Sep 18, 2009
35th Annual Dinner of Champions Raises Nearly $2 Million
Gala dinner honors Summit Entertainment’s Rob Friedman
Rob Friedman, Co-Chairman and CEO, Summit Entertainment, was honored at the 35th annual Dinner of Champions. The gala event took place on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. The event raised nearly $2 million that will aid in the research, programs and services that the National MS Society supports throughout the year. Scott Johnson, President and Founder of the Myelin Repair Foundation, was presented with the Dorothy Corwin Spirit of Life Award. Johnson, who was diagnosed with MS in 1976 at the age of 20, dedicates his life to advancing research for better treatments.
Bob Daly presented to Rob Friedman. Grammy nominated multi-platinum UK singer/songwriter James Blunt performed at the dinner. Byron Allen served as master of ceremonies for the 17th year. Special guests attending included Adam Sandler, Billy Burke, Giovanni Ribisi, Ian Gomez, Joey McIntyre, David Lander, Ron Perlman, Ed Marinaro, Nia Vardalos, Marlon Wayans, George Gallo and Jason Antoon.
Patrick Wachsberger, Co-Chairman and President of Summit Entertainment, served as the Dinner’s Honorary Chair, and Joe Roth and Tom Sherak served as Dinner Chairs. Previous honorees have included such distinguished individuals as Sir Howard Stringer, Steven Hilton, Peter Chernin, Joe Roth, Amy Pascal, Jim Gianopulos, Bob and Harvey Weinstein, Tom Rothman, Michael Lynton, Rob Moore and most recently Oren Aviv. Previous recipients of the Spirit of Life Award include Annette Funicello, Richard Pryor, Alan Osmond, David Lander, Michael Kamen and Teri Garr.
The Dinner of Champions is one of the most highly visible fundraising events in Los Angeles, one that has been overwhelmingly embraced by the entertainment industry. Each year, the dinner honors a philanthropist who has made a significant contribution to the movement to end multiple sclerosis. Because of fundraising events such as the Dinner of Champions, the National MS Society is able to support more MS research and offer more services for people with MS than any other MS organization in the world. The Society invests $45 million annually to support MS research, including $9.4 million currently in place locally at UCLA, USC, Loma Linda University and the Brentwood Biomedical Research Center. Proceeds from the Dinner also support vital programs for people who have MS and their families.
For additional information about the “Dinner of Champions,” please call Olivia Wu at 310.479.4456. Donations can be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Southern California Chapter, 2440 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 115, Los Angeles, CA 90064.