MILES OF SMILES
It was the big “1-0” for Operation Smile at the Beverly Hilton Hotel as the organization celebrated its 10th annual fundraising gala. Locals like longtime Op Smile ambassador Roma Downey and her husband, reality king Mark Burnett, helped put on an all-star show.
This year’s honorees were Smile supporters Zachary Levi as well as television personalities Giuliana and Bill Rancic, NBC entertainment prez Jennifer Salke and her 12-year-old son Henry.
Salke knows firsthand the heartbreaking pain a mother can experience when her child is born with a facial deformity. Her son was born with a cleft lip. Fortunately, the condition was quickly repaired. It’s a second chance made possible for thousands of children around the world thanks to Operation Smile and its hardworking volunteers.
The glitzy event was co-chaired by Hollywood heavyweights like Steven Bochco, Ron Meyer and Brooke Burke-Charvet among others. In keeping with tradition, the Smile Gala was emceed by “Access Hollywood” host Billy Bush.
The evening was enlightening. Guests learned that every three minutes, a child is born with a condition like cleft lip. One in ten of those kids might not make it to their first birthday. That’s why Operation Smile offers free surgery to children suffering from clefts and other facial deformities, giving them the simple pleasure of a smile and transforming their lives.
Actor Zachary Quinto presented the John Connor Humanitarian Service Award to Levi, who stars in the NBC show “Chuck.”
Style Network prez Salaam Coleman-Smith turned over the Universal Smiles Award to Giuliana and Bill while director and producer Adam Shankman gave out the honor to Salke. The exec recently moved to NBC after a stint at Fox. She also volunteered on a recent Op Smile medical mission to Brazil.
Philanthropist Sue Tsao was honored by Operation Smile co-founders Kathy and Dr. William Magee.
After dinner and the presentations, guests were treated to a special performance by “The Voice” standout Dia Frampton, the Colburn Children’s Choir and The Immortals Lion Dance Troupe.
The event raised more than $1.2 million for Operation Smile.
WONDER BOY</>
The Bev Hilton is bopping as the place to be right now. A few days after Operation Smile, Malibu’s Robert Downey Jr. was honored in a room full of A-listers at the American Cinematheque Awards.
Friends and co-stars like Jennifer Aniston, Jack Black and Michael Douglas topped the guest list. The most surprising moment was when the “Iron Man” and “Sherlock Holmes” lead shared the stage with local Mel Gibson.
After being up and down a rocky road himself, Downey urged Hollywood to give the “Braveheart” star a second chance. He spoke movingly about how Gibson was there for him in his time of need and wrapped up by saying, “Forgive him and let him work. He’s a good dude with a good heart. If he helped me, I said I would help the next guy. But I never expected that the next guy would be him.”
Downey is on a roll these days. In addition to the wildly successful “Iron Man” franchise, his “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” is due out later this year.