The 1st Annual “RARE Tribute to Champions of Hope” was held on Thursday, September 27, 2012 at The Balboa Bay Club & Resort in Newport Beach, CA. More than 400 guests were in attendance to celebrate the pioneering achievements of individuals and corporations in the rare and genetic disease community.
2012 Global Genes | RARE honorees included:
- Henri Termeer, former President and CEO of Genzyme Corporation
- Dr. Frederick Wigley, Director of Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center
- Dr. Elizabeth Neufeld, geneticist
- Ambry Genetics for their work with the Mauli Ola Foundation
- Bill Barkeley, deaf-blind advocate
- Pat Furlong, patient activist
- Adam Nelson, two-time Olympian
- Scott Shirley, Executive Director of Uplifting Athletes
Recording artist and “American Idol” season 5 finalist Elliott Yamin, shared the stage with Gracie Van Brunt, a young girl battling a rare genetic disease called Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome. Guests enjoyed special musical performances by recording artist Chris Mann and singer-songwriter Katrina Parker, both fan favorites and stars of the second season of the NBC hit television show “The Voice.”
“Grey’s Anatomy” star Jason George joined actors Nestor Serrano (Act of Valor, The Negotiator, The Insider, Secretariat) and Meagan Tandy (Jane By Design, 90210, CSI: NY, Dark Blue) to introduce some of the evening’s distinguished honorees.
Two major events followed the Tribute Gala on Friday, September 28. A RARE Patient Advocacy Summit was to be held, where patient communities engaged with each other and experts on various topics ranging from legislation to non-profit business models. On Friday evening, Global Genes hosted a screening in Hollywood with the Kauffman Foundation to showcase a new rare disease documentary called Here. Us. Now.
2012 Corporate Sponsors
2012 Product Sponsors | Donors
