October 23, 2025 | Optimist Studios, Los Angeles

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About Verte

Verte is an unforgettable annual gala benefiting Grades of Green’s vision to create a clean and sustainable environment for generations to come. Attended by hundreds of distinguished guests, celebrities, and trailblazing honorees, Verte raises critical funds to continue educating and empowering students to take take action and lead meaningful change in their local communities.

Keynote

Through their words and vision, Grades of Green keynote speakers set the tone for the evening—reminding us of the urgency, hope, and possibility in creating lasting environmental change.

Al Muratsuchi

Each year, Grades of Green highlights leaders whose actions shape a more sustainable future. California Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, who proudly represents the 66th Assembly District in the Los Angeles South Bay, exemplifies this spirit through his tireless advocacy for environmental protection, climate action, and community well-being. His leadership and vision reflect the collective power of policy, education, and grassroots action to create lasting change for people and the planet.

Honorees

Each year, we recognize inspiring individuals who are making a lasting impact on people and the planet. Their leadership, dedication, and vision reflect the spirit of Grades of Green and the collective power of environmental action.

Nalleli Cobo

Nalleli Cobo is a fierce leader in the environmental justice movement. At 19, she helped shut down a toxic oil site in her South LA neighborhood — the same site that had caused years of health issues for her community. She began speaking out at age 9, co-founded People Not Pozos, and despite a cancer diagnosis at 19, continued her fight, earning the Goldman Environmental Prize and a spot on TIME100 Next.

Dune Lankard

Dune Lankard is an Eyak Athabaskan Native and lifelong defender of Indigenous lands and waters. After the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, he left commercial fishing to become a full-time activist, co-founding the Native Conservancy and leading efforts to protect wild salmon and Native culture. Today, he’s pioneering regenerative ocean farming and uplifting the next generation of Native ocean stewards. A TIME “Hero for the Planet” and James Beard Lifetime Impact Award honoree, Dune has spent over 30 years fighting for land and ocean justice.

Program Details

Join us for an unforgettable celebration of 15 years of cultivating the next generation of environmental leaders. The night begins with an engaging social hour featuring interactive activations, exclusive silent auction items, and a live band to kick off the night. Savor one-of-a-kind culinary experiences, including sustainably raised Riverence trout and exceptional pours from St. Supéry Vineyards.
Once we gather in the reception hall, the evening will open with a powerful impact film, a breathtaking traditional hula and chant, and brief, heartfelt welcomes from our leadership. Be inspired by honorees Nalleli Cobo and Dune Lankard, get swept up in the excitement of our live auction, and help shape the next 15 years of impact during our Fund-A-Cause digital paddle raise.
This is the celebration everyone will be talking about — and you’ll want to be in the room where the magic happens.

Featured Auction Items

From one-of-a-kind experiences to eco-conscious treasures, our auction lineup is packed with items that celebrate the creativity and generosity of our incredible community and partners. With the high-energy expertise of The Benefit Auctioneers leading the way, every bid you place fuels Grades of Green’s mission to inspire and activate the next generation of environmental leaders.

Here's a Sneak Peak!

Event Sponsors

Our event sponsors are the roots that anchor Verte and the wind that carries it forward. Their generosity transforms vision into reality, amplifying our mission and nurturing the next generation of environmental leaders. Together, we celebrate a shared commitment to sustainability—proving that when purpose and partnership unite, the impact can ripple for generations.

Green Guardians

Jeffrey & Tiffany
Neu

Sustainers

Camela Ott & Mark Bell

Priscilla Muñoz & Will Kuntz

Dr. Steven Davis

Cultivators

Andy & Portia Cohen

Chrissie & Harrison Clay

Gege Schoenfelder - S&P Global

Grant & Shaya Kirkpatrick

Jason & Jennifer Berlinger

Kapil & Sandesha Singh

Keith Granet & Jon Vaszauskas

Megan Mauck

Paul & Heather Baboolal

Stuart & Lisa Coppedge

Canopy Sponsors

Alice Beal & William Kuntz

Anthony Ciardelli

Daniel & Roxanne Stetson

Dawnyell Goolsby

Jeff Wilson

Kathy Kellogg Johnson

Kathleen Eckert Family Fund

Law Office of Kim Lewand Martin

Leslie Tanquary

Orange Logic

Pamela & Marcos Weinstein

Proverbs Financial

QVEST

Simon Adler

Verte 2025 Sponsors

Org. Partners

We deeply value our partnerships with organizations that share our commitment to sustainability and community. Through meaningful collaboration, we work together to advance our shared mission and create lasting, positive impact for all.

Vendors

Our mission-driven vendors make Verte unforgettable — bringing eco-friendly products, locally sourced flavors, and community spirit to every corner of the event. Their work doesn’t just set the scene; it fuels our shared vision for a greener, more sustainable future.

Business Supporters

A huge thank-you to our Business Supporters — the companies and organizations whose generous silent auction donations and in-kind gifts make our gala shine. Their contributions power student-led environmental action and help grow the next generation of changemakers for a cleaner, greener future.

A Note of Gratitude

With deep gratitude, we honor our Board Members for their steadfast leadership, boundless generosity, and unwavering belief in our mission. Your vision shapes our path, your dedication strengthens our roots, and your support fuels every branch of impact we grow. This journey—and the future we are building—would not be possible without you.