Photos: Barbra Streisand Honored at THR's 24th Annual Women in Entertainment Breakfast

The Hollywood Reporter hosted its 24th Annual Women in Entertainment Breakfast today, honoring Barbra Streisand with the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award and celebrating the many accomplishments of women in the industry. The event at Milk Studios in Los Angeles was presented by Lifetime, and coincides with the publication of The Hollywood Reporter's annual Women in Entertainment Power 100 list.

Robert Redford presented Streisand with The Hollywood Reporter's Sherry Lansing Leadership Award, which recognizes female pioneers and leaders in her industry. Streisand has dominated the entertainment world in all facets, as a singer, actress, director, composer, screenwriter and producer. She is one of the most accomplished figures in Hollywood history, earning two Academy Awards, 10 GRAMMY AWARDS and five Emmy Awards. She is the only artist ever to receive Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy, Directors Guild of America, Golden Globe, National Medal of Arts and Peabody awards and France's Legion d'Honneur as well as the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. With this accolade, Streisand joins a long line of preeminent names in the industry, including Shonda Rhimes, Oprah Winfrey, Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Dame Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, Halle Berry, Jodie Foster, Glenn Close and Barbara Walters.

Speaking to the audience Barbra implored, "Speak up until women are treated equally by the people who pay us, by the people who heal us and by the people who claim to represent us," she said. "And remember: the more we support each other, the stronger we become."

"It was an honor for us to recognize Barbra, a fearless advocate for women, and rights for all people, who uses her massive talent to shine her spotlight on sometimes difficult subjects from politics to gender to health to Hollywood's behavior right here," said Janice Min, co-president and chief creative officer of Guggenheim Media's Entertainment Group. "We're excited to celebrate her astonishing accomplishments, and also those of the women who follow in Barbra's big footsteps and accomplish great things in entertainment on a daily basis."

Prior to Streisand's honor, GIRLS star Lena Dunham kicked things off with a light hearted and entertaining speech stating that, "Some girls who grew up in the '90s dreamt of a luxury cruise with N'Sync," adding, "but my fantasy has always been a room full of Hollywood power bitches enjoying breakfast foods."

Sean Penn later welcomed business leader and philanthropist Melinda Gates, who delivered the keynote speech to guests. Pointing to her daughter's table, Gates noted how incredible it was to be able to be exposed to the experiences of so many strong women.

Nanci Ryder, accompanied by Jeffrey Katzenberg, took the stage and read a personal letter describing her own struggles and reminded the attendees to always support one another and remember the power they have.

Guests in attendance at the breakfast included Ashley Tisdale, Camila Belle, Catherine Hardwicke, Chloë Grace Moretz, Geena Davis, James Brolin, Kathy Griffin, Lea Michele, Meagan Good, Melissa Rivers, Nia Vardalos, Niecy Nash, Olivia Wilde, Pam Grier, Raquel Welch, Rita Wilson, Sarah Silverman, Selma Blair, Sherry Lansing and Tyra Banks.

Power 100 honorees in attendance included: Ann Daly, Beth Roberts, Bonnie Arnold, Bonnie Hammer, Claudia Lewis, Courteney Monroe, Dana Walden, Debbee Klein, Deborah Barak, Diane Nelson, Emma Watts, Frances Berwick, Gigi Pritzker, Gina Balian, Gwen Marcus, Hannah Minghella, Ilene Chaiken, Jana Winograde, Jeanne Newman, Jenni Konner, Jennifer Salke, Jill Soloway, Keri Putnam, Kris Jenner, Kristine Belson, Leah Weil, Lena Dunham, Leslie Siebert, Linda Lichter, Lisa Gregorian, Lori McCreary, Lorrie Bartlett, Mara Brock Akil, Marion Edwards, Megan Colligan, Melanie Cook, Mireille Soria, Nancy Josephson, Nancy Utley, Nicole Clemens, Nina Shaw, Pamela Levine, Rebecca Prentice, Rena Ronson, Rita Tuzon, Stacey Snider, Sue Kroll, Susan Rovner, Toni Howard and Vanessa Morrison.

The Hollywood Reporter also announced that it had raised $820,000 in university scholarships for the 17 high school girls who have been participating in its Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program this year. The year-long program, now entering its seventh year, pairs high school girls from underserved communities in Los Angeles with leading figures from the entertainment industry for bi-weekly mentoring sessions. The program is a joint venture with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles. The scholarships are funded by Lifetime, Entertainment Industry Foundation, NET-A-PORTER, Sheila Johnson, Loyola Marymount University and ICM Partners.

This year, Meghan Trainor surprised three of the mentees with full four-year scholarships to attend Loyola Marymount University. Two of the scholarships were funded by the University's scholarship fund and the third was funded by ICM Partners and the ICM Community Partners Foundation for the first year ever.

"We are thrilled to be part of this inspiring partnership for the third year in a row," said Stephen G. Ujlaki, Dean of the Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television. "It's important that our future leaders and innovators are able to attend our University and pursue their dreams without the fear of crushing debt. Thanks to our generous donors, the LMU/Women in Entertainment scholarships will provide these exceptional young women with that life changing opportunity,"

"I'm really proud of the cultural contributions that the foundation has made to the agency," said ICM founding partner Chris Silbermann. "The foundation is building on the commitment to mentoring that our stalwarts like Esther Newberg and Toni Howard and Lorrie Bartlett and others have made for decades in this business. As the father of a smart, independent and compassionate young daughter, I'm appreciative of their efforts on a personal level as well."

In addition, event partner American Airlines provided the Women in Entertainment mentees with 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles to help them travel from their hometowns to their colleges and universities next year. American Airlines' Donna Estacio, Director of State and Local Government Affairs, was on hand to congratulate the mentees.

Since the program's inception in 2008, The Hollywood Reporter has raised $2.4 million in scholarships for the high school girls who have participated in the program. Previous mentors in the program include high-powered executives such as NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke, FOX Television Group chairman/CEO Dana Walden, Paramount Pictures president of worldwide distribution and marketing Megan Colligan, and Universal Pictures chairman Donna Langley.

The Women in Entertainment Breakfast was sponsored by Lifetime, Mercedes Benz, American Airlines, South Coast Plaza, SAG-AFTRA, FIJI Water, Gersh, Entertainment Industry Foundation and Loyola Marymount University.

Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES (accompanied this release)

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos