LOS ANGELES, May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program has announced its Second Annual Wine Aficionado Benefit and Dinner, a “Classical Evening of Wine and Food,” for Tuesday, May 18, 2004. Wine and food connoisseurs from across Southern California will be treated to an elegant four-course dinner at the new Patina Restaurant at Disney Concert Hall under the direction of renowned chef Joachim Splichal and heralded vintner Ann Colgin. The event will raise funds for The Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, dedicated to discovering cures for pediatric cancer, leukemia and AIDS.
The evening will begin with a champagne reception set to music performed by select members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, followed by dinner and wine pairings selected by Splichal and the host committee specifically for the event. A live auction hosted by Colgin will feature six one-of-a-kind packages including a premium two case wine lot, a walk-on role on the CBS primetime series “Without a Trace,” an intimate dinner for two couples with author Scott Turow, a Lakers package offering access to the owner’s club and a Shaquille O’Neal signed jersey, and a weekend getaway to Napa via a private Citation V Ultra Marquis jet.
“We are pleased to continue the annual event begun by last year’s successful Aficionado Dinner in order to raise awareness of the Bogart Foundation within the Los Angeles community,” said Joe Smith, committee member and former chairman of Capitol-EMI. “With the participation of Ann and Joachim and the incredible one-of-a kind items available for auction, we hope to create a special evening for our guests, while also raising badly needed funds for an important cause.”
Last year, the Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program inaugural dinner raised more than $100,000 for laboratories and treatment centers dedicated to discovering cures for pediatric cancer, leukemia and AIDS. The committee, chaired by Sandra Rapke, Ann Colgin & Joe Wender, and board members, including Joe Kessler, Christian Navarro, Fred Rosen, Joe Smith, Robert Bookman and Pamela Morton, have carefully chosen a variety of exceptional wines to be paired with a spectacular four-course dinner.
Among wines that will be featured are Napa collectibles such as Kongsgaard Chardonnay, Vineyard 29 Cabernet, a single vineyard cabernet of Colgin’s, as well as a trio of 1994 and 1995 first growth Bordeaux. Guests will also have an opportunity to ask any questions they have to the actual winemakers who will be on hand at this prestigious celebration.
Tickets are $1,000 each and can be purchased by calling the Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program at (310) 358-4970.
About The Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is home to the five Neil Bogart Memorial Laboratories: Developmental Therapeutics, Pediatric AIDS, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Biology Research Support Program, and Tumor Suppressor Gene Program. The Labs are affiliated with the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), a cooperative cancer research organization with links to more than 120 medical facilities and hospitals across the country that share treatment protocols and research results. The Bogart Labs’ staff of 15 full-time scientists and their teams are dedicated to discovering cures and giving hope to the children suffering from these diseases.
Bogart Program researchers are continuously making landmark discoveries in many fields. In Gene Therapy, Bogart Program laboratories have recently performed the first trials on children with HIV infection, showing feasibility and safety. A “second generation” trial is now underway. In Developmental Therapeutics researchers have proved that a vitamin A-like drug is able to kill cancer cells and have completed initial testing of an oral form of this drug in children, and in Molecular Biology the survival rate for neuroblastoma, one of the most common and deadly childhood cancers, has been raised from 16% to 55%.
For more information, please contact the Neil Bogart Memorial Fund at 310-358-4970.
For further information, please contact Michelle Blaya of Weber Shandwick, +1-310-407-6545, Mblaya@WeberShandwick.com, for Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program; or Richard Bondroff of Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program, +1-310-358-4971, Richard.Bondroff@bmg.com.
Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program
CONTACT: Michelle Blaya of Weber Shandwick, +1-310-407-6545,Mblaya@WeberShandwick.com, for Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program; orRichard Bondroff of Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program, +1-310-358-4971,Richard.Bondroff@bmg.com
