Held Friday at the Beverly Hills Hotel, this year's event raised money to benefit the Boys & Girls clubs of Stanta Monica and Challengers Boys & Girls Clubs. Held annually during the NBA All-Star weekend, the gala has long been a cornerstone of Behind the Bench's efforts to help charities that aid women and children.

The event began with a silent auction which featured NBA memorabilia such as autographed items from the 1976-77 World Championship Portland Trail Blazers team and several current players such as Allen Iverson, Yao Ming and Baron Davis. Also featured were many distinctive and autographed items from international superstars such as Eminem, Oprah Winfrey, Muhammad Ali and Andre Agassi.

Surrounded by family and friends, Jackson graciously accepted the honour for her past and continuing work with such organizations as Gen. Colin Powell’s America’s Promise, the Starlight Foundation, Congress of Racial Equality, NAACP, Make-A-Wish Foundation, American Foundation for AIDS Research (AMFAR), Cities In Schools, Americares, and the United Negro College Fund. Additionally, she works closely with the Watts (L.A.)-Willowbrook YMCA and "A Place Called Home," a transitional home for abandoned and abused children located in South Central, L.A.

Several professional basketball superstars were in attendance to honor Jackson including NBA legends Walt Frazier, Oscar Robertson and Elgin Baylor, current player P.J. Brown and WNBA stars Swin Cash and Tina Thompson.

The event, arranged seven months ago, marked the first public apparance for Jackson following her controversial performance during the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVIII. When Jackson admitted that it had been a "rough" two weeks, the crowd broke into supporting applause which Jackson acknowledged.

Since 1995, Behind the Bench has raised nearly $1 million for charities in Los Angeles, the host city of this year's NBA All-Star game.

Previous award recipients include Hank Aaron, Muhammad Ali, Dorothy Height, Alonzo Mourning and David Robinson.