It could have been a logline for a script: A chance encounter in a diner between an agent and a humanitarian leads to the first charitable organization ever integrated into a talent agency.
"We were in our mid-30s and extremely ambitious about defining our generation of thought leadership, specifically marrying business and purpose," says Lovett. In the early days, the foundation, which is entirely underwritten by the agency, focused on efforts like sponsoring the drama department at Venice High School, putting computers in schools that needed them and planting trees on campuses.
Bravo star Andy Cohen's activism also was bolstered by the agency — and his motivation is personal, too. "I had a baby in February born by surrogate," says Cohen. "It was in California because surrogacy is illegal in New York, and I thought that seemed antiquated." So, he called his agency, which advised him on networking in Albany. Gov.
Tran says employees and clients drive the constant expansion of its partners list, which currently numbers in the hundreds. "We're actually being reactive to what they're passionate about, like immigration and women's reproductive rights," she says. "We want to make sure they have the tools they need."