LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - November 9, 2010) - Robert H. "Bob" Lorsch and wife Kira Reed Lorsch, through the Robert H. Lorsch Family Foundation Trust and The RHL Group, will chair the 55th Annual Thalians Gala to be held on April 30th, 2011 at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles. The event will honor Hugh M. Hefner for a lifetime of philanthropy coinciding with the celebration of his 85th Birthday. Proceeds will go to The Thalians in support of Operation Mend at the UCLA Health System Medical Center. Dr. Timothy Miller, Chief of Plastic Surgery at UCLA and Executive Director of Operation Mend, will also receive a special award for his facial reconstruction of severely injured veterans.
The night's entertainment will feature comedians including "Roastmaster General" Jeffrey Ross and surprise musical guests. Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, credited with producing Lady Gaga, Destiny's Child, Janet Jackson and many others, is contributing his services as Musical Director. Corporate Sponsor MMRGlobal (MMRF) will launch its www.mybluebutton.org program as previously announced by the company on October 26th. A lifetime MyMedicalRecords Personal Health Record account will also be given to patients of Operation Mend.
According to Ruta Lee, Thalians Chairman of the Board, "For 55 years The Thalians and our Galaxy of Stars have shone a spotlight on Mental illness -- from pediatrics through geriatrics -- taking the disease out of darkness into the light of healing. We now aim to heal the mind and spirit of America's wounded warriors. Please join us for this spectacular star-studded event and help us care for our heroic young men and women to whom we owe unending thanks."
According to Dr. Timothy Miller, "Since we launched Operation Mend in October 2007, we have operated on nearly 40 patients, most of them severely injured by roadside explosives while serving in the Middle East. Among the most profound effects we see as they undergo many surgeries are the changes in their personalities. We are expanding the program's services to include advanced treatment for traumatic brain injury, and, in collaboration with the United States Army Institute of Surgical Research, we are participating in a project called Save a Life to prevent suicide and improve soldiers' overall psychological health and functioning."
According to Kira Reed Lorsch, President of The RHL Group, "This event represents the beginning of a new era for The Thalians. We are very excited to be producing this event at the Playboy Mansion and hope that we can attract more than 1,000 guests who care about the mental health of our returning vets."
The Thalians was founded in 1955 by a group of young actors and allied professionals from the film industry who wanted to give back some of their blessings to the community. Over the past 55 years, the group, long led by President Debbie Reynolds and Board Chair Ruta Lee, has raised over $30 million in support of Mental Health programs for diseases including Autism, Alzheimer's, Bi-Polar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Phobias, Post Traumatic Stress, Depression and Addictions.
Past honorees of The Thalians have included in order of award: Peter Ustinov, Jane Wyman, Jimmy Durante, Robert Preston, Harold Lloyd, Mary Martin, Lana Turner, Ed Sullivan, Shirley MacLaine, Busby Berkeley, June Haver, Gene Kelly, Fred MacMurray, Sammy Davis, Ann-Margret, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Debbie Reynolds, Van Johnson, Bing Crosby, Ann Miller, Bob Hope, Angela Lansbury, Dorothy Lamour, James Stewart, Rita Hayworth, Whoopi Goldberg, Count Basie, Liza Minnelli, Jack Lemmon, Donald O'Connor, Lena Horne, Kenny Rogers, Carol Channing, Sally Field, Ruta Lee, Mary Tyler Moore, Phyllis Diller, Burt Bacharach, Red Buttons, Sir Roger Moore, Clint Eastwood and Mickey Rooney.
Guests attending the event will be able to tour the Playboy Mansion Grounds, mix with celebrities, take photos with Playboy Bunnies, dine on sumptuous food, enjoy a full open bar and dance to the wonderful performers on stage. For additional information, VIP tables and sponsorships, contact Bobbie Volman or Michael Selsman below. For a video tour of The Thalians, visit http://www.rhlgroup.com/thalians
About The Thalians and Operation Mend
The Thalians, led by President Debbie Reynolds and Board Chair Ruta Lee, have raised over $30 million in support of Mental Health programs for pediatrics through geriatrics for diseases including: Autism, Alzheimer's, Bi-Polar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Phobias, Post Traumatic Stress, Depression and Addictions. The annual Gala selects its honorees for their contributions to the entertainment industry and their philanthropic endeavors. The Mr./Ms. Wonderful award was personally created and designed for The Thalians by Walt Disney himself and has become a most sought after collector's item. The Thalians cause is Mental Illness, which affects more people than all other diseases combined. Learn more at http://www.thethalians.org.
Operation Mend is a unique partnership between Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas and the V.A. Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. It has been established to help treat U.S. military personnel wounded during service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Military veteran Timothy A. Miller, Chief of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at UCLA, leads the surgeries. The Thalians are proud to present him with a special Medical award at the Gala for his dedication to Healing America's Veterans Body and Mind. Please visit http://www.operationmend.ucla.edu for more information.
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Contact Information:
Contacts:
Bobbie Volman
(310) 476-7002, Ext. 7015
bvolman@rhlgroup.com
Michael Selsman
Public Communications Co.
(310) 553-5732
ms@publiccommunications.biz