Emmy Award Winner Richard Thomas Hosts National Meningitis Association Give Kids a Shot! Gala 2012

GIVE KIDS A SHOT! National Meningitis Association Gala 2012 , A Benefit to Save Lives in the Fight Against Meningitis, a Vaccine-Preventable Disease, Honorary Chairs Ambassador John L. Loeb, Jr. and Sharon Loeb & Nick Springer; Gala Chairs Lenore Cooney, Cooney/Waters Group & Gary Springer, Springer Associates PR ; Master of Ceremonies is EMMY Award winning actor Richard Thomas. Auction Chairs: Matt Klarberg & Errol Rappaport.

Honorees are Jeri Acosta & Jerri Greenwell who will receive the Moms on Meningitis Award and philanthropist actress Sara Herbert-Galloway & Barry J. Klarberg; Monarch Wealth & Business Management who will receive NMA's Nancy Ford Springer Inspiration Award for their long standing support of NMA. Sanofi-Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi- Aventis Group, the largest company in the world devoted entirely to human vaccines will receive NMA’s Health Achievement Award. The event takes place at the New York Athletic Club, 180 Central Park South, New York 10019; Cocktails & Silent Auction 6:30pm followed by Dinner & the NMA Awards. Master of Ceremonies is EMMY Award winning actor Richard Thomas. This signature fundraising event will help NMA continue and expand its vital work in the fight against meningitis

During the 1990’s, there was a significant increase in the number of adolescents and young adults killed or disabled by meningococcal meningitis; young people who were seemingly healthy, vibrant and often athletic. Most of the families were unaware of a vaccine that could have saved their children’s lives or anguish. The National Meningitis Association (NMA), a non-profit organization, was formed in 2002 by parents whose children were killed or disabled by meningitis. Since then, NMA has created educational programs that reach millions of people each year with information about available immunizations and disease symptoms and thoughtful, comprehensive support programs for families devastated by the ravages of the disease

Honorary Committee includes Michael Badalucco, Lynn Grossman & Bob Balaban, Steve Buscemi, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Judy & Rod Gilbert, Adam Graves, Amy Madigan & Ed Harris, Lainie Kazan, Felicity Huffman & William H. Macy, Mark Messier, Congressman Michael Michaud, Lauren & Dave Mirra, BMX Moto Cross Champion. James Naughton, Bart & Michelle Oates, Heather Randall, Susan Sarandon, Daisi Pollard Sepulveda, Mrs. World Ethnic International 2012, Joe Sirola, Charlie Sheen, U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe, Liv Ullmann

Medical Committee includes Richard Besser, ABC News; Paul Offit M.D.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Nancy Snyderman, M.D.NBC News; Dr. Roger W. Yurt Chief of Burn Surgery, NY Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Center

COMMITTEE-IN-FORMATION: Norma Abbene, Pat Addiss, Producer, Eileen Boyle, Lynn & Alan Bozof, Peggy & Mike Bressler, Affiliated Accent, Lori & Curt Buher, Lorraine C. Cancro, Elizabeth Cier, Terry M. & J. Price Corr, Jr., M.D., Rita Cosby, Christine Delisle, Bonnie Pfeifer Evans, Joyce Galley, Hollywood Art, Joanna Goldenstein, Lucia Hwong-Gordon, Laurie & Ken Hartwig, Charlotte & Harvey Hodges, Marcie L. Kammel, Jam/Kammel, Nikki Klarberg, Josh Klein, Monarch Wealth & Business Management, , Jeffrey Kramer, Emma SnowDon Jones, Donna & Michael LaForgia, Lucy Jane Lang, Marian Koltai-Levine & Dan Levine, Ida Liu, Citi Private Bank, Kedakai & James Lipton Corcoran Group Real Estate & The Actors Studio, Jan & Michael Planit, Planit Management , Steve Mack, SD Mack Pictures, Barbara & Earl Magdovitz, Leslie Maier, Sherri Michelstein, Alembic Health, Communications, Jennifer Mocbeichel, PepsiCo, Inc., Ulrika “Red” Nilson, Susan & Peter Purdy, Frank Recchia, News 12, Carol Anne Riddell, Cassandra Seidenfeld-Lyster, Jean & Martin Shafiroff, Allison Strassberg, LAFORCE +, STEVENS, Steven B. Tanger, Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc., Carol & Gerald Tufano, Heike M. Vogel, Arent Fox LLP, Les Walgreen, Edward Callaghan & John Wegorzewski, Alchimia Marketing & Public Relations

Leadership Packages: Heroes for Tomorrow: Four Tables of Ten, Top VIP Seating & Listing in Scroll of Honor $100,000; Life Ambassadors: Three Tables of Ten, VIP Seating & Listing in Scroll of Honor $75,000; Children’s Champions: Two Tables of Ten, VIP Seating & Listing in Scroll of Honor $50,000; Guardians of Life: Table of Ten, VIP Seating & Listing in Scroll of Honor $25,000; Patrons of Hope: Table of Ten & VIP Listing in Scroll of Honor $15,000; Youth Benefactors: Table of Ten & Premier Listing in Scroll of Honor $10,000; Humanitarians for Health: 4 Tickets & Premier Listing in Scroll of Honor, $5,000; Wellness Sponsors: 2 Tickets & Premier Listing in Scroll of Honor $2,500; Ticket & Friend Listing in Scroll of Honor $1,000 & One Ticket, $500

For Leadership Packages, Sponsorships and tickets contact Susan Shattuck/ Laurie Krotman, Special Events Unlimited, 212-244-7333 or email gala@nmaus.org. For more information about NMA’s life-saving work please visit www.nmaus.org.