Daisy Fuentes, Kenny Ortega & Zoe Saldana to be Honored at Inaugural St. Jude 'Estrellas por la Vida' Gala in Los Angeles

News provided by

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Mar 30, 2010, 07:34 ET

LOS ANGELES, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, one of the world's premier pediatric cancer research centers, will celebrate its inaugural 'Estrellas por la Vida' (Stars for Life) Gala on April 6th, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. (cocktail hour and red carpet) at Club Nokia at LA Live, 800 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. This gala will celebrate a night of hope for children who are battling cancer and other catastrophic diseases. During this special celebration, St. Jude will be honoring Daisy Fuentes, Kenny Ortega and Zoe Saldana for their continuing support and dedication to children's causes in local communities and around the world. Guests will enjoy an unforgettable star-studded evening, as well as a live performance from Latin superstar Beto Cuevas.

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Since 1997, model and TV personality Daisy Fuentes has been dedicated to the mission of St. Jude and the children suffering from cancer and other terminal diseases. After visiting St. Jude and meeting several patients and their families, Daisy discovered just how important the work of the hospital is in the U.S. and around the world and how many children receive lifesaving care each day. "St. Jude is a place where miracles take place everyday," said Fuentes. "It is an honor for me to receive this recognition and be a part of such an incredible cause like St. Jude. The children at St. Jude have always held a special place in my heart and I share this honor with every one of them."

Actress Zoe Saldana has been a supporter of St. Jude since 2005 and has championed the hospital's work by selecting St. Jude as her charity of choice in several fundraising events around the country, including the 2007 Kentucky Derby. "I am so grateful for receiving this great honor and to be a part of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. For me, the greatest reward is knowing that I am helping to bring awareness to the work of St. Jude and helping so many children in need around the world," said Saldana..

Three time Emmy award winning director and producer Kenny Ortega will be recognized for his commitment to the wellbeing of children around the world and his contributions to the music and entertainment industry. "It is impossible not to be affected by the children who are suffering from cancer everyday, not just in the U.S. but worldwide. I am honored to be recognized by St. Jude and to be able to give back and provide hope and smiles to these innocent children," said Kenny Ortega.

Gala sponsors include AEG, Beringer Vineyards, Cisco Homes, Coca-Cola, Don Pedro's Meat, Iberoamericana Travel, Luna Gardens, Maker's Mark, Michelle Hohman, Mexicana Airlines, Nederlander Concerts, Neutrogena and Univision Radio.

To purchase tickets or for information on sponsorship opportunities or to donate items for the silent auction, please call (800) 227-6737, email [email protected] or visit www.stjude.org/lahispanicgala. Members of the media wishing to cover this event are asked to register prior to the event by emailing [email protected] or by calling (305) 766-2818.

About St. Jude

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family’s inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. In 2010, St. Jude was ranked the most trusted charity in the nation in a public survey conducted by Harris Interactive, a highly respected international polling and research firm. For more information, go to www.stjude.org.

SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital