The group will become the first-ever recipients of the inaugural Rising Phoenix Award
On Oct. 10, Chrysalis will host its annual Butterfly Ball at The Beehive in Los at 5:30 p.m. During the evening gala, the Southern California non-profit — which aids struggling individuals with finding work — will present its inaugural Rising Phoenix Award to the cast of New Girl.
The leading faces of the widely beloved Fox show include Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Lamorne Morris, Hannah Simone, Damon Wayans Jr. and Max Greenfield, who returns as the Butterfly Ball’s host. The cast, who come together next month 15 years after the show’s premiere, was selected as honorees because of the series’ messaging of being able to start over during tough situations. New Girl showed that success is not always linear, and the people that support you in those times are of the utmost importance — something core to Chrysalis and how it approaches their clients.
The name of the award even comes from one of the most recognizable lines from the show: “Without ash to rise from, the phoenix would just be a bird getting up,” Greenfield evangelized as Schmidt in New Girl season 4 episode 3.
Chrysalis Ball will also give Jared Wolff, chairman and CEO of Banc of California, the Corporate Trailblazer Award. This honors individuals and companies who show a long-term authentic commitment to serving Chrysalis communities. Following the January 2025 wildfires, Wolff joined Steadfast L.A.’s league of business leaders prioritizing the restoration of the city. Beyond that, Wolff has demonstrated prolonged support for Chrysalis and a passion for improving Los Angeles for the citizens that live there.
Jared WolffCredit: Courtesy Chrysalis
“This year’s honorees reflect the resilience and second chances at the heart of Chrysalis’ work,” says Mark Loranger, president and CEO of Chrysalis. “Every year, Chrysalis helps thousands of people achieve goals they may not have thought possible, and the Butterfly Ball allows us to celebrate their accomplishments while ensuring that even more people have access to the support they need.”
Co-chairs for the 2026 Butterfly Ball include Betsy Beers, Rebecca Gayheart Dane, Greenfield, Hayward Kaiser, Susan Harris, Chris Hart, Amelia Williamson, Rick Hess, Josh Liberman and Cynthia and Bob Hart. Sponsors include The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation, TruAmerica and US Bank.
Last year, the gala raised $1.72 million through its live auction event.
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