On Friday, April 28th Taste for a Cure, UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation’s signature annual fundraising gala, celebrated its 26th anniversary.
The star-studded affair took place at the Beverly Wilshire, and honored Daymond John, Founder & CEO of FUBU, Star of ABC’s Shark Tank, and CEO of The Shark Group. John was presented with the 2023 Gil Nickel Humanitarian Award, which honors key individuals for their humanitarian efforts, community involvement, and commitment to philanthropy. An entrepreneur in every sense of the word, Daymond John has come a long way from taking out a $100,000 mortgage on his mother’s house and moving his operation into the basement. John is CEO and Founder of FUBU, a much-celebrated global lifestyle brand, and a pioneer in the fashion industry with over $6 billion in product sales. As a celebrated entrepreneur, having received over 35 awards throughout his career, John’s marketing strategies and ability to build successful brands have made him a highly influential consultant and motivational speaker today. His marketing firm, The Shark Group, offers advice on effectively communicating to consumers through innovative means and connects brands with the world’s top celebrities for everything from endorsements to product extensions. John is also the author of multiple New York Times best-selling books, including his newest book and his first children’s book, Little Daymond Learns to Earn, which came out on March 21st.
The evening also featured a special performance by international superstar, legendary singer, songwriter, producer, and winner of an Oscar, Golden Globe, and four Grammy Awards, Lionel Richie. Fresh off his daughter Sofia Richie’s gorgeous wedding in the South of France, Richie serenaded the crowd with two of his greatest hits, “Hello” and “Stuck on You.”
Taste for a Cure unites the entertainment and epicurean communities and consistently ranks among Southern California’s Top Ten culinary events. The 26th Taste for a Cure featured tastings from Angelini Osteria, Far Niente, and Wine Warehouse, as well as a sumptuous array of dishes from The BLVD. at the Beverly Wilshire, Plateia, Hanoki, and the Bird and Gun Smoke, all while raising valuable funds for leading-edge cancer research at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC).
Founded in 1945, the UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation (JCCF) is the single most important vehicle for raising private funds for cancer research at UCLA. It supports a number of high-priority cancer research efforts focused on converting laboratory discoveries into more effective therapies for cancer patients. The UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center’s (JCCC) dedicated researchers are recognized as international leaders in discovering new and better ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer. In the past eight years, JCCC research has led to 18 FDA approvals for new cancer treatments. A remarkable achievement. Often, discoveries made in one cancer type speed up progress against a variety of malignancies. This commitment to world-class research and compassionate care is one of the many reasons UCLA Health and the UCLA JCCC are ranked the #1 hospital for cancer in California and #5 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.
Over the past 26 years, the event has raised millions of dollars for the highest-priority cancer research at the UCLA JCCC. For information on UCLA’s JCCF, please visit www.cancer.ucla.edu. In addition, please join the conversation via Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. The official hashtag for the event is #tasteforacure.
