Successful LFA Gala Raises Nearly $1.5 Million,
Funds to Support Research, Education and Awareness Programs
On behalf of the more than 1.5 million Anericans and more than five million people worldwide affected by lupus,
the Lupus Foundation of America says thank you to everyone involved in the Fifth Annual Awards Gala
Honorary Chairs
Senator Richard Shelby and Dr. Annette Shelby
Representative John Dingell and Mrs. Debbie Dingell
2008 Gala Chair
Richard H. Cooper
Cooperfund, Inc.
Honorees
Leadership in Lupus Research Award
Senator Tom Harkin
Chair, Appropriations Subcommittee on
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
The Cooper Family Foundation Leadership Award
Sheila C. Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
Salamander Hospitality, LLC
Corporate Leadership in Lupus Award
Elliott Sigal, M.D., Ph.D.
President, Research and Development,
Executive Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer
Bristol-Myers Squibb
2008 Honorary Congressional Committee Chairs
Senator Robert Bennett
Representative Kendrick B. Meek and Mrs. Leslie Meek, Esq.
Master of Ceremonies
Soledad O'Brien
CNN Anchor & Special Correspondent
Entertainment
Patti LaBelle
Grammy Award-winning Artist
Highlights from the 2008 Awards Gala
With her signature passion and distinctive high-octave vocals, Grammy Award-winning performer Patti LaBelle entertained a crowd of 600 attendees at the Fifth Annual Lupus Foundation of American (LFA) Awards Gala on May 7 in Washington, DC.
The Fifth Annual LFA Awards Gala raised almost $1.5 million to support lupus research and education programs.
Read the press release here.
| Photo Caption #1 -- CNN Anchor Soledad O'Brien and singer Patti LaBelle at the Lupus Foundation of America Awards Gala |
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CNN Anchor and Special Correspondent Soledad O'Brien (left) and Grammy Award-winning artist Patti LaBelle (right) appear together at the Fifth Annual Lupus Foundation of America Awards Gala on May 7 in Washington, DC. The event raised nearly $1.5 million to support lupus research, education and awareness programs for lupus, a life-altering and life-threatening disease that impacts nearly two million Americans and at least five million people worldwide, mostly women.
Download the photo. |
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| Photo Caption #2 -- Grammy Award-Winning Artist Patti LaBelle performs at the Lupus Foundation of America Gala |
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Grammy award-winning artist Patti LaBelle performs at Fifth Annual Lupus Foundation of America Awards Gala on May 7 in Washington, DC. The event raised nearly $1.5 million that will be used to support urgently needed research and education programs to combat lupus, a devastating and life-threatening disease affecting nearly two million American and at least five million people worldwide, mostly women.
Download the photo. |
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| Photo Caption #3 -- US Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) receives Lupus Foundation of America Award for supporting research |
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U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) accepts Leadership in Lupus Research Award from the Lupus Foundation of America on May 7 in Washington, DC. The senator was recognized for his steadfast support of increased federal funding for research on lupus and other diseases. Harkin has championed Congressional support for lupus research and education programs that help the nearly two million Americans affected by lupus, a life-altering and life-threatening autoimmune disease that disproportionately strikes young women and people of color.
Download the photo. |
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| Photo Caption #4 -- Philanthropist and businesswoman Sheila C. Johnson Honored by Lupus Foundation of America |
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Sally Susman, Senior Vice President & Chief Communications Officer of Pfizer, Inc. (left) presents the Cooper Family Foundation Leadership Award to impassioned philanthropist and successful businesswoman Sheila C. Johnson during the Fifth Annual Lupus Foundation of America Awards Gala on May 7 in Washington, DC. The event raised nearly $1.5 million for lupus research and education programs that benefit nearly two million Americans who are affected by lupus, a life-threatening autoimmune disease that disproportionately strikes young women and people of color.
Download the photo. |
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| Photo Caption #5 -- Dr. Elliott Sigal of Bristol-Myers Squibb Receives Lupus Foundation of America Honors |
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Elliott Sigal, M.D., Ph.D. (left), Chief Scientific Officer and President of Research & Development for Bristol-Myers Squibb, receives the Lupus Foundation of America Corporate Leadership Award from Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. (right), Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases during the Fifth Annual LFA Awards Gala on May 7 in Washington, DC. The event raised nearly $1.5 million for research and education programs to combat lupus, a life-threatening autoimmune disease that affects nearly two million Americans.
Download the photo. |
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| Photo Caption #6 -- America's Next Top Model Mercedes Yvette at Lupus Foundation of America Awards Gala |
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Model and spokesperson Mercedes Yvette (left), and her boyfriend, actor/model Eddie Bilowich (right), attend the Lupus Foundation of America awards gala in Washington, DC on May 7 to help raise nearly $1.5 million for lupus research, education and awareness programs. Mercedes has been a impassioned crusader for lupus since 2004 after winning the hearts of millions of American by discussing her daily struggles with lupus while appearing as a contestant and runner-up on American's Next Top Model hosted by supermodel Tyra Banks.
Download the photo. |
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