Kate Reinders and Jenna Leigh Green. Photo Courtesy of You Gotta Believe.
Kate Reinders, J. Harrison Ghee, Rosie Perez, and Seth Rudetsky spoke about being a part of the You Gotta Believe 10th anniversary benefit in New York City.
You Gotta Believe is a New York City-based nonprofit organization focused on finding permanent families for older foster youth.
On Monday, November 18th, it just celebrated a decade of impact with a milestone event at Town Hall in Manhattan, which featured performances by Rosie Perez, Sherri Saum, Charlene Tilton, Ta’Nika Gibson, Kate Reinders, J. Harrison Ghee, NBC 4 New York’s Janice Huff and others that were able to shine a spotlight on the urgent need for adoptive families for foster youth.
Kate Reinders
Kate Reinders is an actress and singer that is known for her acting work in “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” as Miss Jenn, and her work on Broadway.
On being a part of this event, Reinders said, “It is so nice to be back in New York and for such a good cause. I love teenagers.”
“I feel that sometimes the older kids are left behind, and they really need help and guidance too. Being a parent, as I know, is hard, so let’s help the whole family,” she said.
Regarding the title of the current chapter of her life, she said with a sweet laugh, “Waiting for the next chapter.”
On her definition of success, Reinders said, “Success means to love and to be loved in return.”
She praised actor and former co-star Matt Cornett (“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”) for being “her ‘tallest son’ and the sweetest guy.”
Reinders concluded about this fundraiser, “I hope people just come together as a community and realize that there is so much good that we can do together.”
Tony winner J. Harrison Ghee
J. Harrison Ghee is a Tony winner who won the Tony Award for “Best Actor in a Musical” for “Some Like It Hot.” Ghee became the first openly nonbinary actors to be nominated for and to win a Tony Award.
“It feels incredible to be here,” Ghee said. “It’s an easy ‘yes’ to come support such a wonderful organization, which does incredible work for children who need so much love and community.”
“Building community at any age or any point is so important, and I am happy to show up for such an important cause to support,” Ghee added.
On winning the Tony Award, Ghee exclaimed, “It felt incredible.”
Regarding their definition of the word success, Ghee remarked, “Getting to walk in my freedom and joy, especially as a black queer human in this world. That is success enough to me.”
“I hope people get hope out of this event,” Ghee concluded.
Rosie Perez and Seth Rudetsky
Rosie Perez and Seth Rudetsky also spoke about the 10th anniversary of You Gotta Believe.
“It feels amazing to be here. This is our 10-year anniversary, and Rosie Perez has always been here supporting us, so that you for that,” Rudetsky said.
“This is important to me because I have a child, and I relied on my parents growing up. It is great to have older people that you can call,” they acknowledged.
“Even if you can’t adopt, reach out to somebody younger and see if you can help them in any way,” Perez and Rudetsky concurred.
“I hope people give money to the organization You Gotta Believe,” Perez concluded.