On Friday, May10th, Taste for a Cure, UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation’s signature annual fundraising gala, celebrated its 27th anniversary at the iconic Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The Taste for a Cure is an unforgettable evening that unites the entertainment and epicurean communities and consistently ranks among the Top Ten culinary events in Southern California.
The star-studded gala honored Executive Producer and Star of ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith. The New York Times Best Selling author, and podcast host was awarded the 2024 Gil Nickel Humanitarian Award, which recognizes key individuals for their humanitarian efforts, community involvement, and commitment to philanthropy. Smith spoke from the heart, and delivered a powerful speech about the impact of losing his mother to cancer, and his commitment to raising awareness about this disease.
The charismatic Ryan Seacrest was the host for the evening. One of the most recognizable and trusted voices in media today, the Emmy-winning television host and radio personality is also a philanthropist. He serves as the founder and chairman of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation (RSF), which has successfully installed fourteen broadcast media centers – Seacrest Studios – in pediatric hospitals nationwide. Seacrest Studios reaches an estimated 2.3 million patients and families through its programming annually.
Guests also enjoyed a hilarious stand-up comedy act from Emmy-nominated comedian, Roy Wood Jr. Wood, known for his work on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and his highly-rated stand-up specials on Comedy Central. His career spans various roles, including acting in major series such as Only Murders in the Building and Better Call Saul and films, like Confess, Fletch. Wood is recognized for his philanthropic efforts, raising funds for comedy club staff during the pandemic and supporting community organizations in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama.
One of the highlights of the night was a special performances by Grammy-award winner Seal. As a prominent figure in pop, R&B, soul, and dance music, Seal has achieved significant success with over 30 million albums sold globally, more than one billion streams, and multiple awards, including four Grammys. Accompanied by his guitar and backup musician, he delivered beautiful renditions of some of his biggest hits, including the Grammy-winning “Kiss From a Rose.”
Other celebrity appearances included Yara Shahidi (Grown-ish), and the cast of General Hospital, including Fionla Hughes, Alley Mills, Katelyn Mac Mullen, Laura Wright, Tanisha Harper, Cameron Mathison, and Robert Gossett.
The 27th annual Taste for a Cure featured tastings from some of Los Angeles’s finest restaurants, as well as a sumptuous array of dishes from Angelini, Tasting Thyme, The BLVD at the Beverly Wilshire, and more. We also sipped wines from some of the best vintners, including Far Niente, Nickel and Nickel, and En Route, among others, all while raising valuable funds for leading-edge cancer research at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCLA Health JCCC).
Over the past 27 years, the event has raised millions of dollars for the highest-priority cancer research at the UCLA Health JCCC. For information on Taste for a Cure, please visit www.tasteforacure.com or contact Jacqui Farina at 310.989.4399 or jfarina@mednet.ucla.edu.
