Beverly Hills was out in force for the third annual Cure Addiction Now (CAN) gala and fundraiser as Nancy Davis welcomed celeb friends, philanthropists, advocates, and LA’s social set for the special evening. Co-founded by Davis and her late son, Jason, the nonprofit is dedicated to advancing innovative research into substance use disorder, with a mission to transform the science, treatment and understanding of addiction.
Featuring a cocktail reception, seated dinner, live auction and special performances by contemporary pop singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin, Sam Nelson Harris of alternative rock/pop band X Ambassadors, and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Siedah Garrett, who sang the song she wrote for Michael Jackson, “The Man in the Mirror.” Just like when she’s brought in the fan-fave song at Davis’ other gala, Race to Erase MS, Garrett had the audience in seriously good spirits.
(Photo courtesy of Getty Images for Cure Addiction Now)
Davis opened the event to share the history of how the organization was founded and the purpose of Cure Addiction Now. “For far too long, we treated addiction as a moral failure instead of a life-threatening disease. People suffering from addiction are not bad people; they have a bad disease. They are our children, our parents, our brothers, our sisters, our friends, and they deserve real medical solutions, new medications, new therapies, and an understanding of the brain…I promised Jason I would never stop fighting to find better treatments and save lives, and I promise to keep that,” Davis said.
Natasha Graziano introduced actresses Frances Fisher and Ava Phillippe, who presented an exclusive first look and preview of the trailer for a sneak peek of their upcoming film, THE CALL. Conceptualized and executive produced by Davis, the film explores the profound impact of addiction on families, highlighting the importance of awareness, compassion and lifesaving interventions. The film was produced in support of Cure Addiction Now, with all proceeds set to benefit the nonprofit organization and will next be seen making a debut festival run.
The guest list also included Adelaide Kane, Andrew Koji, Ashley Benson, Audrina Patridge, Brandon Davis, Catherine Bach, Christine Devine, Crayton Carozza, David Faustino, Dorothy Lucey, Dyan Cannon, Dylan Summerall, Evan Ross, Isolde Fair, Jane Seymour, Jasper Polish, Jen Fessler, Jonathan Cheban, Kai Caster, Lisa Breckenridge, Lisa Vidal, Madison Love, Nelson and Stacy De La Nuez, Paris Dylan, Shaun Robinson, Tara Rudes Dann, Tessa Hilton, Tom Arnold and more.
(Photo courtesy of Getty Images for Cure Addiction Now)
Co-founded by Nancy Davis and her late son, Jason Davis, CAN works to remove the shame and stigma surrounding addiction and seeking help. Their aim is to empower individuals to pursue recovery without judgment. Recognizing the deep connection between addiction and mental health, CAN emphasizes that substance use disorder is not merely a physical dependency, but a disease often intertwined with challenges including anxiety, depression and trauma. By integrating mental health into its research and treatment strategies, CAN is forging a holistic approach to recovery and both the physical and psychological factors that contribute to addiction.
For more than 30 years, Davis has also spearheaded the Race to Erase MS Gala, which has raised millions for multiple sclerosis research, establishing the event as a cornerstone of the MS community.
