Associates for Breast and Prostate Cancer studies to Honor Rene Russo and Richard Wright, MD

(Los Angeles, CA – Nov. 19, 2015) 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. 21, 2015. Gala benefits breast and prostate cancer research at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center. Award-winning actress, producer and model Rene Russo will receive the Spirit of Entertainment Award. Pacific Heart Institute chairman of the board Richard Wright, MD, will be honored with the Spirit of Hope Award. Actor and comedian Anthony Anderson, hosts. Sheri Rosenblum is gala chair and Beverly Cohen is décor chair. The gala includes a luxury boutique and silent and live auction items.

“We are honored to celebrate Rene Russo and Dr. Richard Wright at this year’s Talk of the Town and we are extremely grateful that they will be joining us to help raise awareness and support of our mission to find a cure for breast and prostate cancer,” said ABCs president, Gloria Gebbia. “For more than 25 years we have dedicated ourselves to raising much needed funds to continue the life-saving research being conducted at the John Wayne Cancer Institute, with the generosity and support of individuals like this year’s honorees.”

“Our Institute is so fortunate to have such extraordinary and dedicated supporters like Gloria Gebbia and the ABCs,” said Patrick Wayne, chairman of the Board of the John Wayne Cancer Institute and son of the legendary actor John Wayne. “It is their commitment that enables our physicians and scientists to continue their groundbreaking cancer research for early detection and treatment and provide hope to cancer patients everywhere.”

Actress, producer and model Rene Russo will be honored with the Spirit of Entertainment Award which will be presented by Maggie DiNome, MD, FACS, acting director of the Margie Petersen Breast Center, director of the Cancer Prevention Program, chief of general surgery at Providence Saint John’s Health Center and an assistant professor at the John Wayne Cancer Institute. Russo continues to show her range and versatility as an actress with each of her roles, crafting performances rich with passion, caring and emotional truth. Russo’s most recent role starring opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in “Nightcrawler,” written and directed by her husband Dan Gilroy, was well received by critics and moviegoers, earning the actress a BAFTA nomination for best supporting actress. Russo’s impressive list of credits include “Thor,” “Thor: The Dark World,” The Thomas Crown Affair,” “Tin Cup,” “Yours, Mine & Ours,” “Ransom,” “Showtime,” “Big Trouble,” “Lethal Weapon 3,” “Lethal Weapon 4,” “In The Line of Fire” and “Get Shorty,” among others. A native Californian, Russo grew up in Burbank. At the age of 18, she moved to New York and became a top model for the Ford Agency. She graced the covers of every fashion magazine throughout her successful modeling career.

Patrick Wayne will present Richard Wright, MD, chairman of the board of the Pacific Heart Institute with the Spirit of Hope Award. He previously served as director of the Heart Institute at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica and on clinical faculty at UCLA. Dr. Wright earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his medical residence and cardiology fellowships at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He currently serves as co-director of the California Medicare Contractor Advisory Committee, chair of the American College of Cardiology National Carrier Advisory Committee and cardiology advisor of Medicare’s Relative Value Update Committee. He has served as president of the American College of Cardiology, California Chapter, and on the Medical Advisory Board at the Los Angeles Zoo, where he served as the cardiologist for the Great Apes. Dr. Wright is a renowned lecturer and co-authored the U.S. guidelines on management of patients with heart failure. A recipient of the Specialist of the Year Award from the American College of Cardiology, California, he continues to be listed in peer surveys as one of the top cardiologists in the state.

About the ABCs

The ABCs was formed 26 years ago by a group of dedicated philanthropists who had originally been associated with the Eddie Cantor Charitable Foundation, an organization that supported a variety of causes. These individuals wanted to devote all their charitable efforts and resources to eradicating cancer and unanimously chose to support progressive and innovative breast cancer and prostate cancer research at the John Wayne Cancer Institute. Today, the Associates for Breast and Prostate Cancer Studies are over 150 members strong and growing. They dedicate their efforts to funding research in breast and prostate cancer at the Institute, and since 1990, have raised more than $14 million. For more information, please visit www.abcjw.com.

About the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center

Since 1981, the family of John Wayne has been committed to pioneering cancer research in memory of their father, who died of cancer. For more than 30 years, the courageous and dedicated researchers at the John Wayne Cancer Institute have made groundbreaking discoveries that have changed the way cancer is detected, diagnosed and treated around the world. Today the tradition of excellence continues as the Institute spearheads new research advances, while training the next generation of leaders in the fight against cancer through its renowned Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program. The Institute’s programs focus on melanoma, breast, neuro, prostate and gastrointestinal cancers, as well as innovative research in cancer genomics, molecular biomarkers, and chemo- and immunotherapies. With its unique ability to rapidly turn scientific discoveries into novel approaches for early detection and treatment, the Institute provides immediate hope to cancer patients everywhere.

For further information, contact Grant Associates at (323) 904-4400.

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Contact: Pam Giangregorio

Katy Sweet & Associates Public Relations

(310) 479-2333 / Pam@KatySweetPR.com