Taste for a Cure raises
over $840,000 for highest priority cancer research at UCLA
Annual
Signature Event featured special performances by singer
Mary J. Blige and
Actor/Comedian
Kevin Nealon
The Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation
(JCCF) at UCLA celebrated another successful annual fundraiser
with Taste for a Cure 2007 raising over $840,000
for highest priority cancer research. This year’s
annual epicurean evening, honoring United Talent Agency
Partner and Board member Jay Sures, featured a surprise
performance by Grammy award-winning artist Mary J. Blige
and a standup comedy routine by Kevin Nealon – the
evening’s auctioneer and star of Showtime’s Weeds.
Dinner Co-Chair Jeffrey Katzenberg presented the Gil Nickel
Humanitarian Award to Sures on this special evening.
This year’s Taste
for a Cure delivered a spectacular presentation of
food and wine offerings by Southern California’s top
female chefs paired with renowned lady vintners and winemakers
from Napa Valley. Host chef Conny Andersson, executive
chef at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, oversaw the entire
culinary production and created the evening’s dessert
course along with Pastry Chef Aaron Lindgren. Guest chefs
included Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken of Border
Grill and Cuidad, Zov Karamardian
of Zov’s Bistro, Evan Kleiman of Angeli
Caffé, Josie Le Balch of Josie
Restaurant and Suzanne Tracht of Jar.
Featured vintners and winemakers included Margaret Duckhorn
from Duckhorn Wine Company, Stephanie
Putnam of Far Niente, Joy Sterling of Iron
Horse Vineyards, Ashley Heisey of Long
Meadow Ranch, Oakville Ranch and Marelle Syrah,
Beth Nickel of Nickel & Nickel and
Beth Novak Milliken of Spottswoode Estate Vineyard
and Winery.
The culinary experience was
complemented by live and silent auction items ranging from
jewelry and concert tickets to priceless travel and culinary
experiences.
Since 1996, the JCCF annual
event has raised more than $5.5 million for highest priority
cancer research at UCLA. The event has also garnered support
with attendance and entertainment from Coldplay’s Chris
Martin, George Lopez, Jimmy Smits, Sara Silverman, Mark-Paul
Gosselaar, Andy Garcia, Fran Drescher, Bob Iger, President
and CEO of The Walt Disney Company and his wife Willow Bay.
The JCCF is the single-most
important vehicle for raising private funds for cancer research
at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC).
For the 7th consecutive year, the JCCC is rated as the best
cancer center in California and among the nation’s
top 10 by U.S. News & World Report. The JCCC’s
dedicated researchers are clearly recognized as international
leaders in the discovery of new and better ways to prevent,
detect and treat cancer.
Mission:
The JCCF is the single-most important vehicle for raising private funds
for cancer research at UCLA, and supports a number of high-priority
cancer research efforts focused on converting laboratory discoveries
into more effective therapies for cancer patients. For the 7th
consecutive year, UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
(JCCC) is rated as the best cancer center in California and among
the nation’s top 10 by U.S. News & World Report. The
JCCC’s dedicated researchers are clearly recognized as
international leaders in the discovery of new and better ways
to prevent, detect, and treat cancer.
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