Children's Burn Foundation's Benefit Raises More Than $875,000 for Burn Survivors and Prevention

The Children's Burn Foundation, which provides the expertise and programs to prevent pediatric burns and to heal severely burned children, celebrated its 13th annual Giving New Hope Benefit at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Feb. 21. The event was attended by more than 700 guests and raised more than $875,000 to help children and families in Los Angeles and around the world.

"We are privileged to have raised these funds through the dynamic efforts of The Council who worked tirelessly to ensure that the Foundation can continue to do its important work," stated Doug Mancino, chairman of the board of the Children's Burn Foundation and a partner with McDermott, Will & Emery. "Proceeds raised by the benefit will provide state-of-the-art medical treatment for children who have suffered severe burn injuries. Funds will also be used to conduct fire safety and burn prevention programs for children and families in high-risk communities throughout Los Angeles County."

Health Net's Roger Greaves and his wife Erika were presented the Giving New Hope award by the Foundation for their philanthropy and commitment to giving young people hope for a better future. The Foundation also recognized CNN's Tony Maddox, executive vice president and managing director of CNN International, with the first "Spirit of Humanity" award. The award was inspired by CNN's continuing coverage of five-year-old Youssif, the Iraqi boy set on fire by two masked men in January 2007 and subsequently brought to the U.S. for treatment by the Foundation. Youssif's parents helped present the award to Maddox with emotional words of thanks to all donors.

Greaves, former president of Health Net, is a nationally renowned healthcare leader and chairman of the board of Health Net, Inc. He is the founding chairman of the California Wellness Foundation, one of the largest charitable foundations devoted to public health and wellness education. Erika Greaves is the national chairperson for Health Net's Celebration of Children, which provides Christmas parties for thousands of disadvantaged children and children of military personnel in locations across the country.

The Giving New Hope Benefit is hosted by The Council, a volunteer group that works on community outreach and fundraising efforts for The Children's Burn Foundation, under the leadership of Kathy Toppino, president of The Council; Dana Kitaj, benefit co-chair; and Jill Stein, benefit co-chair. Philanthropists Patrick Foley, Jay Gellert, Stephen Lynch, David Olson and Gary Yates served as dinner co-chairs.

Additional support was provided by Lynda Fadel, live auction chair; Linda Vitale, silent auction co-chair; and Reiko Pultz, silent auction co-chair, along with Susan Lynch, mystery box co-chair; Ellen Simmons, mystery box co-chair; and Jean Trebek, mystery box co-chair. The Council has raised more than six million dollars since 1996.

The benefit was emceed by Fritz Coleman, entertainment personality and well-known television weatherman on KNBC-TV. Entertainment was provided by the USC Trojan Marching Band and pianist Yevgeniy Milyavskiy. In attendance was Alex Trebek, host of "Jeopardy", along with his wife Jean Trebek, a member of The Council.

About the Children's Burn Foundation:

Since 1985, the Sherman Oaks, CA-based Children's Burn Foundation has served children in Southern California and around the world to provide state-of-the-art reconstructive treatment, psychological and social services and wonderful camp experiences to help young burn survivors heal. The Foundation's highly acclaimed prevention programs have taught more than a quarter of a million Angelenos and their families how to prevent burns. For more information visit http://www.childburn.org.