The Red Carpet Foundation was conceived in October of 2002 as a way to brighten the lives of individuals facing serious life challenges by allowing them to experience the magic of the red carpet first-hand. In February of 2004, the Foundation received its tax exempt status and began operating as an official 501 (c)(3) charity. To date, the Foundation has allowed over 25 individuals, including cancer and AIDS patients, the chance to live the life of a celebrity at events ranging from world premieres to star-studded fashion shows and parties. With the recent development of "Gift Bags for the Kids" the Foundation continues to grow and looks forward to spreading the joy of the red carpet to hospital rooms throughout Los Angeles, and beyond, in the years to come.

The use of the red carpet in Hollywood has an illustrious history that began on October 18th 1922, when Sid Grauman opened the Egyptian Theatre. That night, a frenzied crowd of thousands lined the streets to witness the spectacle of bright lights and glamorous celebrities, many hoping to catch a glimpse of Douglas Fairbanks, star of the opening night film, Robin Hood. Even the local press was swept up in the mania. "This night is a most auspicious one for Los Angeles, but it is still more auspicious for Hollywood. It marks Hollywood's advent from the status of a small town to a city of metropolitan importance, where world premieres are shown," gushed the Hollywood Daily Citizen.

Yet despite this unprecedented reaction from the public and the press, neither could have predicted that on that October night, a tradition was being born that would come to personify the glitz and glamour of the movie industry even some 80 years later. This tradition is the red carpet—the magical place where movies, stars, and fans come together in a magnificent celebration of cinema. Whether it be the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, or the countless movie premieres that occur every week in Los Angeles, the red carpet has played host to Hollywood's biggest and brightest, drawing eager crowds of movie fans from all over the world. Because of its broad appeal and enduring legacy, the red carpet is as alive today as it was decades earlier and serves as the perfect vehicle to connect the world of entertainment with the philanthropic endeavors of the Red Carpet Foundation.