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(Los Angeles, CA – Nov. 23,
2015) Associates for Breast and Prostate Cancer Studies,
(ABCs), hosted its annual, star-studded Talk of the Town
black-tie gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills,
Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015. The gala benefits breast and
prostate cancer research at the John Wayne Cancer Institute
at Providence Saint John’s Health Center. Award-winning
actress, producer and model Rene Russo received the Spirit
of Entertainment Award. Richard F. Wright, MD, chairman of
the board of the Pacific Heart Institute, was honored with
the Spirit of Hope Award. Actor and comedian Anthony
Anderson hosted, Sheri Rosenblum was gala chair and Beverly
Cohen was décor chair. The gala included a luxury boutique
and silent and live auction items.
“We are honored to celebrate
Rene Russo and Dr. Richard Wright at this year’s Talk of
the Town and we are extremely grateful that they joined
us to help raise awareness and support of our mission to
find a cure for breast and prostate cancer,”
said ABCs president, Gloria Gebbia. “For more than 25 years
we have dedicated ourselves to raising much needed funds to
continue the life-saving research being conducted at the
John Wayne Cancer Institute.”
“Our Institute is so
fortunate to have such extraordinary and dedicated
supporters like Gloria Gebbia and the ABCs,” said Patrick
Wayne, chairman of the Board of the John Wayne Cancer
Institute and son of the legendary actor John Wayne. “It is
their commitment that enables our physicians and scientists
to continue their groundbreaking cancer research for early
detection and treatment, and provide hope to cancer patients
everywhere.”
Actress, producer and model
Rene Russo was honored with the Spirit of Entertainment
Award which was presented by Maggie DiNome, MD, FACS, acting
director of the Margie Petersen Breast Center, director of
the Cancer Prevention Program, chief of general surgery at
Providence Saint John’s Health Center and an assistant
professor at the John Wayne Cancer Institute. Russo
continues to show her range and versatility as an actress
with each of her roles, crafting performances rich with
passion, caring and emotional truth. Russo’s most recent
role starring opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in “Nightcrawler,”
written and directed by her husband Dan Gilroy, was well
received by critics and moviegoers, earning the actress a
BAFTA nomination for best supporting actress. Russo’s
impressive list of credits include “The Thomas Crown
Affair,” “Tin Cup,” “Yours, Mine & Ours,” “Ransom,”
“Showtime,” “Big Trouble,” “Lethal Weapon 3,” “Lethal Weapon
4,” “In The Line of Fire” and “Get Shorty,” among others. A
native Californian, Russo grew up in Burbank. At the age of
18, she moved to New York and became a top model for the
Ford Agency. She graced the covers of major fashion
magazine throughout her successful modeling career.
Patrick Wayne presented
Richard Wright, MD, chairman of the board of the Pacific
Heart Institute with the Spirit of Hope Award. He previously
served as director of the Heart Institute at Saint John’s
Health Center in Santa Monica and on clinical faculty at the
University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Wright earned his
medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his
medical residence and cardiology fellowships at Brigham and
Women’s Hospital. He currently serves as co-director of the
California Medicare Contractor Advisory Committee, chair of
the American College of Cardiology National Carrier Advisory
Committee and cardiology advisor of Medicare’s Relative
Value Update Committee. He has served as president of the
American College of Cardiology, California Chapter, and on
the Medical Advisory Board at the Los Angeles Zoo, where he
served as the cardiologist for the Great Apes. Dr. Wright is
a renowned lecturer and co-authored the U.S. guidelines on
management of patients with heart failure. A recipient of
the Specialist of the Year Award from the American College
of Cardiology, California, he continues to be listed in peer
surveys as one of the top cardiologists in the state.
About the ABCs
The ABCs was formed 26 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 more than $14 million. For more information,
please visit
www.abcjw.com.
About the John Wayne
Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center
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 courageous and dedicated researchers 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, the Institute provides immediate
hope to cancer patients everywhere. |