Kristine Lazar to host ECF 80th anniversary gala in Los Angeles

Emmy Award-winning CBS News California investigative journalist Kristine Lazar will host Exceptional Children’s Foundation’s 80th Anniversary Gala on June 17 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. The event will spotlight ECF’s 80 years of services for people with developmental disabilities and include Jay Leno, honorees Jenni Kayne and Richard Ehrlich, and fundraising auctions. Why it matters: - Exceptional Children’s Foundation serves nearly 4,000 children, adults and families across Los Angeles County. - The gala marks 80 years of services for people with developmental disabilities from birth through adulthood. - The event helps spotlight a California nonprofit that says it is the only organization in the state offering that full continuum of care. What happened: - Kristine Lazar, an Emmy Award-winning investigative journalist and CBS News California reporter, will host ECF’s 80th Anniversary Gala on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. - The gala is set for the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. - Lazar is an investigative journalist and consumer reporter for CBS News California, part of the state’s largest investigative team. - ECF announced that comedian and television host Jay Leno will provide entertainment during the evening. - ECF will honor philanthropists Jenni Kayne and Richard Ehrlich for three generations of family commitment to children and adults with special needs and support for ECF’s Kayne Eras School. The details: - ECF was founded in 1946 by Los Angeles parents who created the city’s first program for children with developmental disabilities. - ECF says it provides services across every stage of life for people with developmental disabilities. - ECF said its programs are the only ones in California covering the full range from birth through adulthood. - The evening will include dinner, live and silent auctions and program highlights reflecting ECF’s community impact. - Event details list the gala for Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049. - More information is available at ECF.net . - ECF says it has impacted more than a quarter of a million individuals and families since its founding. - The organization says its programs aim to support greater independence, confidence and inclusion. Between the lines: - Lazar’s appearance fits the nonprofit’s message about accountability and visibility for people whose needs are often overlooked. - Lazar won an Emmy in 2014 for a feature on a woman with Down syndrome who was able to dance after surgery, which connects directly to ECF’s mission. - ECF framed the gala as a celebration of community-built support for disability services over eight decades. - The organization tied its work to a global context, citing the World Health Organization’s estimate that 1 in 6 people worldwide lives with significant disability. What’s next: - ECF’s gala will unfold on June 17 in Los Angeles as the organization raises funds and recognition for its programs. - The nonprofit is likely to use the event to reinforce support for services for children and adults with developmental disabilities across Los Angeles County. - ECF will continue promoting its 80-year milestone through its website and media outreach.