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(Los Angeles, CA –
Nov. 22, 2016) Associates for Breast and Prostate Cancer
Studies, (ABCs), hosts its annual, star-studded Talk of
the Town black-tie gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel,
Beverly Hills Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Gala benefits breast
and prostate cancer research at the John Wayne Cancer
Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center.
Award-winning actress, author, producer and entrepreneur
Dame Joan Collins received the Spirit of Entertainment
Award; Academy Award-winning actress, director and author
Anjelica Huston was honored with the Spirit of Hollywood
Award and Marcel Loh, chief executive, Providence Saint
John’s Health Center and John Wayne Cancer Institute, was
presented the Spirit of Hope Award. Sheri Rosenblum was gala
chair and Beverly Cohen was décor chair. E! News chief news
correspondent Melanie Bromley hosted the event and The
Bangles performed.
“Each of our
honorees have been significantly affected by cancer and are
extraordinary role models and dedicated supporters of cancer
research,” said ABCs president, Gloria Gebbia. “Each of us
is a part of this great community that unites in a common
goal to improve the lives of people with cancer and to find
a cure. Together we will make a difference.”
“The generous,
on-going support provided by the ABCs has been instrumental
in advancing the Institute’s breast and prostate cancer
research,” said Patrick Wayne, chairman of the board of the
John Wayne Cancer Institute and son of the legendary actor
John Wayne. “Our physicians and scientists are at the
forefront of groundbreaking cancer research, which would not
be possible without the ongoing philanthropic efforts of
Gloria Gebbia and the ABCs.”
ABCs president
Gloria Gebbia presented the Spirit of Entertainment Award to
Dame Joan Collins. Winner of two Golden Globes and a
People’s Choice Award as well as a recipient of numerous
other awards worldwide, Collins has appeared in more than 60
feature films and dozens of television programs. Collins has
published sixteen books, beginning with her first
best-selling autobiography, Past Imperfect, which she
followed with The Joan Collins Beauty Book. Her
latest novel, The St. Tropez Lonely Hearts Club was
recently published by Little, Brown. She is an honorary
founding member of the National Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Children. She has supported several foster
children in India for 25 years. In 2015, Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II elevated Joan Collins to Dame Commander of the
British Empire (D.B.E.) for her lifetime contribution to
charity work, after having presented her with The Most
Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) for her
services to the arts in 1997.
Patrick Wayne
presented the Spirit of Hollywood Award to Academy
Award-winning actress and director Anjelica Huston. Huston
received the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for “Prizzi’s
Honor” and a Golden Globe Award for HBO’s “Iron Jawed
Angels.” She starred in the Golden Globe-nominated
television series “Smash” on NBC. Additional television
credits include a recurring role on Showtime’s original
series “Huff” and an Emmy-nominated guest-starring role on
“Medium.” She currently appears in Season 3 of Amazon’s
acclaimed series “Transparent.” Her directorial debut was an
adaption of Dorothy Allison’s best-selling memoir, “Bastard
Out of Carolina,” which garnered critical acclaim. Huston is
a New York Times bestselling author of her two-part
memoir “A Story Lately Told” and “Watch Me.” She is a member
of the Film Foundation’s Artists Rights Council, a
spokesperson for PETA, The Humane Society, Amnesty
International and a supporter of the Human Rights Campaign.
The Spirit of Hope
Award was presented to Marcel Loh by last year’s Spirit of
Hope honoree Dr. Richard Wright, chairman of the board,
Pacific Heart Institute. For 14 years, Loh served in
executive roles for Swedish Health Services, a
not-for-profit health system in Seattle and an affiliate of
Providence Health & Services. Loh holds a master’s in
hospital administration from the University of Iowa and a
bachelor’s in business administration from the University of
North Dakota. In addition to being a past chairman of the
Washington State Hospital Association, he is a fellow in the
American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), past ACHE
Regent for Washington state and currently serves as a
governor on the national ACHE board. He also serves on the
American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board region
9. Loh completed a military career as an Army Officer in the
Medical Service Corps and retired from the Army Reserve as a
Lieutenant Colonel.
About the ABCs
The ABCs was formed
27 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. For more information,
please visit
http://california.providence.org/john-wayne/. |