Arthritis Foundation Raises More Than $750,000 In One Night To Fund Research At Annual Southern California Gala

Rock & Roll Legend, Renowned Rheumatologist and Distinguished Healthcare Executive Honored at 2014 Commitment to a Cure Awards Event

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Arthritis Foundation, Pacific Region

Nov 19, 2014, 02:02 ET

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 700 Arthritis Foundation supporters gathered at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on November 18 to honor Deen Castronovo of the legendary rock band Journey and his fiancée, Deidra; Samuel S. Lee, Chairman and CEO of Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc.; and rheumatologist E. Robert Harris, MD and his wife, Delly Harris, RN, with the Jane Wyman Humanitarian Award at the 29^th annual Commitment to a Cure Awards Gala. The red carpet event raised more than $750,000 to support research for a cure for arthritis, the nation's leading cause of disability.

Entertainer Wayne Brady delighted the audience as emcee of the evening's program. Guests enjoyed presentations of the Jane Wyman Humanitarian Award, a live auction featuring one-of-a-kind packages including tickets to the premiere of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and a special musical performance featuring Deen Castronovo on vocals, accompanied by Jonathan Cain, Journey keyboardist, songwriter and vocalist. Hundreds of donors also raised bid paddles to pledge their support for research grants and medically supervised camps for children with juvenile arthritis.

Peter Mainstain, CPA, chair of the Arthritis Foundation, Pacific Region Board of Directors said, "The Jane Wyman Humanitarian Award is the Arthritis Foundation's highest honor and recognizes individuals and organizations for their leadership and dedication to humanitarian causes. We congratulate our outstanding honorees and extend our heartfelt thanks to Gala Leadership Committee Co-Chairs Diana Bianchini and Susan Steen, their esteemed committee members, and our sponsors and guests for making a difference in the lives of nearly 53 million adults and 300,000 children with arthritis."

About the Arthritis Foundation

The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) is the largest and most trusted nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with arthritis, the nation's leading cause of disability. Since 1948, the Foundation has remained committed to leading groundbreaking research for better treatments and a cure; fighting for patients' access to affordable and effective health care; and providing trusted information and resources to the nearly 53 million adults and 300,000 children living with the disease.

Photos from the Commitment to a Cure Awards Gala: http://mm.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/gyipa_public?nav=pr247081883

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SOURCE Arthritis Foundation, Pacific Region