Jamie Chung also supports the charity by finding sponsors and doing press.
What’s the chemistry like on set while working with your fiance, actress Jamie Chung?
We didn’t have any scenes together on ‘Flock Of Dudes’. And she came in to do one day on ‘A Year And Change’ but it was amazing. We love working together it’s so easy it just flows. There’s a real chemistry, that can’t be faked. We are in talks to do another project that if it happens we’ll announce soon. I have a lot of respect for her as an actress, and it’s a true honor to get to work with her on projects.
Jamie Chung, who is also on the host committee will also be at the brunch along with DJ favorites Mel DeBarge and JUS SKE to provide the soundtrack for the brunch on the rooftop. The event will feature raffle prizes and a silent auction; all proceeds from which will be donated to The Olevolos Project. The event will be held at Gallow Green of The McKittrick Hotel, home of Sleep No More. It is located at 530 W 27th St, New York, NY. Tickets for the Brunch Party are $150 per person and VIP tables can be reserved for $2000.
To purchase tickets, visit: https://olevolos2014.eventbrite.com