Associates for Breast and Prostate Cancer Studies, (ABCs), hosts its annual, star-studded Talk of the Town black-tie gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016.
Gala benefits breast and prostate cancer research at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center. Award-winning actress, author, producer and entrepreneur Dame Joan Collins will receive the Spirit of Entertainment Award; Academy Award-winning actress, director and author Anjelica Huston will be honored with The Spirit of Hollywood Award and Marcel Loh, chief executive, Providence Saint John’s Health Center and the John Wayne Cancer Institute, will be presented the Spirit of Hope Award. The Bangles will perform. Sheri Rosenblum is gala chair and Beverly Cohen is décor chair. The gala includes a luxury boutique and silent and live auctions.
“Each of our honorees have been significantly affected by cancer and are extraordinary role models and dedicated supporters of cancer research,” said ABCs president, Gloria Gebbia. “Each of us is a part of this great community that unites in a common goal to improve the lives of people with cancer and to find a cure. Together we will make a difference.”
“The generous, on-going support provided by the ABCs has been instrumental in advancing the Institute’s breast and prostate research,” said Patrick Wayne, chairman of the Board of the John Wayne Cancer Institute and son of the legendary actor John Wayne. “Our physicians and scientists are at the forefront of groundbreaking cancer research, which would not be possible without the ongoing philanthropic efforts of Gloria Gebbia and the ABCs.”
Dame Joan Collins will be honored with the Spirit of Entertainment Award. Winner of two Golden Globes and a People’s Choice Award as well as recipient of numerous other awards worldwide, Collins has appeared in more than 60 feature films and dozens of television programs. In the last two decades, she has starred in Decadence; In the Bleak Midwinter, Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, These Old Broads, Fetish and her newest feature film, The Time of Their Lives. She has guest starred in some of the most popular television series, such as Star Trek, Starsky & Hutch, Mission Impossible, Will & Grace, Miss Marples and is internationally renowned for her role as Alexis Carrington Colby in Dynasty. Collins has published sixteen books, beginning with her first best-selling autobiography, Past Imperfect, which she followed with The Joan Collins Beauty Book. Her latest novel, The St. Tropez Lonely Hearts Club was recently published by Little, Brown. She is an honorary founding member of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. She has supported several foster children in India for 25 years. In 2015, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II elevated Joan Collins to Dame Commander of the British Empire (D.B.E.) for her lifetime contribution to charity work, after having presented her with The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) for her services to the arts in 1997.
Academy Award-winning actress and director Anjelica Huston continues her family legacy in film. Huston received the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for “Prizzi’s Honor” and a Golden Globe Award for HBO’s “Iron Jawed Angels.” She starred in the Golden Globe-nominated television series “Smash” on NBC. Additional television credits include a recurring role on Showtime’s original series “Huff” and an Emmy-nominated guest-starring role on “Medium.” She currently appears in Season 3 of Amazon’s acclaimed series “Transparent.” Her directorial debut was an adaption of Dorothy Allison’s best-selling memoir, “Bastard Out of Carolina,” which garnered critical acclaim. Huston is a New York Times bestselling author of her two-part memoir “A Story Lately Told” and “Watch Me.” She is a member of the Film Foundation’s Artists Rights Council, a spokesperson for PETA, The Humane Society, Amnesty International and a supporter of the Human Rights Campaign.
The Spirit of Hope Award will be presented to Marcel Loh. For 14 years, Loh served in executive roles for Swedish Health Services, a not-for-profit health system in Seattle and an affiliate of Providence Health & Services. Loh holds a master’s in hospital administration from the University of Iowa and a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of North Dakota. In addition to being a past chairman of the Washington State Hospital Association, he is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), past ACHE Regent for Washington state and currently serves as a governor on the national ACHE board. He also serves on the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board region 9. Loh completed a military career as an Army Officer in the Medical Service Corps and retired from the Army Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Individual tickets $500; sponsorship packages available. For further information, contact Grant Associates at (323) 904-4400.
