An event full of amazing people to support a great cause.
This past Friday Nancy Davis, Multiple Sclerosis advocate and Center Without Walls founder hosted the 23rd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. The event raised an incredible $1.6 million towards the Race to Erase MS and its Center Without Walls program, a collaboration of top MS research centers working together as a team on ground-breaking research with the goal of treating and hopefully finding a cure for MS.
[slideshow]The event kicked off with LL Cool J who gave touching remarks and introduced host and founder Nancy Davis. Nancy then gave a warm welcome to guests and presented the 2016 Medal of Hope Award to Alex and Ani’s Carolyn Rafaelian for her remarkable commitment to giving back to not just Race to Erase MS but to so many.
The gala also included a live auction, which was introduced by Jaime Pressly. Lucky bidders got to walk away with grand items including a Hawaiian vacation for two, tea at the Peninsula Hotel with Sharon and Kelly Osbourne and an 8-day African SkySafari. The jackpot of the night was a private yacht tour of the Bahamas, which went for an outstanding $30,000.
After the auction festivity musical director David Foster brought Eric Benét onstage to preform a moving tribute to a longtime friend and supporter of the cause, the late Natalie Cole, with a rendition of “Unforgettable.”
The stage was then turned over to Nancy where she took a moment to recognize the doctors from the Center Without Walls in person, bringing them out to introduce to guests. Following this Ashley Tisdale introduced Jordan Smith who gave an amazing performance that included his original song “Stand in the Light.” Randy Jackson had the pleasure of introducing iconic rock band KISS, who preformed some of their hit songs including “Deuce,” “Calling Dr. Love,” “Cold Gin,” and “Rock And Roll All Nite.”
The exciting evening was wrapped up by the Race to Erase MS tradition created over the past 23 years, an rendition of “Lean On Me” led by Emblem3. The group was joined on stage by Nancy Davis, David Foster, BC Jean and more.
Some famous faces who attended this year’s event included host Nancy Davis, honoree Carolyn Rafaelian, musical performers KISS, Jordan Smith, and Eric Benét, musical director David Foster, presenters Randy Jackson, LL Cool J, Jaime Pressly, and Ashley Tisdale, along with guests Loni Anderson, Garcelle Beauvais, Paget Brewster, Wendy Burch, Dove Cameron, Francesca Capaldi, Artem Chigvintsev, Tommy Chong, Lisa Daftari, Christine Devine, Carmen Electra, Emblem3, David Faustino, Frances Fisher, Doug Flutie, Clementine Ford, Teri Garr, Kat Graham, Marg Helgenberger, Annie Ilonzeh, BC Jean, Larry King, Justin Kirk, Camilla Luddington, Ross Matthews, Katherine McNamara, AJ Michalka, Aly Michalka, Megan Nicole, Naya Rivera, Shaun Robinson, Jillian Rose Reed, Olivia Sanabia, Rhea Seehorn, Cybill Shepherd, Jojo Siwa, Edyta Śliwińska, Anna Trebunskaya, Louis Van Amstel, Kirsten Vangness, Clay Walker, Diane Warren, Dave Winfield, and many more.
To add to the fun guests also received a Race to Erase MS gift bag that was packed with an array of awesome items including gifts from MAC Cosmetics, Alex and Ani, Peter Thomas Roth and more.
