Actor Jack Black was the emcee at Layla Paige Sonnens Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care, a fundraiser for this South Bay pediatric hospice care program. The walk took place at the South Coast Botanic Garden Saturday Oct 12, 2019.(Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)

Actor Jack Black was the emcee at Layla Paige Sonnens Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care, a fundraiser for this South Bay pediatric hospice care program. The walk took place at the South Coast Botanic Garden Saturday Oct 12, 2019. Parents Matt and Reese Sonnen tell the story of their daughter Layla Paige Sonnen. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)

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Actor Jack Black was the emcee at Layla Paige Sonnens Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care, a fundraiser for this South Bay pediatric hospice care program. The walk took place at the South Coast Botanic Garden Saturday Oct 12, 2019.(Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)

The Sonnen family, including (from left) Luke, Larissa, Matt and baby Layla during Laylas second birthday on April 8, 2017, in Redondo Beach. (Photo courtesy of Larissa Sonnen)

Actor Jack Black was the emcee at Layla Paige Sonnens Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care, a fundraiser for this South Bay pediatric hospice care program. The walk took place at the South Coast Botanic Garden Saturday Oct 12, 2019. Pre walk warmups entertained the group. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)

Actor Jack Black was the emcee at Layla Paige Sonnens Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care, a fundraiser for this South Bay pediatric hospice care program. The walk took place at the South Coast Botanic Garden Saturday Oct 12, 2019.(Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)

Actor Jack Black was the emcee at Layla Paige Sonnens Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care, a fundraiser for this South Bay pediatric hospice care program. The walk took place at the South Coast Botanic Garden Saturday Oct 12, 2019.(Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)

Actor Jack Black was the emcee at Layla Paige Sonnens Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care, a fundraiser for this South Bay pediatric hospice care program. The walk took place at the South Coast Botanic Garden Saturday Oct 12, 2019.(Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)

Actor Jack Black was the emcee at Layla Paige Sonnens Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care, a fundraiser for this South Bay pediatric hospice care program. The walk took place at the South Coast Botanic Garden Saturday Oct 12, 2019.(Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)

Actor Jack Black was the emcee at Layla Paige Sonnens Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care, a fundraiser for this South Bay pediatric hospice care program. The walk took place at the South Coast Botanic Garden Saturday Oct 12, 2019.(Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)

Actor Jack Black was the emcee at Layla Paige Sonnens Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care, a fundraiser for this South Bay pediatric hospice care program. The walk took place at the South Coast Botanic Garden Saturday Oct 12, 2019.(Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)

Actor Jack Black was the emcee at Layla Paige Sonnens Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care, a fundraiser for this South Bay pediatric hospice care program. The walk took place at the South Coast Botanic Garden Saturday Oct 12, 2019.(Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)

Actor Jack Black was the emcee at Layla Paige Sonnens Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care, a fundraiser for this South Bay pediatric hospice care program. The walk took place at the South Coast Botanic Garden Saturday Oct 12, 2019.(Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)

Actor Jack Black was the emcee at Layla Paige Sonnens Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care, a fundraiser for this South Bay pediatric hospice care program. The walk took place at the South Coast Botanic Garden Saturday Oct 12, 2019. Supporters listen to the emotional of Layla Paige Sonnen as told by her parents Matt and Reese Sonnen. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)

Actor Jack Black was the emcee at Layla Paige Sonnens Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care, a fundraiser for this South Bay pediatric hospice care program. The walk took place at the South Coast Botanic Garden Saturday Oct 12, 2019.(Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)

Actor Jack Black was the emcee at Layla Paige Sonnens Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care, a fundraiser for this South Bay pediatric hospice care program. The walk took place at the South Coast Botanic Garden Saturday Oct 12, 2019.(Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)

Actor Jack Black was the emcee at Layla Paige Sonnens Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care, a fundraiser for this South Bay pediatric hospice care program. The walk took place at the South Coast Botanic Garden Saturday Oct 12, 2019.(Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)

Actor Jack Black was the emcee at Layla Paige Sonnens Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care, a fundraiser for this South Bay pediatric hospice care program. The walk took place at the South Coast Botanic Garden Saturday Oct 12, 2019.(Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)

By Nicholas Ingram, contributing writer

Layla Paige Sonnen, born with an incurable brain disorder, died days after her second birthday. Her life was short, but her impact on people around her was immeasurable, her family said.

Laylas parents organized a walk for Saturday , Oct. 12, at the South Coast Botanic Garden, to say thank you to the team who helped the child and her family at Torrances Providence Trinity Kids Care Hospice.

Our initial thought was to get some friends and family together, walk by the beach and say a prayer for Layla, said Redondo Beach resident Matt Sonnen, Laylas father. Seven people would have been good.

Nearly 400 people packed the Botanic Garden lawn on Saturday morning and among them was entertainer Jack Black.

Providence board member Neil Seigel heard about the event and reached out to his brother box-office stalwart Black, star of such movies as Kung Fu Panda, Goosebumps and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

Ive been on the board since 2002, and we were looking for a fund-raising opportunity for the childrens pediatric hospice, Seigel said. We wanted to create an event, and we schemed together on the board. I asked Jack if he would be kind enough to do it.

When Laylas mother, Larissa Sonnen, heard of Blacks involvement, she was speechless. The Jack Black?!? Sonnen asked. My son, Luke, was beyond excited. Its absolutely amazing.

What an amazing day for a beautiful walk, event emcee Black said to the crowd before the walk began. Im excited to be a part of it.

Sporting a trimmed beard and clad in the events purple t-shirt, Black put a spin on a line from his 2003 movie, School of Rock Yall ready to walk? he asked the crowd.

After Black spoke, Sonnen shared his familys journey, from Laylas birth until hospice became involved. (Trinity Kids Care) sat down with us and they were so good at it. They didnt push us, but got us to the point of realizing Layla was suffering, and the best thing to do was let her go.

This event was born out of a family that lost a child, and it was their idea to connect with other families that have gone through something similar, said Terri Warren, chief executive of the hospice. Its about family and working with your neighbors.

Im seeing a lot of people who can learn from this experience, take it and pay it forward, Jan Schlesinger, one of Laylas physical therapists. Thats what the family wants to do, is thank the people that helped them at Laylas end.

After Sonnen shared his familys story, Black took the microphone one more time before a group stretch and a brisk walk around the garden.

Im impressed to hear your story of courage and grace, said Black. The world needs more organizations like Trinity Care.

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Jack Black helps Redondo Beach family who lost daughter host event to thank Torrances Providence Trinity Kids Care Hospice - The Daily Breeze