SANTA MONICA—The Second Annual Diamond Ball fundraising event to benefit Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) is set to take place on December 10 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica.

Founded in 2012 by Rihanna and created in honor of her grandparents Clara and Lionel Brathwaite, CLF works to improve the quality of life for communities around the world with a focus in areas of health, education, arts and culture.

This year’s black tie ball, sponsored by Samsung, along with Live Nation and Puma, will be hosted by Kevin Hart featuring a performance by Lionel Richie.

The ball will formally launch the Clara Lionel Foundation Global Scholarship Program that
“will award full scholarships to youth globally giving them the opportunity to receive an education anywhere in the United States,” as stated in the Clara Lionel Foundation website.

The auction house for 21st-century collectors, Paddle8, will serve as the auction partner for the event, and will have Alexander Gilkes, Paddle8 co-founder, direct a live auction. A couple of items will include a Bono signed guitar and an original piece by Jeff Koons. The auction items will be available online on paddle8.com/clf starting on November 25.

“I’m so proud of the work the Clara Lionel Foundation has done in its first year and can’t wait to celebrate with the iconic Lionel Richie and incredibly talented Kevin Hart at this years Diamond Ball” said Rihanna in a CLF press release.

Michael Rapino, Live Nation CEO, will receive the Inaugural Diamond Honors Award, an award given to an individual who demonstrates “true leadership in the fields of philanthropy and entertainment and whose work furthers CLF’s mission.”

Rapino has been chosen as the award’s recipient for his commitment to supporting a plethora of Live Nation artists philanthropic efforts including, From One Hand To Another, The Pies Delscazos Foundation and The Shawn Carter Foundation. He not only supports Live Nation’s fund Taking Care Of Our Own, which provides financial support and resources to employees facing personal struggle, but also founded The Rapino Foundation with his wife, “an international development and relief organization with a focus on the world’s most vulnerable populations such as women and children in the developing world.”

Rihanna released a statement regarding Rapino’s honor, saying, “This foundation is close to my heart and I am so grateful for Michael Rapino’s support and commitment to our cause. No one is more deserving of the first Diamond Honors Award than him.”

The first Inaugural ball, which was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel with a performance by Rihanna, raised over $2 million. The donations made were used to purchase 2 new pieces of equipment for Clara Braithwaite Center for Oncology and Nuclear Medicine at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados, including a brachytherapy system, which contributed to making the center one of the most modern in the Caribbean and has resulted in neighboring islands referring hospital patients there. The cutting edge system is the first of its kind in North America and one of only three in the world.

Previous guests at the First Annual Inagural Diamond Ball, included Brad Pitt, Salma Hayek, Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Ellen Pompeo, Ne-Yo, Fabulous and Big Sean.

For table and ticket information for the 2nd Annual Diamond Ball, you can contact Towalame Austin at info@claralionelfoundation.org or (310) 975-6878.