Jessica Sherman

Jessica Sherman

Founder & President

On the forefront, Jessica has been involved with casting some of film and television’s biggest projects over the last 6 years. Sherman has worked with April Webster Casting since 2010, she has been involved with projects like Star Wars Episode 7, Star Trek Into Darkness, Bates Motel, and The Strain. As well as several smaller budget films that she has cast independently (including 2016 Sundance hit Sleight). Sherman founded A Cause for Entertainment to support the fight against Breast Cancer, she has walked the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer since 2010, when her grandmother was diagnosed with the disease. As an avid supporter, she was inspired to start her own organization to have a greater impact in the community.
Alexander Spear

Alexander 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.
Jimmy Nguyen

Jimmy Nguyen

Director

Born in Thailand as a Vietnamese refugee and raised in San Diego, California, Jimmy Nguyen is a filmmaker who has produced three documentaries about his hobbies: Showrunners: The Art of Running a Television Show (2014), Barista (2015), and Gamemaster (2020). He has an intense passion for coffee, board games, and Wong Kar-wai and is excited to join the incredible team at ACFE in battling breast cancer.
Devon Balsamo-Gillis

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.
Sara Gorsky

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.
Andre Dubois

Andre Dubois

Board Member

Andre Dubois immigrated to the US from Argentina as a young child, and quickly became immersed in the culture of fashion and entertainment as he formed his roots in Los Angeles. A graduate of Vidal Sassoon Academy and a member of the Local 706, Andre has provided hair design to countless celebrities for a number of feature film, television and video productions spanning across twenty two years. For Andre, it is the ultimate honor to be a part of A Cause For Entertainment after sharing in his late wife’s struggles with stage iv breast cancer and then his late mother’s own stomach cancer battle shortly after. It was this vicarious journey with fighting cancer that originally inspired him to get involved as an attendee in his wife’s honor. “I have a greater opportunity to raise awareness and be part of a community of like minded people making a difference against this silent killer – So Be Brave!”
Cecilia Tripp

Cecilia Tripp

Resident Social Media Manager

Cecilia was born and raised in St. Louis, MO where she grew up with her 7 siblings. Growing up in the mid-west, in a big family, taught her everything she knows about hard work, not shying away from competition, and the importance of being a genuine person. Now that she lives in Los Angeles these are the traits that she carries with her in every thing she does. In 2014, Cecilia graduated from Missouri State University with a BFA in Acting. Shortly after graduation she packed her bags and headed West. She is honored to be a part of A Cause for Entertainment and to help continue to raise awareness for Breast Cancer.
CJ Woodring

CJ Woodring

Director of Media Production

CJ has a passion for entertainment and can usually be found at his keyboard or behind a camera. Whether directing a Cricket Wireless commercial starring John Cena, writing viral sketch comedy for funny-shorts.com, or editing a documentary on Dua Lipa, the focus and drive remain the same: to tell great stories. And if there’s one story in desperate need of an uplifting third act, it’s the fight against breast cancer. After seeing the amazing work Jessica began in 2015, CJ was inspired to dedicate his production knowledge and story-telling skills to ACFE in hopes of spreading awareness of the event, it’s brave beneficiaries, and the noble fight it will one day win.
Jade-Addon Hall

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.

Paige Ivy

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.”
Devika Tandon

Devika Tandon

Legal Advisory Board Member

A proud Canadian hailing from Toronto ‘the 6’. Senior corporate counsel at FIGS, a lifestyle company that supports and serves those who serve – our healthcare professionals (wearfigs.com). An experienced and well-versed corporate counsel with a background in policy, strategy and business development in both the start-up space (fin-tech and drone-tech) and corporate environments. Admitted to practice in New York, registered as in-house counsel in California and a California commissioned notary public. You’ll always catch Devika speaking about some new food spot, trying a new recipe or finding the time to create and draw, inspired by her passion and experience as a henna artist!

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