Uma Thurman Will Be Honored as a Children Champion at Children of Bellevue's Annual Gala

Children of Bellevue's 22nd Annual "Toast to the Children" hosted by Top Chef's Tom Colicchio, takes place on Tuesday, April 24 at riverpark (450 E. 29th Street at First Avenue). Academy Award nominee Uma Thurman will be honored as a Children Champion for her past volunteer work with the organization. Ms. Thurman recently completed her Broadway debut in Beau Willimon's The Parisian Woman, which played a
limited engagement at the Hudson Theater.

Award-winning actress Uma Thurman has proven herself to be one of the industry's most versatile performers, lending her talents to an array of revered films and television. Her upcoming projects include Lars Von Trier's The House That Jack Built, The Brits Are Coming directed by James Oakley, and Down a Dark Hall directed by Rodrigo Cortés. She will also star opposite Robert De Niro in Tim Hill's The War with
Grandpa. Thurman is best known for her portrayal of "Mia Wallace," a sexy mobster's wife in Quentin Tarantino's critically lauded PULP FICTION. In 1995, she received an Academy Award® nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the cult classic. Referred to as Tarantino's "muse," Thurman continued to work with the director for many years and garnered Golden Globe® Award nominations for her role of "The Bride" in his highly successful KILL BILL film franchise. ROLLING STONE likened her to "an avenging angel out of a 1940s Hollywood melodrama."

The annual "Toast to the Children" was founded by Tom Colicchio and is now in its 22nd year. It raises money for the pediatric programs at Bellevue Hospital. This fundraiser is one of New York City's premier food and wine tasting events featuring some of the city's best chefs, hottest restaurants, and wines and spirits from around the world.

At this festive evening, 450 guests will sample signature dishes from some of New York's finest restaurants; taste wines from around the world; and enjoy the opulence of riverpark as they mingle with celebrity chefs and fellow food lovers. This year's list of participating restaurants includes: The Beatrice Inn, Colonie, craft, Fairway, Hearth, La Boîte, Locanda Verde, Pearl Oyster Bar, Pizza Loves Emily, Rappahonnock Oyster Co., riverpark, Saxon + Parole, and Temple Court. This year's "Children Champions" honorees are actress Uma Thurman and longtime supporter of Children of Bellevue, and Dr. Alan L. Mendelsohn, Director, Founder, and Principal Investigator of Children of Bellevue's Video Interaction Project and Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Population Health at NYU School of Medicine.

VIP tickets are $500 and grant admission to an hour with music, cocktails, champagne and gift bag; General Admission tickets are $300. A generous portion of the ticket price is tax-deductible; all proceeds go directly to the pediatric programs that serve the children and families at Bellevue Hospital Center. For more information, visit www.childrenofbellevue.org or call 212-562-4130.