Our Mission
To support and empower individuals and communities affected by breast cancer. A Cause for Entertainment’s goal is to raise awareness and funds to support research, education and the individuals and families who are currently facing a breast cancer diagnosis.
A note from our founder, Jessica Sherman
A Cause for Entertainment was founded in 2015 with the soul purpose to raise awareness and funds to support the fight against breast cancer and those who are currently facing their own diagnosis.
Like many, during the summer of 2008 my life was touched by cancer. My grandmother, who was my best friend, was diagnosed with both breast and colon cancer. It breaks my heart that this is just one of many stories I can tell, but it has motivated me to take action. Shortly after my grandmother was diagnosed, I started working with the Avon Foundation and began participating in the 39.3-mile walk in Santa Barbara with the largest crowd of survivors and supporters I’ve ever seen. After 6 straight years of walking and raising around $25,000 on behalf of the Avon Foundation, I was inspired to do more.
In my last year of walking, I completely destroyed my feet and had to find another way to raise money, so I chose to embrace the Avon Foundation’s DIY fundraiser, thus A Cause for Entertainment was born. With that I started planning our very first intimate gathering in Hollywood, CA, taking full advantage of the incredible list of contacts I had developed over the years working in casting film and television. The night was truly a celebration of life, hosted by the hysterical Missi Pyle and a very special performance by Kate Nash.
With the support of the television/film, sports and music industries, we were able to raise approximately $18,000 in our first year, and it quickly became very clear that this couldn’t be a one time thing. So I hung up my walking shoes and started building an incredible team to support me and my dreams of making a bigger impact.
Fast forward to 2023, we are a team 7 volunteer board members, and will be celebrating our 9th anniversary and raising nearly $300,000 in our lifetime as an organization.
With all my heart I would like to thank you for your continued passion and support for all that we do.
With Love,
Jessica Sherman
Our Leadership
JESSICA SHERMAN
Founder & President
Jessica Sherman is an award winning seasoned Casting Director. She has been involved with casting some of film and television’s biggest projects. A Los Angeles native, Sherman took a passion for entertainment and casting while studying at UC Riverside, and has translated that passion into a successful career.
She began her career under the mentorship of April Webster and was involved with Bad Robot/JJ Abrams projects like Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Trek Into Darkness, Super 8, and CBS’ Person of Interest. And collectively later joined forces with Carlton Cuse and cast A&E’s Bates Motel and FX’s The Strain.
After hanging her own shingle in 2017, Jessica Sherman has cast several smaller budget films like Sundance darling Sleight and Tribeca hit Thumper, including the Amazon limited series Tell Me Your Secrets, as well as the highly anticipated Disney+ series Willow. And most recently, her work as casting director on the Oscar winning short film “Skin” garnered her an Artios Award.
DEVON BALSAMO-GILLIS
Editor-in-Chief
Los Angeles native Devon Balsamo-Gillis is an award winning writer who works in television and a lover of those miniature cooking videos on the internet. In 2017, Devon’s sister, who at the time was 17, had a tumor on her pancreas; her sister’s health ordeal sparked a passion for wellness in Devon and a desire to learn and share methods of preventative care. Devon joined A Cause For Entertainment to help spread the word about prevention and detection of ALL tumors, and to help eradicate a disease that has affected so many people personally. When she’s not wielding an altruistic sword, Devon enjoys doing yoga, eating kale, and using essential oils to cure the common cold. Just kidding. Kale is gross.
CECILIA TRIPP
Social Media Manager
Cecilia is the Founder and Director of Brand Strategy at Laurel Canyon Creative. Originally from St. Louis, MO, Cecilia moved out to Los Angeles in 2014 after getting her BFA in acting from Missouri State University. She began managing social for a couple of non-profits and in 2018 decided to start her own boutique design and social media agency. She met Jessica who told her about ACFE and immediately knew it was something she needed to be a part of. Having several family members affected by a breast cancer diagnosis and a passion for giving back to her community she felt drawn to the mission of A Cause for Entertainment. When she’s not working you can find Cecilia playing with her two kids or sitting in a coffee shop drinking a vanilla latte.
PAIGE IVY
Director of Events and Media Producer
Paige is from Northern California and has always had a deep love for the arts and helping others, likely stemming from a lifelong passion for theater and 14 years with The Girl Scouts of America. Previously, Paige founded and taught music and theater programs for underserved schools. She later worked professionally as a wedding and events planner and has seen things you couldn’t imagine. She finds it important to make the most of what you have. Many of us are fortunate to have so much, and it is important that we lift others up in dark times and in light. It is her privilege to work alongside the ACFE team to bring an end to cancer and aid those who are currently fighting. As is her mantra, “Be kind, make art.”
SARA GORSKY
Director of Outreach
Sara is so grateful to have been a part of this incredible event from the very beginning. She has designed and built the ACFE website and graphics since the first event in 2015, and this year she is so thrilled to join the board, as well! Having lost family members and dear friends to cancer this is a cause near and dear to her heart and every dollar raised is another step towards victory. Sara is an actor originally hailing from Chicago known for her work in indie thriller Chrysalis, and the upcoming Gut Punched, as well as a long list of films and stage productions. She is also a proud freelance web designer & developer.
ALEX SPEAR
Director
Alex Spear is proud and excited to be part of such an important event. Working in Current Programs at Warner Brothers Television, Spear wanted to find a way to get involved and give back during his spare time. The ability to contribute to the hunt for a cure for something that ails so many proved to be an opportunity he could not turn down. Spear is honored to be part of this event, and would like to thank everyone for their help and support.
JADE-ADDON HALL
Director
Jade-Addon Hall is the Director of Current Series at Lionsgate TV, where he creatively oversees shows currently on air, working with writers and showrunners to mold their pilots into multiple season shows. In this role he staffs writers and directors across multiple series, in addition to managing a host of creative production related decisions.
Jade is known for his work previously in premium television at BET which includes developing and overseeing season one of TWENTIES with Lena Waithe, while helping to launch BET’s first premium streaming network, BET+. He also shepherded and developed BET+’s first two scripted original series FIRST WIVES CLUB with Tracy Oliver, and BIGGER with Felischa Marye. Prior to working at BET, Jade developed television for the Disney Channel and Disney XD.
Hailing from Hillside, NJ he is also a proud graduate of Syracuse University, holding a BA in Psychology and an MFA in Television Radio and Film.
View more from our past celebrations…
ACFE 2015 Event
ACFE 2016 Event
ACFE 2017 Event
ACFE 2018 Event
ACFE 2019 Event
2020-2022 celebrations took place with virtual events and fundraising campaigns.
You can view some of our favorite segments from those events here.