The evening was called “Love to Erase MS,” and there was plenty of it in the ballroom of the Century Plaza Hotel. Nancy Davis marked a milestone with the event’s 20th anniversary and raised a whopping $ 1.8 million to benefit the Race to Erase cause, as well the Center Without Walls Foundation.
Locals like Ray Romano joined a red carpet full of A-listers and Hollywood heavyweights for the starry gala.
Romano looked dapper and dashing as he joined neighbors Howie Mandel and Byron Allen for the festivities. Recent Malibu Times Magazine cover couple Lisa Rinna and husband Harry Hamlin also made the scene. Rinna donned an exquisite sparkling cranberry gown that set the paparazzi ablaze. They mixed with famous faces like Neil Patrick Harris, Mel B., Kristin Cavallari, Cat Deeley, Daisy Fuentes, Rod Stewart, Teri Garr, Sara Gilbert, Linda Perry, Camille Grammer, Linda Gray, Anne Heche, LaToya Jackson, Ziggy Marley, Kellie Pickler, Kim Richards and Shaun Robinson, among others.
Celebrity guests also included the Osbourne clan, with talk show darling Sharon Osbourne and son Jack Osbourne as honorees, and Kelly Osbourne as a presenter.
In keeping with tradition, The 20th Annual Race to Erase MS featured a live auction called by Mandel and Robinson.
Lucky bidders walked away with items including a five-night stay at Vomo Private Island Resort in Fiji, an exclusive weeklong yacht charter to the Bahamas and the new Aston Martin Centenary Edition DB9, auctioned in celebration of the iconic British sports car’s 100-year history.
Topping it all off, there were musical performances throughout the evening, including Taio Cruz, who was joined by DJ Havana Brown to perform “Break Your Heart,” “Higher” and “Dynamite.”
The one-and-only Elton John headlined the event.
The iconic showman sang a crowd-pleasing eight-song set, which included favorite chart toppers like “Tiny Dancer,” “Your Song,” “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues,” “Rocket Man,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” “I’m Still Standing” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.”
The evening wrapped up on a high note with a rendition of “Lean On Me.” Aly & AJ Michalka and Greg Phillinganes took the stage, along with Nancy Davis, Cybill Shepherd, Marg Helgenberger, Kelly Osbourne and LaToya Jackson, to name a few.
Over the years, Davis and her Race to Erase MS cause has raised millions to get closer to cure and make the disease a thing of the past.