Race to Erase MS 23Rd Annual Gala – April 15, 2016 EVENT The

Race to Erase MS 23rd Annual Gala – April 15, 2016

EVENT

The 23rd Annual RACE to Erase MS, which supports our Center Without Walls program, will take place on April 15, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. The Gala evening will feature a live performance by legendary artists, a Live and Silent Auction, and a Gala Dinner.

DATE /TIME Friday, April 15, 2016

6:30 pm – Cocktails and Silent Auction 8:30 pm – Show, Dinner and Live Entertainment

LOCATION

Hyatt Regency Century Plaza: 2025 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067

ATTENDANCE

1200 Celebrity and Distinguished Guests. Our past events have included performances by such superstars as Elton John, Steven Tyler, The Eagles,, Rita Ora, Ne-Yo, Taio Cruz, No Doubt, Avril Lavigne, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Natalie Cole, Cyndi Lauper, Bush, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts and Goo Goo Dolls. Celebrity participation has included Neil Patrick Harris, Rod Stewart, Sharon Osbourne, Ryan Seacrest, Howie Mandel, Randy Jackson, Dustin Hoffman, Cindy Crawford, Anne Heche, Nicole Richie, Jerry Seinfeld, Ray Romano, David Arquette, Paris Hilton, Kelly Osbourne, Nancy O’Dell, Shaun Robinson, Brooke Shields, Kelsey Grammer, Mario Lopez, John Travolta, Kelly Preston.

HISTORY

Nancy Davis was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 33 in 1991. After being told by her doctors that she would be "lucky" to operate a remote control on her TV, she realized she was too young and too busy to let the disease stop her life in its tracks. She was determined to devote her time, relationships and resources to finding a cure. Nancy's hope, courage and strength continue to inspire her to maintain a vibrant quality of life despite this chronic disease, but most of all, she remains positive, continues to live her life to the fullest and is tireless in her efforts to finding the cure for MS.

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects three times more women than men and the diagnosis of children with MS as young as two has increased. It often is diagnosed in women around the age of 30 when they are in the prime of their life.

In 1993 she founded the Race to Erase MS - an organization whose primary focus is to raise funds for the most cutting-edge, aggressive and promising research in an effort to find a cure for MS. Also in 1993, Nancy created the Race to Erase MS Gala event - an intimate ski getaway weekend in Aspen, Colorado - that raised over $1.3 million for the Foundation. Since its inception, the Race to Erase MS has grown into a spectacular celebrity gala benefit held annually. Over the years she has gained the support of many key individuals in the fashion and entertainment worlds. The annual Race to Erase MS gala event has raised over $30 million for multiple sclerosis research to date. When we first started, there was no known cause, no cure, no drugs on the market, and a true lack of hope. Today we are so excited that there is FDA approval on eleven drugs with many more on the horizon. For the young person being diagnosed with MS today, there is so much hope.

MISSION

Funding research is the core focus of the Foundation and all funds raised support our Center Without Walls program, a selected network of the nation's top MS research centers. This nationwide collaboration of physicians and scientists are on the cutting-edge of innovative research programs. In addition to combating MS through research in a clinical environment, we hope to increase awareness by educating the public about this mystifying disease. The Race to Erase MS is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Tax ID # 84-1238541.

Center Without Walls Program (CWW): The Race to Erase MS CWW program has provided support that has permitted the medical community to link together multidisciplinary scientific programs and expertise across the country to advance the understanding of the cause of MS and to develop new treatments. The Center is a break-through success because of the vision, insight and flexibility of these extraordinary doctors. The Center's theme is simple; communication - doctors working together toward a mutual goal. When this goal is reached, all will share in the victory. The Center’s network of the top MS institutions that have established leading, innovative research programs presently include UCSF, Cedars Sinai, Harvard, Yale, USC, Johns Hopkins and Oregon Health Sciences University.

The Center constantly strives to strengthen this revolutionary concept with new approaches to finding the brightest minds in this field. In addition to the regular use of high-technology communication tools, researchers of CWW come together to share scientific accomplishments through monthly telephone conference calls, standard scientific advisory meetings and MS symposiums held four times a year. Through research supported by the Race to Erase to MS, truly revolutionary breakthroughs in genetics and immunology have been made possible at the CWW. These breakthroughs create the potential for the development of more effective drugs against multiple sclerosis and give promise for a cure in the near future.

ORANGE YOU HAPPY TO ERASE MS – MONTH OF MAY CAMPIAGN

“Orange You Happy to Erase MS” Month of May Campaign was started in 2008 to engage the community, heighten awareness and raise funds for multiple sclerosis research. With the support of Campaign Partners, we can further our funding efforts to find a cure for multiple sclerosis and bring hope to millions of people with MS. Funds raised through our “Orange You Happy to Erase MS” campaign support our Center Without Walls Program, a selected network of the nation's top MS research centers.

Orange, the vibrant color of hope which has been chosen to represent Multiple Sclerosis, has inspired a variety of companies and designers to create unique orange products which are sold to benefit the Race to Erase MS. We encourage any product that is donated to our charity to have a design corresponding with this symbolic color, or our official logo can be incorporated into a hang tag if the item is not orange.

We are so appreciative to have the support of entertainment industry. In past years, Kelly Osbourne, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Rutherford, Paris Hilton, the entire cast of Dancing with the Stars, Jessica Szohr, and Aly and AJ were among the generous celebrities who helped to build awareness by promoting products for our “Orange You Happy to Erase MS” month of May campaign. We have received a great deal of press and have publication support from LA Confidential and WebMD who provide the campaign with complimentary ads.