Bonnie Abaunza To Be Honored With ACLU Socal’s Advocates For Justice Award

EXCLUSIVE: Bonnie Abaunza will be feted this Thursday by the ACLU of Southern California with the Advocates for Justice Award. 

She will be bestowed with the honor by Spectrum News 1 anchor, Giselle Fernandez. 

Abaunza has been a longtime supporter of the ACLU and served on its Foundation Board.  Throughout her career, and prior she’s been dedicated to humanitarian work, human rights and social justice advocacy. Abaunza was the first Director of the Artists for Amnesty program at Amnesty International, was VP of Social Action at Participant Media, spearheaded philanthropy for Oscar winning composer Hans Zimmer and consulted for the United Nations agency, the International Labour Organization and more. 

Her company, Abaunza Group, produces social impact campaigns for features, documentaries, series and non-profit organizations. 

Many of Abaunza’s campaigns have moved the needle on critical issues including genocide awareness with the Hotel Rwanda campaign, conflict diamonds with Blood Diamond, corporate abuses with The Constant Gardener, abuses by the food industry with Food, Inc., campus sexual assault with The Hunting Ground, online sex trafficking with I Am Jane Doe, the plight of refugees with Cries From Syria, girls’ education with The Breadwinner and rights of domestic workers with ROMA.

Abaunza says, “Receiving this award from the ACLU SoCal is an incredible honor. I joined this organization when I was a teenager and to be receiving this award decades later for my work promoting civil rights is truly humbling.” 

Marian Koltai Levine, CMO at AGBO, adds, “Bonnie Abaunza is one of those rare individuals who embody both the intellect and the compassion of a true activist. When she commits to a project, she moves mountains to advance the cause and effects real change. She is an incredible leader, mentor, educator and mom!  She is our superhero of advocacy.”  

Jessica Sarowitz founder of Miraflores Films says, “Bonnie gives her best to everyone she works with to ensure marginalized groups are supported and empowered. She is a professional who leads with her heart and cultivates change through her ethical values.” 

Oscar lauded songwriter Diane Warren and Abaunza have worked on several projects together for years.

Warren exclaims, “Anyone who has Bonnie on their team will never have a more fierce and ferocious advocate and friend.”