• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Brain Injury Association Is Hosting Second Annual Journey of Hope Gala

Posted on: Friday, 16 October 2009, 08:59 CDT

NEW YORK, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Honorary Chairs Lorraine Bracco and Penny Marshall, along with The Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS) are hosting the Second Annual Journey of Hope Gala on 10/28/09 at the Hard Rock Cafe in NYC.

Bill Evans of WABC News is the Master of Ceremonies for the evening honoring Bob Woodruff of ABC News and Trisha Meili, "the Central Park Jogger," with the "Victory Award." D. Thomas Ruttura and Peter Ruttura of Ruttura & Sons Construction will receive the "Corporate Citizens of the Year" for philanthropy along with Rehabilitation Neuropsychologist Deborah M. Benson receiving the "Champion of Hope Award."

BIANYS provides services and advocacy for individuals with brain injury and their families, including military veterans (1 in 5 soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan sustain a TBI). BIANYS advocates for prevention and public awareness. Proceeds from the Gala will provide financial support to BIANYS.

Both Woodruff and Meili represent true survival stories and will speak to living with brain injury. Woodruff survived a massive brain trauma when a vehicle in which he was riding hit a roadside bomb while on assignment in Iraq. Many know Meili as the jogger who survived a devastating attack in Central Park 20 years ago.

About two million brain injuries of all types occur each year in the U.S. impacting individual and family lives. Dinner committee member Joanne Miller said, "When my son was injured, our family was devastated. BIANYS reached out to our family with information and support." Miller's son was severely injured in a construction accident while working at the World Trade Center site in 2007.

Bracco and Marshall began supporting BIANYS two years ago when a close friend sustained a brain injury. Bracco and Marshall met Miller at Mount Sinai Medical Center where all pledged to support BIANYS. The Journey of Hope Gala was born out of this pledge. Bracco and Marshall donated and stocked the first auction with celebrity memorabilia. This year attendees are looking forward to seeing Bracco reprise her role as auctioneer at the organization's first red carpet affair in Manhattan. Marshall and other celebrity friends including Ron Perlman will also be attending the gala and contributing their talents to this worthy cause.

Contacts: www.bianys.org Tracey Gittere/Legendary Events 516-222-0550x127 TGittere@LegendaryEvents.net Press: Amy Sigona 201-280-2214 Ajsigona2004@yahoo.com NOTE: Credentialed Press must RSVP to attend

SOURCE Brain Injury Association of New York State

Source: PR Newswire

More News in this Category