The Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation (CPIRF) hosted “Families of Distinction,” on Sunday night to recognize individuals and families for their commitment to educating, mentoring, improving and empowering the quality of life for people with disabilities.
The event, emceed by actor John Amos, recognized members of the Foundation’s co-founders, Isabelle and Leonard H. Goldenson and the evening’s honorees Alfred and Claude Mann, Dr. Taryn Rose, Maria Fiorini Ramirez, and Loreen Arbus (daughter of Isabelle and Leonard H. Goldenson) who have embraced a long-term commitment to the cause of Cerebral Palsy. Also receiving honors were Gary Lynn and his mother Andrea for being the “Ambassador Family” of the evening. Gary, who has CP, made a heartfelt speech about how he lives with his disability and his future goals to become a sports attorney, and enter politics.
Over $300,000 was raised during the evening in silent and live auctions. CPIRF Chairman of the Board and Honorary Dinner Chair, Paul A. Volcker spoke about the recent statistics and current breakthroughs in therapies. Proceeds benefitted cutting edge research projects focused on early diagnosis, prevention and treatment for Cerebral Palsy.
Those in attendance included Paul Volcker (Chairman of Pres. Obama’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board), Taryn Rose (fashion designer/honoree), Loreen Arbus, Frank Bennack, Jr. (Vice Chairman and CEO of Hearst Corporation), Moshe Arens (Israeli politician and former Ambassador to the US), Dr. Joshua Gleitman, Linda Kaplan Thaler, Margaret & Stephen Goldsmith (former Mayor of Indiana), James Stearns Esq., Dawn Gibbons (First Lady of Nevada), and Louis Licari (celebrity hair stylist and Today Show contributor).

CPIRF Ambassador Family Andrea and Gary Lynn

Gala Co-Chairs Linda Kaplan Thaler and Margaret Goldsmith

Honoree Taryn Rose

Honorees Claude and Al Mann and Loreen Arbus

John Amos, Master of Ceremonies

John Amos, Angela Bassett, Courtney Vance, Areva Martin, Paula Madison and Louis Gossett

The Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation (CPIRF) Hosts a Successful “Power Heroes” Gala and Raises Money for Research

The Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation hosted its first annual “A Celebration of Heroes” Power Heroes Gala at the Four Seasons Hotel on December 3rd. Multi-instrumentalist virtuoso, Ellis Hall, entertained while KNBC’s Beverly White emceed the reception tohonor select role models in the Hollywood community who are committed to educating, mentoring, and empowering those in need in the African American community.

Power Heroes included: John Amos, Emmy nominated and NAACP Image Award winning actor; Angela Bassett, Emmy & Academy Award nominated, Golden Globe winning actress and her husband, Courtney B. Vance, two-time Tony Award nominated actor, both of whom are authors and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors for the United States; Lou Gossett Jr., Emmy & Oscar award winning actor and creator of the Eracism Foundation; Paula Madison, Executive Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer of NBC Universal, and Areva Martin, Esq., Managing Partner Martin & Martin LLP, President and Co-Founder of the Special Needs Network, Inc.

Loreen Arbus, Honorary Chair and daughter of ABC Networks creator Leonard Goldenson, commenced the evening with a heartfelt explanation as to why her parents started CPIRF. She enlightened guests with facts and statistics of children born with Cerebral Palsy and highlighted some of the amazing advancements made through research, which are enabling Cerebral Palsy patients to live longer and healthier lives.

CEO and Director of CPIRF, Mindy Aisen, discussed robotic therapy and how her experience working with Christopher Reeve has contributed to the improved care and research relevant to neurological rehabilitation.

Power Heroes Ambassador Family-Charles, Debra and seven year old Payton White were introduced as Dr. Aisen spoke further about the highly advanced robotics training that Payton will begin receiving in January. Charles White thanked CPIRF for their ongoing work to help families with CP and explained the promising future his son will have due to CPIRF.

Live and silent auctions raised twenty thousand dollars and included exquisite paintings, lunch with the cast and crew of NCIS, a walk-on to the set of ER, jewelry, handbags and more. The most memorable item that was auctioned off during the evening was won by Honorary Chair Taryn Rose, whose bid of three-thousand, two hundred fifty dollars won a four-day pirate cruise aboard Halley’s Comet, a ship owned and captained by John Amos.

Other Honorary Chairs of the evening included Charles Floyd Johnson, Anne Johnson and Shelley E. Reid. Proceeds from the Power Heroes Gala went to CPIRF’s new research initiative to prevent and treat Cerebral Palsy in the African American population.