Power of Women: Hudson, Igbokwe, McCarthy, Stone Honored — SkimNews
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- Pearlena Igbokwe, chairman of Universal Studios Group with 35+ years in television, used her speech to spotlight A Better Chance, the nonprofit that supported her at Kent Place and enabled her Ivy League education.
- Paige DeSorbo received the Courage Award presented by the Purina Purple Leash Project, a charity creating pet-friendly shelters for domestic abuse survivors, and described surviving teen abuse with her cat Daphne as emotional support.
- The Jennifer Hudson Show earned the Variety Changemaker Award presented by Waymo, with Hudson accepting alongside producers after opening the night with a performance of "I Will Always Love You."
- Melissa McCarthy spotlighted the Joyful Heart Foundation and honored Mariska Hargitay and the late Gloria Steinem, who the article notes passed away earlier this month.
- Issa Rae received the Variety Entertainment Entrepreneur of the Year Award presented by U.S. Bank, introduced after Normani performed an acoustic rendition of "Motivation."
- Sharon Stone, introduced by Marc Maron, closed the night reflecting on her career arc from sex symbol to icon and told attendees they benefit from the glass ceiling predecessors broke.
Why it matters: Every one of the four headline honorees — plus DeSorbo and Rae — used their stage time to spotlight a specific charity, including A Better Chance, the Purple Leash Project, the Joyful Heart Foundation, and the Jennifer Hudson Foundation, turning Variety's annual gala into a coordinated platform for causes tied to women's education, safety, and recovery.
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