ACTOR PATRICK DEMPSEY TO RECEIVE “IMPACT AWARD” AT AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY’S CALIFORNIA SPIRIT 34 GOURMET FOOD AND WINE BENEFIT

LOS ANGELES – August 18, 2019 – The American Cancer Society presented actor, producer and philanthropist Patrick Dempsey with the “Impact Award” at the 34th annual California Spirit Food and Wine Benefit at Sony Pictures in Culver City.

Patrick Dempsey

Dempsey founded The Dempsey Center in Lewiston, Maine in 2008 intending to give back to the community where he grew up, and where his mother Amanda first received treatment for ovarian cancer in 1997. Dempsey continues to support the fight against cancer in a variety of important ways.

This Annual event was SOLD OUT! Guests enjoyed offerings from LA’s top restaurants including The Bel-Air,  BOA Steakhouse. The Butcher’s Daughter,  Charcoal Venice, DAMA, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House, Eleven City Diner, Faith & Flower, Fig & Olive, Guerilla Tacos, Maple Block Meat Co, McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, Milla Chocolates, Nic’s On Beverly, Pizzeria Mozza, Prawn Coastal, Takami Sushi  & Robata, Wolfgang Puck Catering, and Wood & Vine. Libations were poured by Ammunition Wine, Desparada Wines, Golden Road Brewing, Herman Story Wines, Kikori Whiskey, Michael Mondavi Family Estate, Moraga Bel Air, Mulholland Distilling, Nebula 9, and Seedlip. The guests also enjoyed and participated in silent and exciting live auction.

Board of Ambassadors sponsors include Centric Capital Advisors, Houlihan Lokey, Paul Ferrente, Inc., The Sherry Lansing Foundation, David Zuckerman, and Anonymous.

On the Pink Carpet at California Spirit Food and Wine Benefit for American Cancer Society: Host Chef Antonia Lofaso, event honorary chairs Phil Rosenthal and Sherry Lansing, event co-chairs JB Wilhelm and Joy Davis, and Jeff Klaas, EVP of American Cancer Society West Region
On the Pink Carpet at Cal Spirit: Jeff Klaas (EVP American Cancer Society West Region), JB Wilhelm (event co-chair), Patrick Dempsey (honoree), Grace Gunn (singer/performer), Joy Davis (event co-chair), and Harry Lennix (actor NBC “The Blacklist”).

June Quan, Esq., Influencer and founder of the popular Instagram page “Stir and Style,” served as Cal Spirit’s emcee.

Host Chef Antonia Lofaso

The Host Chef for Cal Spirit 34 is Antonia Lofaso, Chef, TV Personality, Cookbook Author and is the Executive Chef and Owner of Black Market Liquor Bar (Studio City, CA), Scopa Italian Roots (Venice, CA), and her newest concept DAMA (Downtown Los Angeles, CA). Lofaso has a personal tie to cancer sharing “My dad, Fred Lofaso, is a two-time cancer survivor. Like many others affected by the disease, it didn’t hit home until I was directly affected,” said Chef Lofaso. “I chose to stay positive through such a challenging time and continue to help in any way I can for others. Cancer is affecting too many people, and something needs to be done to help find cures. With my own father’s experiences, I gladly support the research needed to provide help and bring awareness to the disease.”

Phil Rosenthal and Sherry Lansing

Honorary chairs for Cal Spirit 34 were Sherry Lansing and Phil Rosenthal. Lansing is the former CEO of Paramount Pictures who broke glass ceilings as the first woman to head a Hollywood movie studio; prior to Paramount she was the president of production at 20th Century Fox. Lansing founded California Spirit in 1984 as her way to give back after her mother passed away from ovarian cancer. She has remained committed to the event throughout its 34-year history. Rosenthal is a 15-time Emmy Award-winning creator and writer for “Everyone Loves Raymond,” “Spanglish,” and “I’ll have What Phil’s Having”. He currently is starring in “Somebody Feed Phil” on Netflix.

Harry Lennix distinguished film, television and stage actor with an extensive body of work, most recently from the hit-show The Blacklist on NBC. Harry is also a Prostate Cancer Foundation ambassador.

The American Cancer Society’s California Spirit benefit has raised $16 million in the last 33 years to support our mission to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer.

To help the American Cancer Society save lives and attack cancer from every angle, donate by visiting www.calspirit.org or text “CAL” to 91999.  For cancer information, visit cancer.org or call 1.800.227.2345 anytime.

About Yayoi

Yayoi Otani: Writer, Photographer and Web Administrator for The Experience Magazine (eeworldnews.com).

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