Celebrities, Including Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Join Serena Williams at Baby2Baby Gala | Vanity Fair

This year’s Baby2Baby gala took on a new sense of urgency, as the Los Angeles community continues to recover from the January wildfires that left many families without homes and necessities.

The organization, which provides aid to over a million children each year, distributed more than 30 million emergency supplies including food, formula and diapers to families that were impacted by the fires. Each year the gala, which raises money to support these initiatives, honors a woman with the “Giving Tree Award,” for her efforts to support maternal health and supporting families. Past Baby2Baby gala honorees include Charlize Theron, Kim Kardashian, Vanessa Bryant, Chrissy Teigen, Amy Adams, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Alba, Jennifer Garner, Kate Hudson and Drew Barrymore.

Kerry Washington, Malin Akerman, and Katie Lowes at the 2025 Baby2Baby gala

Saturday night, Baby2Baby’s co-CEO’s Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof took the stage to honor tennis superstar Serena Williams. “Serena is a mother, she is a role model,” Kerry Washington, another former honoree, said from the stage. “She is just a plain supernova. She uses her voice and her platform with intention, not just for spotlight, but for true influence. Serena lifts others up and she does it with a rare kind of resilience and conviction.”

Alicia Keys introduced Williams and painted a picture of a multifaceted woman. “She is an inspiring entrepreneur, and at the heart of it, she is an amazing mother, an amazing woman, a partner, and a dear, dear sister to me. So tonight, Baby2Baby is honoring our, I was going to say my, but our beautiful friend, Serena Williams!”

Natalia Bryant and Vanessa Bryant at the 2025 Baby2Baby gala

Friends and family including her sister Venus Williams, Rafael Nadal, Eva Longoria, and her husband Alexis Ohanian appeared on screen, congratulating Williams on the honor and even providing some glimpses into her off-court life.

In her speech, Williams applauded the work of Baby2Baby at large. “I just feel like after having kids, you just have a whole new appreciation for what Baby2Baby does,” Williams said. “I am proud to stand with an organization led by women, built by women and driven by women. Truly inspirational to see all the things that you guys have done.”

Paris Hilton, Lizzo and Meghan Trainor at the 2025 Baby2Baby gala.

Olivia Munn, Julie Bowen, Malin Akerman, Ciara and Jessica Alba all took the stage throughout the night, and the star-studded event—which this year raised more than $18 million—had the likes of Tyler Perry, Missy Elliott, Adam Scott, Rachel Zoe, Molly Sims, Ayesha Curry, Prince Harry, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Trainor, Judd Apatow, Will Ferrell, Orlando Bloom, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie in attendance.

At the event, the full name of which is the Baby2Baby Gala Presented by Paul Mitchell, guests selected dishes from many of the best of L.A.'s restaurants, curated by John Shook and Vinny Dotolo of the beloved Jon and Vinny’s. Funke offered a rigatoncini cacio e pepe served by Evan Funke himself, while Mr. Chow served a chicken satay and shrimp roll. 88 Club, Burger She Wrote and Sushi Nozawa provided other offerings.

Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie at the 2025 Baby2Baby gala

“In total so far, we have distributed over 31 million emergency supplies to families impacted by the horrific fires,” Weinstein said. “These fires have reminded us never to presume who needs help.”

Many attendees echoed the sentiment, both in the wake of the fires and the pause on SNAP benefits as a result of the government shutdown.

Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Co-CEO, Baby2Baby, Serena Williams, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Norah Weinstein, Co-CEO, Baby2Baby at the 2025 Baby2Baby gala

“I think at a time where we need to pull together as much as possible with every good effort being under attack or under audit,” Lake Bell said, noting that she hadn’t been to the gala in a few years. “But this year felt powerful, meaningful and essential.”

Lizzo was a first-time attendee of the gala, applauding the group’s efforts during the cocktail hour. “It's nice to know there's people out here that are banding together for good to help people because there's a lot of people banding together for evil,” she said. Later she wove her way to the front of the stage as Ludacris performed, rapping right along with him from the crowd—to his apparent delight.