Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy was celebrated on Thursday not for having one of the biggest movies of the year, but for his philanthropy alongside wife Serena.
The couple were honored at the A Sense of Home Gala, benefitting the non-profit that aims to prevent homelessness by creating first-ever homes and a community for youth aging out of foster care. Ted Sarandos and Nicole Avant hosted the event at their Los Angeles home, with a guest list that included Jason Bateman, Tobey Maguire, Edward Norton, Michelle Rodriguez, Terry Crews, Emile Hirsch, Scott Stuber and Molly Sims, Mayor Karen Bass and L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell.
“We both got interested in the work that was being done when we started thinking about the connection between aged-out foster youth and homelessness in this city — a complicated problem with a seemingly simple answer,” Sarandos said of himself and Avant during the event. “A lot of things can drive housing insecurity and homelessness; a lot of those things we can do nothing about individually to help, but what we found in A Sense of Home were individuals helping individuals.” The organization has created 1,000 homes in L.A. over the last nine years.
The Netflix boss then turned his attention to the Levys, calling them “generous, inspirational and dedicated people” as he joked, “They both work with children who need help — Serena as a youth and family counselor, both in private practice and at Cedars Sinai, and Shawn by directing Ryan Reynolds.”
“A couple of weeks ago I had the incredible privilege of being on the set in Atlanta for the season finale of Stranger Things. I’m being very careful not to give any spoilers away so I’m not going to describe much here, but I was completely awe-struck watching this master of his craft pulling all of these things together — to bring the stuff in your dreams to the screen,” Sarandos continued, as Levy is an executive producer on the Netflix series.
Levy’s Deadpool & Wolverine stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman also sent virtual congratulations messages, with Reynolds saying, “It’s not every day you meet people that are that wonderful inside and out and who express their beauty through giving back in so many ways, for so many people … I’m incredibly proud to know them and for my kids to know them. I love them and I’m glad that you love them too.”
Taking the stage, Shawn spoke about how homes “are not givens, these are not ubiquitous privileges,” and how grateful the couple is for what they have.
“It’s an honor to do work that matters. I love the job that I do — Ted you just listed a bunch of humbling memories for me, but to be able to put the good fortune that any of us that have a home have, at any level, and to help create it for those that don’t, that’s what I’m conscious of tonight and what we’re really grateful for tonight,” he concluded. Phillip Phillips closed out the evening, which raised $1.5 million, with a performance.
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