This past weekend Matthew Reeve, Will Reeve and Alexandra Reeve Givens hosted The Dana & Christopher Reeve Foundation’s annual “A Magical Evening” Gala in New York City.
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The gala celebrates those who have embodied the fabric of the Foundation’s mission to cure spinal cord injury and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis. The evening ended up raising more than $1 million to support pivotal work.
This year the Shepherd Family was honored at the gala with the Christopher Reeve Spirit of Courage Award. The O’Connor family was also recognized with the Arnold H. Snider Visionary Leadership Award and Denna Laing was awarded with the Dana Reeve Hope Award.
Reeve Foundation CEO Peter Wilderotter and host Jerry O’Connell were joined by Matthew Reeve, Will Reeve, and Alexandra Reeve Givens to support the vision of their late mother and father.
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“A Magical Evening is a celebration of how we at the Reeve Foundation come together to push harder, move faster and go further in our mission,” said Peter Wilderotter, President and CEO, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. “When we reflect on the individuals and institutions who paved the way for those living with disabilities, we naturally think of Christopher and Dana Reeve. However, Chris and Dana were not alone. There is an entire community of supporters that make up the Reeve Foundation from donors to researchers, advocates to volunteers, and of course, individuals living with paralysis and their caregivers. At A Magical Evening, we honor those real-life heroes and community members who keep the Foundation moving forward.”
Attendees were treated to a performance by singer-songwriter Josh Ritter.
Additional attending supporters included Meryl Streep, Andy Karl & Orfeh, Nastia Liukin, Cam Neely, Gary Bettman (Commissioner of the NHL), gold medal Paralympians Victoria Arlen and Timothy Palumbo, Bethany Watson (Co-host of Z100’s “Elvis Duran & the Morning Show”), Carrie Hammer (fashion designer), Eric LaGrand and DJ Whoo Kid.
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This year’s Board of Directors included John M. Hughes (Chairman), John E. McConnell (Vice Chairman), Henry G. Stifel, III (Vice Chairman), Matthew Reeve (Vice Chairman, International Development), Joel M. Faden (Treasurer), Jeffrey P. Cunard (Secretary), Peter T. Wilderotter (President & Chief Executive Officer), Timothy J. Connors, Ian Curtis, Stephen Evans-Freke, Tracy Forst, Simone George, Alexandra Reeve Givens, Jack Hagerty, Kelly Anne Heneghan, Esq., Lisa Henry-Holmes, Daniel Heumann, Michael Hoog, Anita McGorty, Timothy R. Pernetti, Mark Pollock, Will Reeve, David Sable, Jay P. Shepard, Marci Surfas, Christopher Tagatac, Tania Taylor, Patricia J. Volland and James O. Welch, Jr.
Through the Reeve Foundation’s persistence and promise, neuroscientists around the world agree that repairing the damaged spinal cord is not a question of if, but a question of when. The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy.
