Race to Erase MS has announced that fashion designer and philanthropist, Tommy Hilfiger will be honored with the 2015 Medal of Hope Award at the 22nd Annual Race to Erase MS event, hosted by Nancy Davis, taking place on April 24th, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.
For over 30 years, Tommy Hilfiger has brought classic, cool, American apparel to consumers around the world. What many don’t know about Hilfiger is his philanthropic efforts. Hilfiger began his relationship with Race to Erase MS as a sponsor, and developed a relationship with founder, Nancy Davis. Hilfiger shared her deep dedication to find a cure as his family member also suffers from the neurological disease. Hilfiger has co-chaired and been the visionary behind over two decades of Race to Erase MS events. Davis and Hilfiger share a mutual desire to find a cure for MS in the fastest way possible. They have had events from Aspen to Vail to Las Vegas to Los Angeles, always hosting creatively themed events with many celebrity fashion shows and the hottest most current entertainment.
Now in its 22nd year, Nancy Davis is honoring the man who has been responsible for the vision and success of Race to Erase MS.
“I’ve been proud to support the Race to Erase MS over the years and am humbled to be this year’s honoree,” said Hilfiger. “Nancy has been a great friend and champion of the cause to raise awareness and funds to fight this horrible disease. I am truly honored.”
The legendary, celebrity-filled gala has raised over 32 million for Race to Erase MS and its Center Without Walls program. This year marks the 22nd annual event, where guests will be able to participate in a silent auction before enjoying a dinner gala featuring live musical performances. The evening will also include a one-of-a-kind live auction featuring a bespoke Aston Martin designed by this year’s honoree Tommy Hilfiger. The auction will also feature exclusive celebrity opportunities and amazing St. Regis trips around the world. To celebrate Tommy Hilfiger, American Pop Artist Burton Morris has designed the artwork for the invitation and event materials.
“I am thrilled to be honoring Tommy Hilfiger,” said Nancy Davis. “A good friend, humanitarian and the most generous person I know. There are now 11 FDA approved drugs on the market for MS and as a team we have been able to take the stigma away from hopelessness to hopefulness.”
The evening is generously sponsored by Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Aston Martin and Associated Television International.
In addition to the great fundraising this night provides, Race to Erase MS also supports the “Orange You Happy to Erase MS” awareness month, throughout May. The campaign features a variety of orange products (the vibrant color chosen to represent Multiple Sclerosis and hope) to be sold with all or a portion of proceeds benefiting the cause. Some items include a T-shirt designed by Nancy Davis and modeled by Sharon and Kelly Osbourne, Invicta watch sold on Evine Live also modeled by the Osbourne’s and a bracelet by Alex and Ani, sold annually, which has solely helped raise over $750,000 to date. To purchase any of these items please visit www.shop.erasems.org.
Race to Erase MS is dedicated to the treatment and ultimate cure for MS. Funding research is the core focus of the foundation and significant strides have been made to find the cause and cure of this debilitating disease. At the event’s inception 22 years ago, the absence of medications and therapies encouraged its involvement; the Race has been instrumental in funding many pilot studies that have contributed to drugs now on the market and other very important therapies that are improving the lives of people suffering from MS.
All funds raised support the Center Without Walls program, a unique collaboration of the world’s leading MS research scientists currently representing Harvard, Yale, Cedars Sinai, University of Southern California, Oregon Health Science University, UC San Francisco and Johns Hopkins. This nationwide collaboration of physicians, scientists and clinicians are on the cutting-edge of innovative research and therapeutic approaches to treat MS. It is the hope of the Race to Erase MS that in addition to combating MS through research in a clinical environment, awareness will be created by educating the public about this mysterious disease.
Tickets to the 22nd Annual Race to Erase MS start at $1,000 and tables start at $10,000. To purchase tickets for the event, please contact info@erasems.org or (310) 440-4842.
