Tony Danza hosts "Voices Against Brain Cancer" (VABC) Celebrity Event to Find a Cure!

NEW YORK, NY, June 16, 2011 (Press-News.org) Voices Against Brain Cancer (VABC) is hosting its sixth annual Sounding Off for a Cure celebrity benefit concert on Thursday, June 16, 6 PM at The Hammerstein in New York City. Actor and activist Tony Danza, who lost both parents to brain cancer, will host the event.

Sounding Off for a Cure will present several awards to individuals who've contributed innovative research or outreach efforts. Brain cancer survivors and other individuals connected to this cause will also be recognized with awards. Singer Marc Anthony, who lost his sister to a brain tumor will receive the first ever Sounding Off for a Cure Award and Pedro Martinez, a Major League Baseball All Star pitcher who lost his father to brain cancer, will receive the 2011 Voices Award. Christian Betancourt, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, will receive a Courage Award.

VABC is also proud to present 2011 Courage Awards to these individuals who have bravely battled brain cancer and brain tumors: Michael Bloomberg, Jamie Clouser, Janice Durham, Lauren V. Farber MD, Amy Leiken, Freddy Lugo, Marina Mesa, Aaron Serrano, and Sam Sneed. The Mercado family will be receiving the "in memoriam" Courage Award for their father Ralph Mercado. The 2011 Caregiver Awards will be presented to Eden Burkhardt and Corrine Swineford. Adam Miller will receive the 2011 Young Leader Award. Philanthropist Avis Richards will be receiving the 2011 Ambassador Award.

Dr. Tracy Batchelor from Massachusetts General Hospital and Neuro-Oncologist at the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center will receive the 2011 Gary Lichtenstein Humanitarian Award. The Goldenberg, Rhein and Shapiro Families will receive the 2011 Vision of Hope Award in recognition of their families' personal battle against brain cancer.

Guests will enjoy an evening of music featuring the lead singer of Foreigner, Lou Gramm, who is a brain cancer survivor. The show will be accompanied by the Havana San Juan Symphony Orchestra directed by Louis Bauzo. The program will feature tributes to Bob Marley, Celia Cruz, and George Harrison who all passed away from brain cancer over the years.

Event organizers have sold over 1,000 tickets in support of the fight against brain cancer. Only a handful of tickets remain and can be purchased online: http://www.voicesagainstbraincancer.org. Says VABC Founder Mario Lichtenstein, "We have lost great minds to brain cancer. Use yours to help us find a cure today."

The event is being chaired by New York notables Jennifer and Andrew Hoine, Todd Gold, Charmi and Wayne Mirsky, and Steven Sadoff.

Proceeds raised at the benefit will fund innovative brain cancer research to top universities and hospitals that include Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Harvard, John Hopkins, MD Anderson, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, University of Michigan, Northwestern, University of Pittsburgh, Yale and Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Funds will also be directed to clinical trials and support programs for brain cancer patients, their families, and their caregivers.

Over 200,000 people were diagnosed with brain tumors last year, a number that continues to rise each year as more people in the United States are diagnosed with a primary or metastatic brain tumor. Brain tumors affect people of every age, gender, and ethnicity.

The mission of VABC is to "find a cure for brain cancer by advancing scientific research, increasing awareness within the medical community and supporting patients, their families and caregivers afflicted with this devastating disease."

The Sounding Off for a Cure benefit will bring together supporters, celebrities, and athletes for a moving evening of music and inspiration emceed by the unforgettable Tony Danza.

Some highlights planned for the evening include a tribute by Omar Minaya, former general manager of the New York Mets, who will show up to support Gary "The Kid" Carter. Carter led the Mets to victory in the 1986 World Series and was recently diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. NBA favorites Dave and Audley, hosts from The NBA "Breakdown Show" will be virtually on stage with NBA Indiana Pacer's player Tyler Hansbrough with their message for VABC supporters.

Hottest Red Carpet in NYC! "AOL/PopEater" celebrity gossip columnist and NYC favorite Rob Shuter with Kelly LeBrock the Iconic "Woman in Red" will interview celebrities and VIPs on the red carpet!

Appearances by philanthropist actress Mary Amons and other BRAVO 'Real Housewives', Karen Biehl star on NYC Life 'Doggie Mom's', football great-former New York Giant player Leonard Marshall, celebrities, well known athletes, and financial and entertainment industry leaders will all join us at the Hammerstein to lend their support to Voices Against Brain Cancers' mission to funding and finding a cure for brain cancer. This will be a great paparazzi and news event!

Tickets are available through the website: http://www.voicesagainstbraincancer.org

All media and VIPS are welcome and celebrity interviews are available. Please contact Donnetta Campbell at EM: hummediany@gmail.com or by phone at: 203-434-3548.

Action items you can do to support VABC:
An anonymous donor has pledged $5,000 for 5,000 LIKES on Facebook. Please help Voices Against Brain Cancer win $5,000 for research. Go to http://www.facebook.com/VoicesAgainstBrainCancer and click LIKE.

And follow VABC on twitter at @VABC http://twitter.com/vabc for the latest celebrity confirmations and event information.

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