Terri J Vaughn's 6th Annual Angels Awards Benefit

Actress Terri J. Vaughn (Steve Harvey Show, All of Us, Daddy's Little Girls), encourages young women to take flight through her Take Wings Foundation.

Terri J. Vaughn celebrated her Take Wings Foundation’s Sixth Annual Angels Awards Benefit gala with family and friends at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco on August, 16, 2008, proving that she has adopted the idea of paying it forward not only as a mantra, but as a lifestyle. Hollywood divas Terri J. Vaughn, founder of Take Wings Foundation, and Essence Atkins share a sisterly bond at the Sixth Annual Angels Benefit gala in San Francisco (above). Tichina Arnold and Tommy Ford served as cohosts for the benefit.

The Take Wings Foundation has been around for the past eleven years. Vaughn has used the non-profit foundation to inspire and nuture the talent of teenage girls, ages 13 to 18, while encouraging and inspiring them to reach their greatest potential as future leaders and productive citizens. “It’s all about exposing these young ladies to different environments,” said Vaughn, a Bay Area native. “To know that we’ve helped teach young girls to make better decisions about their lives and the challenges they face is truly a blessing.”

Take Wings has welcomed around 150 young women every year, many of whom have gone on to excel academically in college and who still will call Vaughn’s cell phone whenever they need her.

Tank performed for the benefit Tichina Arnold, Terri Vaughn, Dwayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Toné!,(WHERE U BEEN?) and Essence Atkins Terri, Tichina, and Terri's mom Helen Vaughn Adonal Foyle, Ford, Arnold, Atkins, Vaughn, Tank and Karon (Terri's husband) come together to support young women. Ford and Arnold greet Take Wings Foundation board of directors Adonal Foyle and Billy J. Ward.