Long-time LFA supporter Eduardo Xol from ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, served as Master of Ceremonies for The Butterfly Gala, which paid tribute to pioneers for the lupus community, including: U.S. Senator Thad Cochran; Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH); and Roch Doliveux, Chief Executive Officer of the biopharma company, UCB. The honorees were recognized for their leadership and significant contributions to advancing the science and medicine of lupus, developing new treatments, and raising awareness of the disease.
“It is a new day for lupus,” said Sandra C. Raymond, President and CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America. ”Recently, we have seen historic progress in lupus, and it is appropriate that on World Lupus Day we celebrate our achievements, as well as our shared vision and hope for the future of all people living with lupus around the world.”
Five LFA Youth Ambassadors from across the country, ranging in ages from 14 to 20, who have demonstrated leadership and passion for raising awareness of lupus, shared compelling personal stories and their hopes of a better future for people with lupus. The Youth Ambassadors also joined LFA leaders in presenting awards to the 2011 Butterfly Gala honorees. The Youth Ambassadors were: Jillian Bante (MI), Samyria Harris (MD), Anna Mirabello (CT), Jon Tyme (FL), and Rachel Rabinowitz (NY).
Special guests included U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (HI) and Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). U.S. Senator Richard C. Shelby (AL) and Dr. Annette Shelby, and U.S. Representative John D. Dingell (MI) and Mrs. Debbie Dingell served as co-chairs of the LFA’s Butterfly Gala Honorary Congressional Committee.
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| (L-R) U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (MS) was presented the Lupus Foundation of America National Leadership in Biomedical Research Award by his colleague and previous award recipient U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (HI). |
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| (L-R) Francis. S. Collins, M.D. Ph.D., Director, National Institutes of Health, and Roch Doliveux, Chief Executive Officer, of UCB, were honored during the National Butterfly Gala. Collins received the National Leadership in Scientific Advancement Award and Doliveux received the National Leadership in Patient Advocacy Award. |
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| Eduardo Xol (Center) served as the Master of Ceremonies. He shared the stage with LFA Youth Ambassadors (L-R) Rachel Rabinowitz (NY), Anna Mirabello (CT), Jillian Bante (MI), Samyria Harris (MD), and Jon Tyme (FL). |
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| GRAMMY® award-winner Rita Coolidge lifts the crowd "Higher and Higher" during the National Butterfly Gala. The Gala was a celebration of the recent progress in lupus research and treatment as well as a new future for people with lupus, a chronic disease that affects at least five million people worldwide. |
1 comment:
Great day for us!! :)
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