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John Wayne Cancer Institute Auxiliary Honors Award-Winning Actress Bonnie Hunt and Philanthropists Donna & Harvey Rosen at the 24th Annual Odyssey Ball

Posted on: Thursday, 26 March 2009, 10:00 CDT

Entertainment by Grammy Award-winning Vocalist Steve Tyrell

Special Performance by Dancing With The Stars Professional Dancers

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning actress Bonnie Hunt will receive the "True Grit" Humanitarian Award and philanthropists Donna and Harvey Rosen will receive "The Duke" Award at the John Wayne Cancer Institute Auxiliary's 24th annual Odyssey Ball. The yearly fundraising event benefits the John Wayne Cancer Institute (JWCI) at Saint John's Health Center. This year's gala will be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, April 18 and will feature entertainment by Grammy Award-winning vocalist extraordinaire Steve Tyrell and a performance by Dancing With The Stars professional dancers. A special presentation will be made to Donald L. Morton, MD, Chief, Melanoma Program and Director, Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program.

The John Wayne Cancer Institute Auxiliary was established in 1982 by two breast cancer survivors who were friends. Since its inception, the event has helped raise over $15 million to support the John Wayne Cancer Institute's life-saving cancer research and treatment programs.

The "True Grit" Humanitarian Award will be presented to actress Bonnie Hunt for her continued support to raise funds for research, treatment and cures for cancer. Prior to her acting career, she worked as an oncology nurse at Northwestern University.

Donna and Harvey Rosen will be honored with a "Special Service Award," affectionately called "The Duke," presented annually to individuals who've made extraordinary contributions in the fight against cancer. They've been actively involved with JWCIA for more than 25 years.

Funds raised from this event will be designated to establish the Donald L. Morton, MD, Endowed Chair in Surgical Oncology to support advanced research, treatment and care in the field of cancer medicine. Along with the Wayne family, Dr. Morton founded the John Wayne Cancer Institute.

The John Wayne Cancer Institute was founded by the Wayne family in 1981 to honor the wishes of the beloved actor, who succumbed to stomach cancer in 1979, and to create a lasting legacy that would benefit people the world over. Since then, the Institute has been committed to groundbreaking research, education and treatment, and has received global acclaim for significant advances in melanoma, breast and colon cancer research, as well as immune therapy.

Tickets $400, sponsorships available. For information, call (310) 582-7344 or visit www.jwci.org.

SOURCE John Wayne Cancer Institute Auxiliary

Source: PR Newswire

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