Shawn, Larry King to be honored at 'Party on the Pier' benefiting Mattel Children's Hospital

October 7, 2009

3 min read

CNN talk show host Larry King and his wife, Shawn, will be honored at the 10th annual Mattel Party on the Pier, which benefits UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital. The event takes Sunday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier.

The Kings will each be presented with an honorary white doctor's coat during a special ceremony. In addition, Mattel Inc. will present Shawn with a one-of-a-kind doll made in her image to recognize her dedication to the hospital.

"Larry and I are thrilled to be honored at this year's event, as UCLA has a special place in our hearts," Shawn King said.

The Kings' ties to UCLA date back to Sept. 5, 1997, when the couple wed in Larry's room at UCLA Medical Center (now Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center) just before he underwent an angioplasty to unblock an artery in his heart. Their bond with the hospital grew stronger when Shawn returned to UCLA to deliver their two sons, Chance Armstrong King, in 1999, and Cannon Edward King, in 2000.

As a result of his heart illness, the CNN host was inspired to establish the Larry King Cardiac Foundation. The Kings remain dedicated to "saving lives, healing families, strengthening communities, one patient at a time ... a heart a day."

"We are incredibly honored that Larry, Shawn and their children will be helping us celebrate our 10th annual Mattel Party on the Pier," said Dr. Edward R.B. McCabe, physician-in-chief at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital. "It will truly make a special milestone occasion even more memorable."

Additional celebrities anticipated to attend include David Henrie, David DeLuise and Jennifer Stone ("Wizards of Waverly Place"); Samantha Droke ("Princess Protection Program); recording artist Zoe Myers; Jansen Panettiere ("The Last Day of Summer"); World Wrestling Entertainment's Sgt. Slaughter; and Brandon Mychal Smith ("Sonny With a Chance").

The Mattel Party on the Pier is one of the major annual fundraising events for UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital. As a state-assisted institution, the hospital has increasingly limited funding and must rely on the charitable support of private donors and community partners.

The event sells out each year as guests look forward to highlights that include Pacific Park's thrilling rides, carnival games stocked with prizes donated by Mattel Inc., a silent auction featuring trips, jewelry and collector's memorabilia, arts and crafts booths, great food and more.

General admission tickets are $100 for adults and $50 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are admitted free. Tickets must be purchased in advance. To order tickets, or for sponsorship opportunities, contact Erica Edwards at 310-267-1836 or visit www.partyonthepier.ucla.edu(Link is external).

Mattel Inc. is the event's title sponsor. Additional major sponsors include the Thomas Spiegel Family Foundation, Beth and Dr. Neal Cutler, Disney Consumer Products, Shawn and Larry King, the Milken Family Foundation, Ellen and Richard Sandler, Liz and Evan Greenspan, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Maxine Dunitz, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, Alexandra and Scott Lambert, Jonathan and Nancy Littman, Rosanne and Ed Rosen, the Ray and Janet Scherr Foundation, the UCLA Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Feet First Eventertainment, and L.A. Parent magazine.

Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA(Link is external) (Link opens in new window), one of the highest-rated children's hospitals in Southern California, is a vital component of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, ranked the third best hospital in nation and best in the western United States by U.S. News & World Report. Mattel Children's Hospital offers a full spectrum of primary and specialized medical care for infants, children and adolescents. The hospital's mission is to provide state?of-the-art treatment for children in a compassionate atmosphere and to improve the understanding and treatment of pediatric diseases.