The Power of Love Gala 2023

Power of Love Award Recipient

Spencer Haywood

Ryan Gordy Foundation's Power of Love Award honors a man of immense historical importance. Spencer Haywood is a unique visionary who has led by example, provided inspiration and made generational contribution to our overall cultural condition.

We humbly present to an icon known for his immense contributions both on and off the court. What Spencer Haywood achieved on the hardwood as a Hall of Famer, Olympic Gold Medalist, All Star MVP, and scoring and rebounding champion, is matched by his passionate dedication off the court to mentoring, improving lives and creating boundless opportunities for generations of young players.

Haywood's legacy has made an undeniable impact on the game that will continue to be felt for generations. The 1971 Supreme Court's Hollywood v. NBA ruling paved the way for players to enter the league without requiring four years of college, ultimately generating over $2 billion for players. Additionally, his efforts with Retired Basketball Players Association ensured healthcare for players, and secured a $24 million pension for ABA players.

Haywood is a proud father to four beautiful daughters, and a cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2013 but successfully underwent treatment and is now cancer free.

Power of Action Award Recipient

Bill Duffy

Ryan Gordy Foundation's 2023 Trailblazer Award honors an extraordinary individual who has left a lasting, indelible impression on the sports landscape.

We are so proud to present this year's Trailblazer Award to Bill Duffy, one of professional sport's most successful, respected agents. As WME's Head of Basketball, and former Chairman & CEO of BDA Sports Management, Bill has been trailblazing for over 3 decades. Representing more than 40 basketball players across the globe, he is internationally recognized as an unstoppable force in pro basketball.

A standout basketball player at Santa Clara University, Bill was selected in the 5th round of the 1982 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, and in 2003 was inducted into SCU's Athletic Hall of Fame. He also serves on the Santa Clara University Board of Trustees.

He has been making an impact throughout his illustrious career, serving on the boards of numerous educational, health care and charitable organizations including the I Have a Dream Foundation, Brain Trust Committee to support brain research at Cedars-Sinai and AIM Youth Mental Health. He was also selected to the Martin Luther King Jr. International Board of Renaissance Leaders at Morehouse College.

Bill and his wife, Jamese live in Walnut Creek, California and have five children.

Bill Duffy attends Ryan Gordy Foundation's 2023 Power of Love Gala

The Power of Love Gala

Power of Love Award Honoree

Spencer Haywood

Spencer Haywood is an American basketball icon and extraordinary legend who not only is a Hall-of-Famer, Olympic Gold Medalist. MVP, and All Star, but also an advocate who improved the landscape of professional basketball and created boundless opportunities for generations of young stars. Spencer Haywood is a man of immense historical importance, and we commemorate him.

Trailblazer Award Honoree

Bill Duffy

Bill Duffy is the founder and principal of BDA Sports Management, a basketball agency in which Endeavor purchased in 2023; he now serves as Head of Basketball to WME Sports. Over his career, Duffy has represented 30 NBA Draft lottery picks, 44 NBA All-Star selections, and 15 NBA Champions. He and his team currently represent over 50 NBA players.

Master of Ceremonies

Larry Wilmore

Emmy Award winner Larry Wilmore has been a television producer, actor, comedian, and writer for more than 25 years. He can currently be heard as host of Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air on The Ringer Podcast Network. The show which premiered in 2017, features Wilmore’s unique mix of humor and wit as he weighs in on the issues of the week and interviews guests, in the worlds of politics, entertainment, sports, and beyond. Larry is currently in development on the comedy series Lately for ABC, a behind the scenes look at the upstairs-downstairs dynamics of the people who work at a late-night talk show. He can also be seen in the Paramount+ film Jerry and Margo Go Large alongside Bryan Cranston and Annette Benning.

Special Guest

Michael Beckwith

Michael Bernard Beckwith, a man who embodies many of the core principles upon which the Ryan Gordy Foundation is built.

Widely recognized for his teachings on the science of inner transformation and

unity, Dr. Beckwith embraces a practical approach to spirituality utilizing meditation, affirmative prayer, and Life VisioningTM, a spiritual technology he developed for conscious evolution, authentic living and living your life purpose. These practices teach us to take the experiences of inner peace and

awakened awareness into our everyday lives.

A highly sought-after meditation teacher, conference speaker and seminar leader, Mr. Beckwith is founder and CEO of Agape International Spiritual Center, a trans-denominational community highly regarded for its cultural, racial, and spiritual diversity and inclusivity. He has addressed prominent audiences at the UN General Assembly, TEDx and Oprah Winfrey Network’s (OWN) SuperSoul Sessions, and appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, OWN’s SuperSoul Sunday and Help Desk; Dr. Oz; CNN, The Oprah Show; Larry King Live; Tavis Smiley; and his own PBS Special, The Answer Is You.

As co-founder and president of the Association for Global New Thought, he hosts conferences featuring harbingers of world peace including His Holiness the Dalai Lama and had the distinguished honor of presenting to Nelson Mandela the Gandhi King Award. Further, he serves on the Advisory Board of Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Center for the Study of

African American Religious Life (CSAARL), Center for the Study of African American

Religious Life.

Three of his books, ‘Life Visioning’, ‘Spiritual Liberation’ and ‘TranscenDance Expanded’, have received the prestigious Nautilus Award.

Michael Beckwith attends Ryan Gordy Foundation's 2023 Power of Love Gala

Special Guest Performer

Isis Chanel

Isis Chanel is a singer/songwriter born in Detroit, Michigan, where she draws inspiration from the city's rich musical heritage, particularly the Motown and Techno sounds. Her music blends elements of R&B/Soul, Pop, Funk, and House, creating a unique and infectious sound that is both modern and nostalgic. Isis composes all of her music from lyrics to production, and her smooth and soulful vocals are the centerpiece of her songs, conveying a wide range of emotions with effortless grace. Her unique sound and poetic storytelling resonate with audiences around the world.

Entertainment Mogul & Entrepreneur

Vassal Benford

Vassal Benford is the Producer for The Ryan Gordy Foundation Gala and is an entertainment mogul, entrepreneur and a highly accomplished and celebrated 57x platinum record producer. His full service multi-media entertainment company spans across Estate and Sports Entertainment, Film/TV, Music, Concert Events and 4D Immersion Technologies. Benford has played a major role in the success of many top artist careers and executive produced the hit film series After and After we collided, two top streaming

movies on Netflix.