WE Day 2018 brings together celebrities and youth making a difference

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (FOX 11) - The Kenyan Boys Choir helped kick off the WE Day youth empowerment event on Thursday at the Forum. Celebrities like Selena Gomez, Jennifer Aniston, Cyndi Lauper and Martin Sheen walked the blue carpet in honor of young people who are empowering the world through service.

"They've gotten our attention and now we're inspired by them," said actor Martin Sheen.

"I feel like we are all so woke nowadays and that's just a way of saying we are knowing what's going on in the world and we are staying educated on everything," said actress Lizzy Greene.

The third annual charity gala brings together celebrities and youth who are making a difference.

"Are you proud of your generation?" FOX 11 asked YouTube star Jojo Siwa.

"I really am. I feel like my generation is making a change and I think that's something really cool and different about us," said Siwa.

Some 17,000 young people attended the event, hosted by "Fuller House" star and new dad himself, John Stamos.

"I have never been more moved by anything, and it's time to really start listening to these kids," said Stamos.

WE Day was founded more than 20 years ago by brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger. The price of admission for the celebration is a mandatory service project.

Two local teens we talked to helped Lebanese refugees.

"We've worked hard, but I don't take that as an accomplishment, I take that as everyone should be doing that since we only live once and make the world better," said Los Angeles student Arya Rahmanian.

WE supports more than 7,200 charities around the world and provides more than 200,000 children with access to education.