2008 Innovation and Inspiration– "Venetian Ball”

The Fifth Annual Evening of Innovation and Inspiration honoring Placido Domingo, Gayle and Edward Roski and Dr. Joseph Schulman took place at the Vibiana in Downtown, Los Angeles on November 2, 2008. The Gala evening featured a full orchestra, Venetian dancers, and singers from the LA Opera directed by Emmy Award-winning choreographer Debbie Allen in a ballroom surrounded by tall Corinthian pillars and brilliant Venetian draperies. Guests socialized and enjoyed a gourmet dinner around long velvet-draped tables. The evening featured a Live and Silent auction with more than 100 one-of-a-kind luxury items. Guests included the legendary Placido Domingo, NBA great Norm Nixon, world renown attorney Robert Shapiro, actress Hayden Panetttiere, and actress Bai Ling. The evening raised more than $700,000 to support the Alfred Mann Foundation, and its groundbreaking research for the treatment of people suffering from debilitating medical conditions.
Photo: Plácido Domingo, one of the evening's honorees, spends a moment with actress Hayden Panettiere.

2007 Innovation and Inspiration– "Parisian Party"

The Fourth Annual Evening of Innovation and Inspiration which benefits The Alfred Mann Foundation for the exploration and development of advanced medical technologies, took place September 29, 2007 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles.  A dozen musicians sat side by side in front of a 40-foot-long flat of the Moulin Rouge, with rotating blades and red lights on its signature windmill, as they accompanied the evening’s honoree, Stevie Wonder, in an impromptu performance of “My Cherie Amour.”  M.C. Debbie Allen choreographed three Moulin Rouge-inspired numbers, which culminated in a cancan, for more than 40 students of the Debbie Allen Academy. The gala event included a dazzling Live and Silent auction, Gourmet Dinner, and live performance by James Ingram. The evening raised over $1.5 million and benefits further medical and scientific research. All proceeds from the event go directly to The Alfred Mann Foundation. Major sponsors included Chopard, the Beverly Hilton, and Cadillac.
Photo: The Cancan Dancers

2006 Innovation and inspiration

The Third Annual Evening of Innovation and Inspiration took place on Saturday, September 9, 2006 at the Mann Estate in Beverly Hills. The gala, hosted by Mario Lopez and Adrianna Costa, featured incredible live and silent auctions and a gourmet dinner by Chef Joachim Splichal, founder of Patina. The Pointer Sisters dazzled the crowd with a rousing performance. The big surprise for the evening was the spontaneous appearance by Paula Abdul, who opened the live auction. Over $1.4 million was raised to fund AMF’s groundbreaking research. The evening honored former LA Mayor Richard Riordan and Nancy Riordan as well as researchers Dr. Jane Burridge, of Southampton University in the U.K. and Dr. Ross Davis, a world-renowned neurosurgeon who has worked with AMF for more than a dozen years. Among the guests were Laura San Giacomo, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Carol Connors, and Jayne Meadows.
Photo: Mayor Richard J. Riodan, Cassandra Mann, and Danny DeVito.

2005 Innovation and inspiration

The second annual event for the Alfred Mann Foundation was a magical evening once again held at the Mann hilltop estate. Honoring one of Beverly Hills' favorite sons, Larry King and Dr. William Heetderks, Director of Extramural Science Programs at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. The master of ceremonies for the evening’s festivities, including live auction was Ryan Seacrest and the gourmet dinner was prepared by uber-celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck. Singer Al Jarreau rocked the house with a dynamic performance, and celebrities like TV's Mary Hart Sugarman, Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman made the event, which raised $1.8 million for medical and scientific research, a night to remember.
Photo: Claude Mann, Larry King, Mary Hart, and Cassandra Mann.

2004 Innovation and inspiration

The inaugural event for the Alfred Mann Foundation was held at the Beverly Hills estate of Claude and Alfred Mann. The evening raised $1.4 million for research to advance new medical technologies, and also bestowed honors upon Dr. Steven Sample, president of the University of Southern California, and Dr. Philip Kennedy, CEO and Chief Scientist of Neural Signals, Inc. This black-tie event was hosted by American radio and television personality Ryan Seacrest and featured a musical performance by the legendary performer, Harry Belafonte. The live auction was hosted by Las Vegas, Nevada Mayor Oscar B. Goodman. Notables in attendance included Edye and Eli Broad, Kelly and Robert Day, Nancy and Richard Riordan, Gary Cole, Buzz Aldrin, and jazz legend Eloise Laws.
Photo: Alfred Mann, Claude Mann, and Ryan Seacrest