Over the weekend, influential music mogul Jay-Z hosted a glittering fundraiser at the coveted Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City on behalf of the Reform Alliance, a noble nonprofit with a mission to instigate tangible transformations in the probation and parole systems. The end goal? To effectuate real pathways to work and well-being, by altering laws, systems, and culture.
An exclusivist gathering unsurprisingly unfurled on that auspicious night of September 30, 2023, with an illustrious clientele like Tom Brady and Kim Kardashian stirring up a bidding war at the Reform Alliance fundraiser, under the collective patronage of Jay-Z, Meek Mill, and Michael Rubin.
Hollywood’s crème de la crème, from Kim Kardashian, Tom Brady, to Matthew McConaughey, graced the casino-themed fundraiser, held at the opulent Boardwalk resort. A discerning roster of roughly 250 attendees reveled in the high-brow shindig, masterfully helmed by distinguished comedian Kevin Hart.
The enticing itinerary of the night encompassed a high-stakes blackjack tournament, a decadent dinner, dancing, live music, and a heated auction. The piece de resistance? An intense bidding altercation between Kardashian and Brady over a coveted painting by George Condo. After the bids escalated well over $2 million, the event saw a gratifying climax with both Kardashian and Brady emerging victorious, courtesy of Condo’s generous offer of an alternate piece.
At Ocean Casino, the fundraiser witnessed the presence of other stars like Tiffany Haddish, Jack Harlow, Alex Rodriguez, Quavo, and La La Anthony. Gleaming with satisfaction, Robert Rooks, the Reform Alliance founder and CEO, passionately remarked on the whopping $24 million raised that night, a feat surreal compared to his journey that began 25 years ago in criminal justice reform.
Reform’s mission struck a substantial chord in the life of Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill, who in 2017, faced a maximum sentence of up to four years imprisonment for a parole violation. However, with the overturning of Mill’s conviction in 2019 — predicated on unreliable evidence from an arresting officer — the rapper continues to be a significant advocate of the Reform Alliance.
The Reform Alliance has been steadily instrumental in lobbying for revised legislation around parole and probation programs, as seen evidently in California with the successful inception of Assembly Bill 1950. This legislation fundamentally restricts probation and parole terms, to 1-2 years for most nonviolent convicts, in turn, providing them an opportunity to reintegrate into society and bid farewell to the criminal justice system.
Speaking of opportunities, the Ocean Casino Resort has seen a resurgence in its financial fortitude since its rebirth as ‘Ocean’ in June 2018, following Luxor Capital’s acquisition. Last year, the resort accomplished an impressive gross operating profit of over $23.1 million, even exceeding Borgata’s long-standing reputation as the market’s prime performer.
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