Shannon's S.H.A.R.E. Foundation will host its First Annual Charity Gala and Auction at Juliet Supperclub located 539 West 21st Street in New York on November 7, 2011 at 7:00pm.
Honored media guests will include Dr. Steve Salvatore and producer Melanie Jordan (PIX11), Cindy Hsu (CBS), Nicole Johnson (Fox 5), and radio/TV personality Wendy Williams. Shannon's S.H.A.R.E. Foundation was formed in honor of the late budding Broadway star, Shannon Tavarez to build awareness for the recruitment and education of potential bone marrow donors and to provide support to patients with blood-related illnesses and their families.
Until being diagnosed with Leukemia in April 2010, Shannon Skye Tavarez was a bright, bubbly and talented 11 year-old who made her Broadway debut as ‘Young Nala' in Disney's Lion King.
"Throughout her battle with cancer, Shannon's best chance for survival relied on a bone marrow match so that a successful transplant could be performed. But the search for a suitable donor was extremely difficult due to the lack of minorities within the national bone marrow registry," says Odiney Brown, Shannon's mother who was inspired to launch Shannon's S.H.A.R.E. Foundation in honor of her daughter's life and legacy.
Family, friends and celebrities including the cast of Lion King, Alicia Keys, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, and Rihanna supported Shannon's fight to spread the word and her desperate search for African- American and Hispanic bone marrow donors who might have the match that would save her young life. Sadly Shannon passed last November but to date, nearly 15,000 new people have registered as donors in her name.
"Throughout the journey of Shannon's illness, I found strength in knowing that through her, we were potentially saving many other lives by registering thousands of new donors. I also wanted to be able to provide support and resources to other patients and families suffering from blood related illnesses," adds Brown. "I envision The Charity Gala and Auction to be a fun filled evening celebrating the life and legacy of Shannon as well as raising much needed funds to continue our work."
Shannon's S.H.A.R.E. Foundation seeks Corporate and product sponsors, auction items and supporters for the upcoming Gala. Interested parties should contact Nahdi Mukomana, nahdi@shannonsshare.org
Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications. Tickets may be purchased at
http://shannonssharegala.charityhappenings.org/
