Hugh Jackman is Guest of Honor at Children of the City Gala

Last week Hugh Jackman, Tony and Emmy Award winning actor and producer, was the Guest of Honor at the Brooklyn, New York-based Children of the City Benefit to help raise awareness of the educational needs and social challenges of underprivileged children in Brooklyn communities. The evening was hosted by WABC Features & Lifestyle reporter Lauren Glassberg as the guests gathered at New York's Pier Sixty.

Rocco Basile, chairman of the board of directors of Children of the City was honored by District Attorney Charles J. Hynes, for his efforts in supporting the non-profit. Brooklyn Retail Market Manager for TD Bank Eileen Holmes, was honored with the 2010 Children’s Champion Award.

The benefit was an opportunity to bring about awareness of the challenges the children have to face. Founder and President Joyce Mattera, who has dedicated her life to helping disadvantaged and neglected children talked about the fact that there is a 48 percent dropout rate in the Brooklyn community, which as more than 30,000 children. One out of four are living in abject poverty.

Children of the City is dedicated to changing the culture of poverty. Visit www.childrenofthewcity.org.