FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE CEREBRAL PALSY INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION (CPIRF) HOSTS “POWER HEROES” GALA

October 2008 (Beverly Hills, CA)  -The Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation has announced it will be hosting its first annual “A Celebration of Heroes” Power Heroes Gala at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles on December 3, 2008. The evening will highlight role models who are committed to educating, mentoring, and empowering those in need in the African American community.  Proceeds from the event will launch CPIRF’s new research initiative to prevent and treat cerebral palsy in the African American population.
Power Hero honorees of the evening will include: John Amos, Emmy nominated and NAACP Image Award winning actor; power couple Angela Bassett, Emmy & Academy Award nominated, Golden Globe winning actress and husband, Courtney B. Vance, two-time Tony Award nominated actor both of whom are authors and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors for the United States; Valerie Ervin, President of the Ray Charles Foundation; Paula Madison, Executive Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, NBC Universal, and Areva Martin, Esq., Managing Partner Martin & Martin LLP, President and Co-Founder of the Special Needs Network, Inc.
Honorary Chairs include: Loreen Arbus, philanthropist, minorities advocate, author and television producer; Anne Johnson Red Cross volunteer extraordinaire; Charles Floyd Johnson producer, writer, director; Taryn Rose, orthopedic surgeon, entrepreneur and luxury shoe designer; Shelley E. Reid, philanthropist, Senior Vice-President Fox Television Studios.
The Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation’s goal is to raise awareness about the nature and cause of racial disparities in the prevalence of Cerebral Palsy and related developmental disorders. Recently published surveillance studies by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta indicate the prevalence of cerebral palsy highest among African-American children.  The reasons for this are unknown, making research a necessity.
For tickets or additional information regarding the CPIRF Power Heroes Gala, please  contact Pam Sakow at (323) 525-1275 or email pam@sakowevents.com. Individual tickets are available for $350 on up to $1000 with tables and sponsorships ranging from $7,500 to $150,000. For more information about CPIRF please visit www.cpirf.org or contact Mindy Aisen MD, CEO Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation maisen@cpirf.org.

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