Children’s Institute in Los Angeles has created a new honor to reflect the values and long-running commitments of the late Michele and Rob Reiner. The Michele and Rob Reiner Champion for Change Award will be presented for the first time on Nov. 8, with its inaugural recipient set: Jamie Lee Curtis.
Award origins
Jake and Romy Reiner teamed with their aunt, Martine Singer, president and CEO of Children’s Institute, to create the inaugural award, conceived as a tribute to the late couple’s legacy and the causes they held close.
The Michele and Rob Reiner Champion for Change Award is designed to recognize the couple’s “lifelong commitment to improving the lives of children and families and strengthening communities across Los Angeles, throughout California, and beyond.”
Why this organization
Rob and Michele Reiner dedicated countless hours to advocating on behalf of many causes and organizations, and one remained close to their hearts for years: Children’s Institute in Los Angeles. The connection is also personal. Singer is Michele’s sister and has served as president and CEO for nearly a decade.
Founded in 1906, the organization now serves upwards of 30,000 children and families across the city in underserved neighborhoods. It provides education, counseling, parenting support, meeting spots, and enrichment programs, all under a mission of helping build pathways to success, economic mobility, and good health.
Gala details
The inaugural award will be presented at Children’s Institute’s Cape & Gown Gala at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California, on Nov. 8.
Grammy winner John Mayer is also confirmed to perform at the event. Mayer has ties to the Reiners as well, having written and performed “Say” (aka “Say (What You Need to Say)”) as an original track for the 2007 Rob Reiner-directed dramedy The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.
Why Curtis
The organization chose Curtis, an Oscar and Emmy winner, for her work championing children, families, and communities through philanthropy, advocacy, and storytelling, and for her connection to the Reiners.
Alongside her screen work as an actress and producer, Curtis is a bestselling author who has released 14 children’s books, including the New York Times bestsellers Today I Feel Silly and Big Words for Little People. She released the most recent, Just One More Sleep, in 2024.
She also has deep ties to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and has raised nearly $2 million for the organization through her charitable initiative My Hand in Yours. Curtis has long said she is guided by the principle of “love and service” in her work, which she applies as a passionate advocate for those in recovery as a sober person herself.
“I am so deeply honored to receive this award as a testament to the extraordinary legacy that Michele and Rob shared with so many of us. They didn’t just create together. They lived a life of service, building something greater than themselves and giving so much to the world around them. And that is something worth honoring again and again,” said Curtis. “The world needs so much more of what they gave us: their love, their courage, and their joy. I am forever grateful to carry a small part of their legacy forward.”
Singer on their legacy
“I can’t think of a more meaningful way to honor the legacy of my sister Michele and my brother-in-law Rob,” Singer said. “I had the privilege of watching them devote their lives to creating a more just and compassionate world for children and families. Their work was never about recognition — it was about making a lasting difference.”
Family reflections
Jake and Romy Reiner described the award as a continuation of their parents’ lifelong focus on children, families, and community support.
“Our parents taught us what it means to be good, decent human beings. And they didn’t just talk about it; they led by example. They took the unconditional love they had for us and applied it to all their advocacy work, that includes their support for Children’s Institute and our aunt Martine,” Jake Reiner said.
“Not only were they incredibly proud of Martine for the way that she has led the organization, but they believed so much in the goal of CII. When Martine asked us if they could name the award after them, it was not only an honor but made complete sense. To have our parents’ names connected to CII’s work on behalf of children and families is a meaningful continuation of what they stood for,” Romy said.
Work behind the name
The award also reflects the Reiners’ broader advocacy. They provided leadership in establishing First 5 California through the voter-approved tobacco tax initiative, which raised north of $12.5 billion over the years to support early childhood development, health, and school readiness. They also worked tirelessly for civil rights and equality, and helped champion the legal effort that restored marriage rights for same-sex couples in California.
