Re-Cap Hollywood Supports Rebels With a Cause

More than 500 luminaries including notables from entertainment, medicine and technology joined in honoring technology titan and powerhouse philanthropist Larry J. Ellison, co-founder and chief executive officer of Oracle Corporation at the second annual Rebels With a Cause gala at Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood.  The evening raised over $9 million to benefit the revolutionary and life-saving research of David B. Agus, M.D., director of the USC Westside Cancer Center and the USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine (CAMM).

 Cassandra and Brad Grey, chairman and chief executive officer of Paramount Pictures and Carmen A. Puliafito, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the Keck School of Medicine, co-chaired.  Co-presenting sponsors were Lynne and Marc Benioff, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of salesforce.com.  Sixteen-time Grammy Award-winner David Foster, who also took to the stage, served as the evening’s musical director.  Internationally acclaimed director and producer Don Mischer was event producer.

Grammy Award-winning hip-hop and R&B singer-songwriter-record producer Pharrell Williams opened the evening performing his Oscar-nominated hit, “Happy.” Host Jimmy Kimmel welcomed guests including Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher, January Jones, John Stamos, Bob Saget, Jerry Bruckheimer, Anna Kendrick and Chris Pine, then introduced the evening’s co-chair, Brad Grey. Grey stated, “Tonight I am happy to announce we will build a new transformational cancer institute here in Los Angeles. It will be a life changing and life saving facility dedicated to personalized medicine, that will give cancer patients the chance they need and the chance they deserve.” Grey will chair the endeavor.

A highlight of the evening was a series of poignant, life-changing letters written by cancer patients and read on-stage by actors Jonah Hill and Anna Kendrick.

David Agus, M.D.  introduced the night’s honoree, Larry Ellison, calling him “a champion of our Center’s work from day one when his foundation announced funding for the initiation of our cancer research at the USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine.  His generous support through the years,” Agus continued, “has allowed us to explore unique approaches to medical oncology that will help us better control a disease which impacts millions worldwide.”

When honoree Larry Ellison was introduced, his words were brief … “whatever we’ve made tonight, I’m matching!” His magnanimous contribution brought the evening’s total to over $9 million.

The evening ended with wild applause for special guest performer, Grammy, Tony and Emmy-winning music superstar, Barry Manilow who brought the crowd to its collective feet with a trio of hits including “I Made It Through the Rain,” “Copacabana” and “One Voice,” the latter joined by the 62 member USC Choir.

 ABOUT PARAMOUNT PICTURES

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

ABOUT THE USC CENTER FOR APPLIED MOLECULAR MEDICINE (CAMM)

The USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine was founded at the Keck School of Medicine in 2009 by David B. Agus, M.D., to develop new cross-disciplinary approaches to treating and preventing cancer. The Center includes team members with expertise spanning oncology, cancer biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, bioinformatics, computer science, electrical engineering, bioorganic chemistry, physics and applied mathematics.  The CAMM program includes the clinical care of cancer patients at the USC Norris Westside Cancer Center in Beverly Hills.  For information, visit http://camm.usc.edu/.

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