Schedule of Events 5:00PM Silent Auction 6:30PM Dinner 7:00PM American Idol finalist, Melinda Doolittle 7:30PM Live Auction 8:30PM Winner of America’s Got Talent, Terry Fator This Evening’s Menu Passed Hors D’ouevres Antipasto Platter Classic Caesar Salad accompanied with Garlic Croutons and Shaved Asiago Eldorado Rosemary Chicken with Mixed Grilled Vegetables Family style Mushroom Ravioli and Ravioli Bolognese Tiramisu Headline Here About Niemann-PickThis Evening’s Type Menu C Niemann-Pick Type C is a lysosomal storage disease (LSD) - a genetic disorder caused by genetic abnormalities. There are over 50 lysosomal storage diseases. Every 22 minutes, a child is born with an LSD. Addi and Cassi have a rare LSD that is fatal. In Addi and Cassi’s case, they were born with a cholesterol metabolism disorder where harmful amounts of a very complex type of lipid collect in their cells (not blood) and clogs them up so they don’t function properly. The cholesterol accumulation leads to cell death. As cells die, this causes neurological deterioration. This process may also be relevant to Alzheimer’s disease. How did Addi and Cassi get Niemann-Pick Type C? NP-C is inherited from the child’s parents. Genes are found in pairs within the body. When a child is conceived each parent passes one gene from every pair of genes to their child. We believe that Addi and Cassi inherited two affected NP-C genes at conception (in rare cases there is only one gene causing the problem). What is the progression of the disease? Does NP-C move slowly in some and more rapidly in others? The disease acts differently in all people and doctors are unable at this time to give us any indication of how fast NP-C will progress in Addi and Cassi’s bodies. People who have the disease have different symptoms and rates of progression, even kids in the same family with the same genetic mutations. Addi and Cassi have early onset childhood symptoms — there are also cases of adult onset. NP-C is most commonly a childhood illness. Where Does My Money Go? The Addi and Cassi Fund is helping to fund one of the first “virtual pharmaceutical” models in the United States and is focused on creating a drug therapy pipeline for Niemann-Pick Type C (NP-C)/Childhood Alzheimer’s afflicted children around the world. Every dollar you donate to The Addi and Cassi Fund goes directly to research projects below: America’s Robotic Heroes: Dr. Chris Austin, Director of our National Chemical Genomics Center (NCGC) is conducting a project to test thousands of available drugs and compounds that could be repurposed and used to treat NP-C children. Tests that normally take lifetime to conduct by hand can now be completed in a matter of days by robots. Miracle Spice – The Mayo Clinic Project: An Indian curry spice called Tumeric contains a natural anti-inflammatory compound known as Curcumin. Mayo Clinic’s leading pediatric genetic neurologist, Dr. Marc Patterson, is planning a Curcumin study on NP-C children. Let’s SOAR: Collaboration: The SOAR project (Support of Accelerated Research) is a unique collaborative research initiative where scientists from different institutions are sharing their findings in order to accelerate the discovery of therapies for NP-C. Dr. Steven Walkley, at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Dr. Daniel Ory at Washington University in St. Louis, are leading the SOAR effort. The Brain Map Project: Dr. Chugani, Chief of Pediatric Neurology at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, is conducted a broad study using PET scans across multiple brain disorders. The Addi and Cassi Fund is sponsoring a group of NP-C afflicted children to be part of this groundbreaking scientific imaging study. Each PET scans costs $5,000 and is not covered by insurance. The Stem Cell Neuron Project: Dr. Larry Goldstein, director of the stem cell program at the University of California, San Diego is working on an unprecedented project to build NP-C neurons. His laboratory has discovered important links between transport processes and diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases. The AIDS and NP-C Project – Is Cholesterol the Culprit?: Dr. James Hildreth, Director of the NIH Center for AIDS Health Disparities Research, and his research team discovered that cholesterol is active in HIV’s ability to penetrate cells and that removing cholesterol from a cell’s membrane can block infection. Dr. Hildreth studies the hypothesis that cholesterol, and the proteins that produce cholesterol and control it in cells are critical for many viruses. This Evening’s Entertainment Melinda Doolittle Melinda Doolittle has been the back-up singer for Artists including BeBe and CeCe Winans, Aaron Neville, Michael McDonald, and Alabama to name a few. But to the world she became known as one of the most powerful and charismatic performers to ever grace the stage of American Idol. Simon Cowell said, “Melinda – you’re no longer a back-up singer. You are a star.” Her musical tastes range from Aretha Franklin to Johnny Lang, and from Stevie Wonder to Tchaikovsky. Although Melinda has been singing since the seventh grade, her professional career began in 1999. She began her musical training at the University of Tulsa, then graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, with a Bachelors of Music degree. Melinda then began working with famed singing coach, Janet Kenyon. While singing is certainly her talent, Melinda will tell you she also “loves to make people laugh”. It is her well-rounded and amazing personality that has gained her such tremendous support as she launches her career. Writer Stephen Holden of The New York Times described her as a “phenomenally gifted, stylistically adroit [...] Gladys Knight-Tina Turner hybrid [who] brings a compelling honesty to every phrase she sings.” With a heart full of compassion and a desire to give back, Melinda visited Zambia in 2007 with Laura Bush and the Malaria No More organization to distribute life-saving bed nets and raise awareness. As part of the trip, she performed with a praise band at the Miracle Life Family Church in Lusaka. Her first single, “My Funny Valentine” was released February 2008 published by Sony BMG. Melinda is currently in the studio working on her debut album that will be released in the Fall of 2008. This Evening’s Entertainment Terry Fator It took ventriloquist, singer, comedian and celebrity impressionist Terry Fator 32 years to become an overnight sensation when he won the hearts of America and was selected “America’s Got Talent” 2007 $1 million dollar prize winner on NBC-TV. His key decision to blend those incredible skills with his amazing ability to mimic famous singers won over the judges and millions of fans who voted for him, and are attending his sold out concerts nationwide. He recently performed on THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW and guest Simon Cowell exclaimed that Fator was one of the best entertainers in the world. The multi-talented Fator believes that he is an illusionist with puppets and his cast of seven original puppet characters is quite unique. He states that, “I look at myself as a talk show host and the characters are my guests. I can guarantee anyone who comes to my show, within a second or two, will feel that the puppet is the real entity. I love creating life out of wood and felt.” Terry Fator is perhaps the first entertainer to combine the art of ventriloquism with celebrity impressions. His puppets, including Cowboy Walter, Emma Taylor and Winston the Impersonating Turtle, effortlessly perform the singing styles of an eclectic group of stars including: Tony Bennett, Elvis, Maroon Five, Garth Brooks, Nat King and Natalie Cole, Roy Orbison, Marvin Gaye, Gnarls Barkley, James Blunt, Brooks & Dunn, members of The Rat Pack, Louis Armstrong and even Kermit The Frog. Prior to his “America’s Got Talent” win, Fator shared the stage with Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Neal McCoy, Styx, and performed for some of the largest corporations in the United States including: General Motors, AT&T, Midas Muffler, etc. Terry Fator is truly living the American dream, and has the opportunity to do what he loves each night: entertain audiences of all ages with his wholesome blend of family entertainment and dazzle them with his amazing talent. 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