The stars were out on Friday, May 10 to support the 31st annual Race to Erase MS Gala. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) advocate and Center Without Walls founder Nancy Davis welcomed guests to the Fairmont Century Plaza, raising over $1.5 million to benefit 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, ultimately, finding a cure for MS.
The star-studded event, hosted by Caroline Rhea, featured performances by Natasha Bedingfield and A Great Big World. Additionally, L’AGENCE kicked off the evening with a fashion show.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Bijou Phillips attends the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
The orange carpet was abuzz with activity as guests at this year’s landmark event included Race to Erase MS Founder Nancy Davis, host Caroline Rhea, performers Natasha Bedingfield and A Great Big World, L’AGENCE Founder and Chairman Jeff Rudes, Fashion Director Tara Rudes-Dann, and other special guests including Alan Bersten, Amanda Kloots, AnnaLynne McCord, Ashley Benson, Bijou Phillips, Brandon Davis, Carmen Electra, Casey Affleck, Christine Devine, David Arquette, David Faustino, Derek Warburton, Diane Warren, Ioan Gruffud, Kathy & Rick Hilton, Lorenzo Antonucci, Montana Tucker, Scheana Shay, Shaun Robinson, Sutton Stracke, Tia Carrere, and more.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: (L-R) Kathy Hilton and Richard Hilton attend the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
Nancy Davis was dressed in a beautiful sequin L’AGENCE dress and coat for the event, while other notable guests including Amanda Kloots, Kathy Hilton, Heather Dubrow, AnnaLynne McCord, and Bijou Phillips also donned various silhouettes from the popular contemporary brand.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: (L-R) Nancy Davis, Founder, Race to Erase MS, and AnnaLynne McCord attend the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
On the carpet, guests shared how important it was for them to be supporting the cause. AnnaLynne McCord was here honoring her very good friend who has MS and is “so grateful that Race to Erase MS does the event for the ones out there who need that extra support” and added that “this is such a beautiful event.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: (L-R) Alexa Luria, Alan Bersten, Montana Tucker and Harry Jowsey attend the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
Alan Berstein, who is celebrating the official Dancing With The Stars renewal during upfronts, has been part of the charity for a few years, and shared how inspiring it was to see co-star Selma Blair on the competitive show, “it was really fascinating to see how she was able to overcome the struggles of MS and there are so many problems and things that we don’t even see, things that are happening internally.” He added that, “It’s really important, I think, that we find a cure for MS and an event as beautiful as this, where it raises so much awareness… it’s getting closer and closer and hopefully finding that cure.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Lorenzo Antonucci attends the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
Lorenzo Antonucci (MOB COPS, JERSEY BRED, UNFELT), who also partnered with Ashley Benson to create Ash by Ashley Benson and had products showcased at the event, spoke about how “it’s a good feeling to be here and supporting this cause and being around all these amazing people.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Nancy Davis, Founder, Race to Erase MS, speaks on stage during the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
Race to Erase MS founder Nancy Davis took the stage, thanking guests for being in the room to celebrate the 31st Annual Gala. Davis shared, “Tonight, we are here to celebrate the fact that we are one giant leap forward in reaching our ultimate goal of crossing the finish line and finding a cure for MS.” Davis added, “Thank you to every hero in this room.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Amanda Kloots speaks onstage during the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
Amanda Kloots introduced musical guest A Great Big World who brought down the house playing hits “Say Something” and “This Is the New Year.” Natasha Bedingfield then followed later in the evening with another show-stopping performance, introduced by Casey Affleck, featuring songs “Love Like This,” “Pocketful of Sunshine,” “These Words,” and “Unwritten.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: (L-R) Host Caroline Rhea, Kathy Hilton, Sutton Stracke, and Carol Bell speak on stage during the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
The event also hosted a luxurious live auction, which featured one-of-a-kind opportunities including a VIP dining experience for eight at Steak 48 in Beverly Hills; a pre-Oscar celebrity experience for a day; a four-night stay at the fabulous Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea with First Class airfare on Alaska Airlines; incredible tickets for Taylor Swift’s sold out The Eras Tour concert in Miami plus a three-night stay at Loews Miami Beach Hotel; a seven-night stay in an ultra-exclusive four-bedroom tranquility villa at Amanyara, Turks & Caicos; a two-day Parisian culinary adventure for two with Recipe.TV Emmy-nominated chef Edward Delling-Williams and special guest chef Florian V. Hugo; and a luxurious flight for two on Aero Airlines with a three night’s stay at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal and more. The big item of the night was a four-night private yacht charter with a crew and a gourmet chef in Nassau, Bahamas, which went to the highest bidder for $50,000.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Natasha Bedingfield performs on stage during the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
As in years past, an uplifting rendition of “Lean On Me” was performed as the finale of the evening by Natasha Bedingfield. They invited audience members to join them onstage to close out the special evening.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: (L-R) Ian Axel of A Great Big World, Natasha Bedingfield, and Chad King of A Great Big World attend the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
How can you show your support?
Donate to Race to Erase MS. Since the Race to Erase MS foundation was created, there has been more than $59.5 million raised and 24 FDA approved therapies created to aggressively fight MS.
Or support the cause from shopping in Los Angeles — because through Sunday, May 12th, L’AGENCE will donate 20% of profits from sales from its Los Angeles store locations – Beverly Hills and Malibu – to the Race to Erase MS.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: A model walks the runway for L’AGENCE during the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
“We are honored to be the fashion sponsor for this year’s gala,” said L’AGENCE Founder and Chairman Jeff Rudes. “Nancy Davis’ story moved us to where we had to get immediately involved.”
