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(Los Angeles, CA – November 23, 2014)
Associates for Breast and Prostate Cancer Studies, (ABCs),
hosted its 25th annual, star-studded Talk of
the Town black-tie gala Saturday, November 22, at the
Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills. Gala benefitted breast
and prostate cancer research at John Wayne Cancer Institute
at Saint John’s Health Center. Award-winning actor, singer,
writer and artist, Billy Dee Williams received the Spirit
of Entertainment Award. Actress, director and women’s
activist, AnnaLynne McCord, was honored with the Spirit
of Hope Award. Actor and rapper,
The Game, received the Humanitarian Award. Sheri
Rosenblum was Gala chair and Beverly Cohen, Décor chair.
The gala included a luxury boutique and silent and live
auction items.
Comedian, rapper, actor and writer, Brandon T. Jackson,
welcomed the more than 500 guests before introducing Madison
Gebbia, who welcomed her grandmother, ABCs president Gloria
Gebbia, her “philanthropic inspiration” to the stage to the
tune of Laura Branigan’s hit single,“Gloria.”
“This year’s
honorees have made incredible contributions to the arts and
to philanthropy,” said Gebbia, “They have used their
celebrity in ways that enrich and stimulate us, making us
think as well as enjoy. We are especially grateful that they
will have joined all of you tonight to help raise awareness
and support of our mission to achieve a cure for breast and
prostate cancer through the innovative research being
conducted at the John Wayne Cancer Institute.”
Jack Lerman, one of
the original founders of the ABCs, was joined on stage by
Gala chair, Sheri Rosenblum, adding their thanks to the
evening’s supporters and again highlighting the exceptional
work of the organization during the past 25 years.
Dr. Anton J. Bilchik,
Professor of Surgery and Chief of Medicine at the John Wayne
Cancer Institute, presented the Spirit of Hope Award
to actress, director and women’s activist AnnaLynne
McCord. Describing her as “more than just a pretty face,”
Dr. Bilchik enumerated her on-going efforts to tackle sexual
abuse and human trafficking throughout the world, helping to
abolish slavery and empower young women to overcome abuse.
Calling McCord “a force of nature,” he noted the she was
awarded the United States Congressional Honor for her work.
Actor and rapper, The Game, (aka Jayceon Terrell Taylor)
accepted the Humanitarian Award from Nicole Murphy
and Lisa Brunson. One of the best known rappers in the West
Coast hip hop scene and a protégé of Dr. Dre, he has gone on
to record some of hip hop’s most successful albums.
The Grammy Award nominee, admittedly born into a world of
gang-wars and hustling, used music to escape his early
roots. Today, thanks to a chance meeting in Australia with
a young man who escaped war torn Sudan, a story that
dramatically affected the rapper, Game has gone on to give
away more than $1 million of his own money to people in
need.
One of the
entertainment industry’s most prolific leading men, Billy
Dee Williams, was presented the Spirit of Entertainment
Award by Patrick Wayne, Chairman of the Board of the
John Wayne Cancer Institute. Williams made his feature film
debut in 1959’s The Last Angry Man, followed by a
host of television and stage roles, before capturing the
part of real-life football player Gale Sayers in the seminal
TV movie, Brian’s Song, a role that would garner him
national acclaim. As a suave and dynamic leading man,
Williams co-starred with such celebrated actresses as Diana
Ross in both Lady Sings the Blues and Mahogany,
and Diahann Carroll in Dynasty. Generations of
George Lucas fans will remember Williams as the scoundrel
Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back, a role
which he reprised in The Return of the Jedi. He won
universal praise for his portrayal of Motown founder Berry
Gordy in the ABC miniseries, The Jacksons: An American
Dream, and an Independent Spirit Award nomination for
his portrayal of a stern, yet loving father in the drama,
The Visit. In 2006, the NAACP recognized Williams for
his immense contribution to the arts with a Lifetime
Achievement Award. Off camera, he is an accomplished
painter, commissioned by many high-profile companies and
personalities. He currently has one of his works on display
at the Smithsonian.
The evening
concluded with a rousing performance by rock and roll
legends, The Temptations, bringing the audience to their
collective feet.
About the ABCs
The ABCs was formed
25 years ago by a group of dedicated philanthropists who had
originally been associated with the Eddie Cantor Charitable
Foundation, an organization that supported a variety of
causes. These individuals wanted to devote all their
charitable efforts and resources to eradicating cancer and
unanimously chose to support progressive and innovative
breast cancer and prostate cancer research at the John Wayne
Cancer Institute. Today, the Associates for Breast and
Prostate Cancer Studies are over 150 members strong and
growing. They dedicate their efforts to funding research in
breast and prostate cancer at the Institute, and since 1990,
have raised over $14 million. For more information, please
visit
www.abcjw.com.
About JWCI
Since 1981, the
family of John Wayne has been committed to pioneering cancer
research in memory of their father, who died of cancer. For
more than 30 years, the dedicated physicians and scientists
at the John Wayne Cancer Institute have made groundbreaking
discoveries that have changed the way cancer is detected,
diagnosed and treated around the world. Today, the
tradition of excellence continues as the Institute
spearheads new research advances, while training the next
generation of leaders in the fight against cancer through
its renowned Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program. The
Institute’s programs focus on melanoma, breast, neuro,
prostate and gastrointestinal cancers, as well as innovative
research in cancer genomics, molecular biomarkers, and
chemo- and immunotherapies. With its unique ability to
rapidly turn scientific discoveries into novel approaches
for early detection and treatment, John Wayne Cancer
Institute provides immediate hope to cancer patients
everywhere. For more information, please visit
www.jwci.org.
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