Hepatitis B Foundation to Host Annual Crystal Ball Fundraiser on May 3, 2013

DOYLESTOWN, PA, March 24, 2013 (Press-News.org) The Hepatitis B Foundation of Doylestown, Pa., the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide, will host its annual Crystal Ball on Friday, May 3, 2013 at Jericho National Golf Club in New Hope, Pa. Each year, the Crystal Ball attracts hundreds of leaders from the community, academic institutions, government, health care industry and biotech executives - with all proceeds benefitting the Foundation's global research, outreach and patient advocacy programs. In 2012 alone, the fundraiser helped the Foundation raise more than $100,000 to advance its mission of eliminating hepatitis B worldwide.

According to Hepatitis B Foundation Executive Director and Co-founder Joan Block, "This year, the Foundation will present its Baruch S. Blumberg Prize to Dr. Robert Purcell, former Chief of Hepatitis Viruses Section, NIAID of the National Institutes of Health, for his pioneering research in viral hepatitis discovery and vaccine development. Not only has Dr. Purcell's work been among the most important in the field, but his contributions to hepatitis B continue to inspire us all. Dr. Purcell truly embodies this award, whose namesake discovered the hepatitis B virus, invented the first vaccine and saved millions of lives around the world. We are delighted to recognize Dr. Purcell for his many accomplishments in the support of the fight to combat the hepatitis B virus."

Steve Highsmith, PHL17 director of community relations and host of NBC10 and PHL17 public and community affairs shows @Issue and In Focus, will serve as the evening's emcee. The Foundation will also present its annual Community Commitment Award to Debbie Wagner, president and CEO of The Graphic Edge, Inc., for her steadfast dedication to and support of the Foundation and the greater Bucks County community.

Cocktails will be served at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 8 p.m. Silent and live auctions will be offered throughout the evening including tickets to The Colbert Report, the Late Show with David Letterman, The Daily Show with John Stewart and several Philadelphia Phillies games as well as a private event for 10 at Carlow Cookery and an enhanced Le Med Spa package from Buinewicz Plastic Surgery, to name a few. The Foundation is still accepting live and silent auction items, and a range of sponsorship opportunities are available. Novira Therapeutics, Inc., is the event's premier sponsor. Other major sponsors include Univest National Bank, Furia Rubel Marketing & Public Relations, High Swartz LLP, Kevin Kruse and deArt Folio Design, Drexel University College of Medicine and Allure West. Bucks County Herald is the media sponsor for this gala event. Tickets are available for $175 per person. To learn more about the Crystal Ball or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.hepb.org.

Hepatitis B is the most common serious liver infection and the major cause of liver cancer worldwide. Two billion people have been infected with the hepatitis B virus (one out of three) and 400 million are chronically infected. Each year, 1 million people die prematurely from hepatitis B-related liver disease and liver cancer. In the U.S., an estimated 2 million Americans are chronically infected with hepatitis B - that is one in 20. The good news is that hepatitis B is preventable and treatable. However, for the 400 million people living with chronic hepatitis B infections, there is still no complete cure.

About the Hepatitis B Foundation: The Hepatitis B Foundation is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. To learn more, go to http://www.hepb.org, read our blog at http://wp.hepb.org, follow us on Twitter @HepBFoundation, find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/hepbfoundation or call (215) 489-4900.

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