NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center's faces Gala Raises $4.2 Million

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Contacts:
Jennifer Berman
Media Relations
NYU Medical Center
(212) 404-3555
Email: Jennifer.Berman@nyumc.org

Lisa Millman
FACES
NYU Medical Center
(212) 871-0245
Email: Lisa.Millman@nyumc.org

NYU COMPREHENSIVE EPILEPSY CENTER’S FINDING A CURE FOR EPILEPSY & SEIZURES (faces) RAISES OVER $4.2 MILLION AND CELEBRATES 8th ANNUAL GALA 2008

NEW YORK, NY – March 4, 2008 – The NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center’s Finding a Cure for Epilepsy and Seizures (faces) held its 8th annual Gala on March 3, 2008, at Chelsea Piers. This year’s gala raised over $4.2 million to support patient programs, clinical and basic science research, and to help in the continued care to individuals whose lives are affected by epilepsy.

The evening was led by Co-Chairs Anna and James Fantaci, auction chair KathyAnn Gruss, and Sotheby’s auctioneer Hugh Hildesly. Orrin Devinsky, M.D., Director of the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and founder of faces, honored Oliver Sacks, M.D., poet, scholar, and professor of neurology and psychiatry, for his close collaboration with the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. More than 750 guests were treated to a special evening, which included a silent and live auction.

Special guests included Academy Award-nominated actor Harrison Ford, comedian Lewis Black, sportscaster Tiki Barber, NBC Dateline Anchor Stone Phillips, and NYC Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum. Other attendees included Warren Lammert, co-founder of the Epilepsy Therapy Development Project and his wife Kathy; and NYU faces board members: Todd Boehly; Loretta Brennan Glucksman; Kate Cooney-Pico; Jackie French, MD; Ruben Kuzniecky, MD, Faces Research Director; Bill Lambert, Randi Levine, Howie Lipson, Marc Mayer, David Swinghamer, Alice Thorpe, and Leah and Michael Weisberg.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center is currently the largest program in the United States caring for children and adults suffering from epilepsy and seizures. Faces is a non-profit organization part of NYU Medical Center and its Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for all people affected by epilepsy through research, clinical programs, education and awareness, and community building events.

To learn more about the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and faces, visit www.med.med.nyu/faces.

Above: Victor Gotbaum; Betsy Gotbaum, Public Advocate of the City of New York; Orrin Devinsky, M.D., Director of the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and Founder of faces