Chrysalis Celebrates 40th Anniversary Milestone with Star-Studded Butterfly Ball in October

TruAmerica Multifamily’s Robert Hart is a CRE leader who has long supported Chrysalis because he recognizes how the organization effectively works to transition people from homelessness. We spoke with Hart as well as Mark Loranger, Chrysalis’ President & CEO, to learn why it is important to get involved and support organizations that are working to build better communities.  

One such endeavor is the 2024 Chrysalis Butterfly Ball being held on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 5:30 p.m. at The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. The 2024 Butterfly Ball Honorees include John Paul DeJoria, Co-founder & Chairman of the Board, John Paul Mitchell Systems, Chairman Emeritus, The Partrón Spirits Company; Byron Taylor & Darrell Stevenson, Ranch Manager, Four Stones, Back of House Manager, Gwen; and Chloe Bailey & Halle Bailey, Grammy-nominated, Singer-songwriters and Actors. 

Why is it so important for companies to support organizations like Chrysalis?  

Hart: The Butterfly Ball has helped raise more than $20 million since it was conceived about 25 years ago, but Chrysalis’ impact goes well beyond just this one event. The 40-year mark for the organization shows it has a very strong foundation and the mission of teaching people how to emerge from their situation of homelessness to become self-sufficient remains solid. It’s important for that foundation of that mission to still be heard, promulgated and increased. I think the four decades is a kind of a landmark to say that this organization can withstand the test of time. Chrysalis has a strong board and has a very strong mission, as evidenced by its expansion into other cities within Southern California, such as Pacoima, Santa Monica, Long Beach, and other places. It’s a demarcation of stability of the organization that is working to solve a societal problem that doesn’t get smaller.  

Loranger: Addressing homelessness is one of the greatest challenges that Southern California faces. While housing is obviously essential, Chrysalis believes that helping an individual secure a good-paying, permanent job is one of the best ways to quickly help someone become housed, and just as importantly, prevent someone from becoming homeless in the first place.   

Hart: I first got involved with Chrysalis as a fundraising volunteer in the early 2000. I wanted to be more involved civically, but in an organization that had a direct impact by helping society and improving our city. That is consistent with how we operate TruAmerica today toward the goal of building better communities. I felt that the homeless problem was one that needed to be addressed. That has proven out over time as the homeless population in L.A. has continued to grow. It’s been a tough challenge, and I felt that an organization like Chrysalis really could make a difference in the recidivism of homelessness by training people for jobs that were ready for that part of their journey. It was important to me to make societal impact, and Chrysalis truly makes a direct impact to help those in need. I can make a difference, and I can make an impact by extending my business and friendship networks to spread the mission and to get people engaged and thinking about how to make L.A. a better community and how to help solve this issue. 

This is a very monumental year for Chrysalis in that it’s celebrating a 40th anniversary. Why does that make the Chrysalis Butterfly Ball stand out this year?  

Loranger: Since its founding in 1984, Chrysalis has helped over 85,000 people find employment. Chrysalis’ programs and its four Employment Social Enterprises, which provide transitional jobs for over 700 clients each week, have been recognized as national models. This year’s event will celebrate those accomplishments, as well as look toward the future as Chrysalis continues to be a leader in addressing our region’s most pressing challenges. 

Hart: Every year, there’s a new twist to the Butterfly Ball. The entertainment and the celebrity components continue to raise the bar higher every year and this year is no exception. It truly is one of the most exciting and dynamic events in L.A. and maybe in the country. The Chrysalis Butterfly Balls are ranked in the top ten nonprofit events in United States. We’ve had folks like Seth MacFarlane and Jennifer Hudson to name a few of the entertainment industry luminaries. This year the Bailey sisters are being honored, as well as a client of Chrysalis’ programs. Those elements always generate so much goodwill in the air because of that buzz. People like to come out dressed up, walk the red carpet, mingle with celebrities and the business community, who all there for a really worthy cause.  

What are some of the community benefits and positive impacts that Chrysalis delivers?  

Hart: One of the biggest things Chrysalis does is it cures blight. Many of the homeless folks that are vying to emerge from homelessness work in the Chrysalis Enterprises. A lot of them also work in various communities across Los Angeles, involved with street cleaning and helping the business development groups to improve these areas. So from the Palisades to downtown L.A. to Santa Monica, you see the Chrysalis teams at work, even on Caltrans projects as well. Those become rallying points with people that are joining arms together to make the city cleaner at the same time, provide work for those in need and, as well as fundamental training.  

Loranger: This year alone, Chrysalis will help over 1,800 clients find employment, with an average hourly wage of $19.50/hour—well over minimum wage. While the income earned by our clients is important, the confidence, dignity, and opportunity to reconnect with family and community are invaluable benefits that come along with meaningful employment.​ 

Hart: Involvement in Chrysalis reflects and supports TruAmerica’s mission and commitment to building better communities, both corporately and personally. It is an experience that is all about team building. It’s about encouraging people, to do well and do good at the same time. That’s what Chrysalis is doing. It’s doing well as an organization, but it’s doing a lot of good at the same time. That reflects our values at TruAmerica and how we try to operate as both a responsible landlord and as a member of the community in terms of our commitment to various forms of philanthropy.  

To purchase tickets to attend the 2024 Chrysalis Butterfly Ball contact [email protected] (310) 401-9393 or visit ChangeLives.org/Butterfly. 

Pictured: At a previous Chrysalis event, Tom Daniels, EVP of 11 Residential; Michael Clow, Executive Director at Greystar; Bob Hart, President & CEO, TruAmerica Multifamily; and Richard Friedman, Managing Director at Greystar.