CHILDREN’S BURN FOUNDATION’S BENEFIT RAISES MORE THAN $700,000 FOR YOUNG BURN SURVIVORS

Community Leaders Linda and Alexander L. Cappello
Honored at 14th Annual Giving New Hope Benefit

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif. – Feb. 26, 2009 - The Children's Burn Foundation, which provides the expertise and programs to prevent pediatric burns and to heal severely burned children, held its 14th annual Giving New Hope Benefit at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Feb. 19. The event was attended by more than 650 guests and raised more than $700,000 to provide state-of-the-art medical treatment for children who have suffered severe burn injuries, as well as fire safety and burn prevention programs for children and families in high-risk communities throughout Los Angeles County.

“We are privileged to have raised these funds through the generosity of our donors and the dynamic efforts of The Council and Foundation staff who worked tirelessly to ensure that the Foundation is able to continue and do its important work,” stated Doug Mancino, chairman of the board of the Children’s Burn Foundation and a partner with McDermott, Will & Emery. “Proceeds raised will enable us to support the organization’s work in recovery and prevention of childhood burns in the U.S. and abroad.”

Mancino went on to state that, “The Foundation educates nearly 65,000 elementary school children as well as parents and caregivers annually in Los Angeles County through its burn prevention programs.”

During the night’s festivities, the Giving New Hope award was presented to community leaders Linda and Alexander L. Cappello, for their philanthropy and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of children.

Linda Cappello is a dedicated member of The Council, the dynamic women’s group that supports the Foundation’s fund-raising and community outreach initiatives, and a board member of Las Floristas, an organization which supports fundraising efforts for the Handicapped Children’s Clinics at Rancho Los

Amigos Medical Center. She also chairs The Tradition of Hope Gala benefitting Augie’s Quest, the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s ALS research initiative.

Alexander Cappello is the founder of the Cappello Group, Inc., a merchant bank operating globally in 50 countries. He is a trustee of the University of Southern California, vice chair of the board of trustees of Marymount College, as well as chairman emeritus of Catholic Big Brothers and Sisters. He serves on the boards of City of Hope, The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation and ALS Therapy Development Institute, among others.

The Giving New Hope Benefit is hosted by The Council under the leadership of Kathleen Toppino, president and a member of the Foundation’s board of trustees; Brenda Gross, benefit co-chair; and Linda Vitale, benefit co-chair. Philanthropists Sheri and Les Biller, Debby and Paul Hopper, Suzanne and Ric Kayne, and Lindsey Kozberg served as dinner co-chairs.

Additional support was provided by Lynda Fadel, live auction chair; Linda Cappello, silent auction co-chair; and Ellen Gussman, silent auction co-chair, along with Jill Stein, mystery box co-chair; Karen Nalle, mystery box co-chair; and Cindy Ker, mystery box co-chair. The Council has raised more than $7 million dollars since 1996.

The benefit was emceed by Fritz Coleman, entertainment personality and well-known television weatherman on KNBC-TV. Entertainment was provided by the award winning Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Jazz Combo “A” and Trijean Jobert Wilkins, of High School Musical: Get in the Picture fame, along with the California State University Northridge Jazz Ensemble. In attendance was Alex Trebek, host of “Jeopardy”, along with his wife Jean Trebek, a member of The Council.

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