Friends
A Visionary Evening
The 2012 Visionary Ball, held on October 25, 2012, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, celebrated the UCLA Department of Neurosurgery and its patients and luminaries in the fields of medicine, space travel and entertainment. The annual event recognized the nearly $3 million raised in 2012 to support research, education and the development of treatments to help patients with complex diseases of the brain and spine.
The evening was emceed by Maria Menounos, Extra host, and spotlighted patients such as Richard "Steelo" Vazquez who danced with the Groovalos. With the care at UCLA, he survived three aneurysms. Jengi Martinez, a 37-year-old pilot in the U.S. Air Force, shared the story of her brain tumor removed by Dr. Marvin Bergsneider. She is airborne again, serving our country.
The following are 2012 award recipients:
- Visionary Award: Elon Musk, CEO/CTO of Space X, made history this year by launching the first commercial space-cargo aircraft to dock with the International Space Station. As CEO of Tesla Motors and Solar City, he is designing electric cars and promoting renewable energy to solve our planet's critical problems.
- Medical Visionary Award: Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, UCLA cardiologist and author of Zoobiquity: What Animals Can Teach Us about Health and the Science of Healing, has invented a new science that unites doctors and veterinarians to unlock the mysteries of diseases affecting humankind and the animal kingdom.
- Luminary Award: Ted Gagliano, president of Feature Post Production at 20th Century Fox, brings a new lease on life to patients through his generous donations and brings the magic of cinema to moviegoers.
- Rodney Respect Award: Chelsea Handler, comedian, author and entertainer, breaks stereotypes with an irreverent ability to make us laugh by turning tragedy into comedy.
- Courage Award: At 27 years old, Kate Berg suffered a stroke. After a nine-hour surgery to remove a ruptured arteriovenous malformation that caused brain hemorrhaging and required weeks of rehabilitation, she is again a picture of courage in motion and again heavily engaged in the fashion business.
As a gift to UCLA for saving her life, Ms. Berg launched the first Visionary Ball after-party, called the LAB Party, to encourage the next generation - her contemporaries - to get involved in philanthropy and support UCLA.
For additional photos from 2012's event and details on the 2013 Visionary Ball, go to: www.visionaryball.org