The
stars came out for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
18th Annual A Magical Evening gala event on Monday, November
10, 2008, at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. This year's
star-studded charity event honored longtime Foundation supporter
and Broadway veteran James L. Nederlander with the Visionary Leadership
Award presented by event chair, friend and board member Francine
LeFrak. Also honored during the evening's program was renowned
contemporary artist Chuck Close with the Christopher Reeve Spirit
of Courage Award by Alexandra Reeve Givens and the
New York Rangers organization legends Mike Richter and
Brian Leetch were presented with the Dana Reeve HOPE Award by big
fans Matthew Reeve and Will Reeve.
Academy Award winning actress Meryl Streep kicked off the evening with
a champagne toast, followed by a moving speech from another famed actress
and dedicated Reeve Foundation supporter Glenn Close. The highlight
of the evening was Foundation Chairman Peter Kiernan's recognition
of 1st Lieutenant Reinaldo Gonzalez, 25, who during a training exercise
at US Army Ranger School fell 35 feet and sustained a C4 spinal cord
injury, resulting in complete paralysis of his legs. However, with
the help of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation's Military
Outreach Program, Lt. Gonzalez was rehabilitated through one of their
NeuroRecovery Network (NRN) centers and because of their combined efforts
is able to walk again. Lt. Gonzalez took the stage to thank the Foundation
and announce that since leaving the Foundation's NRN center he
has gone on to graduate Army Ranger School and now is hoping to fulfill
his lifelong dream of serving his country as an army ranger.
Over 700 guests dressed in their best evening attire danced to the
music by the famed Starlight Orchestra and were treated to a special
performance from the upcoming Broadway musical - Irving Berlin'sWhite
Christmas- before it begins previews at the
Marquis Theatre on Friday, November 14th. Performing a medley of Irving
Berlin songs from the new musical including “Love in the Weather,” “How
Deep Is The Ocean?” and “White Christmas” were Tony
Award nominee Stephen Bogardus (Love! Valour! Compassion!)
and Broadway favorite Kerry O'Malley (Into the Woods).
The evening closed with a live performance by the Grace Tabernacle Christian
Center Church Concert Choir in honor of their beloved Brooklyn pastor Reverend
Timothy Wright, who was able to attend the gala and is currently being rehabilitated
at one of the Foundation's partner medical centers The Kessler Institute
in New Jersey.
The evening's co-chairs Francine LeFrak and Rick Friedberg, Eaddo
Kiernan and Peter Kiernan, and Paul Daversa and Barbara Daversa were
joined by notable guests including the cast of Lipstick Jungle: Lindsay
Price, Kim Raver, and Robert Buckley, Gossip
Girl's Jessica Szohr, Molly Simms, Beth Ostrovsky
Stern, Mary Alice Stephenson, designer Gilles Mendel, magician David
Blaine, supermodel Kim Alexis and her husband Ron
Duguay, Buzz Aldrin, Kathleen Turner, Francis Fisher, Marty Richards,
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, Francesco Clark, Maggie Rizer, Miss
Teen USA Stevi Perry, and Rita Cosby,
among others were on hand to support this incredible Foundation in
raising $2.5 million, which will be used to accomplish their mission
of curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving
the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants,
information and advocacy.
