2007 Visionary Ball

	Michael Phelps	Peter Morton	Tim Allen

2007 Visionary Ball Montage Video
2007 Visionary Ball Full Length Video

Six-hundred and fifteen guests attended the 2007 Visionary Ball at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on October 4. With the help of its Advisory Board, Dinner Committee, and Grant Associates event consultants, UCLA Neurosurgery raised more than $1,000,000 (gross) to benefit research and education at UCLA.

The Ball commenced at 6:00 pm with a welcome reception featuring unique displays:
• BrainLAB flat-screen display
• InTouch Health ICU Robot
• Legacy Artwork portrait
• VisionTree interactive PDAs

At 7:00pm, guests were seated for dinner. Steve Garvey was Master of Ceremonies. The program began with a welcome message from co-chairs Bob Harper and Edie Baskin Bronson. A brief video shared recent Neurosurgery news stories, and three honoree awards were presented:
• Dr. Michael Phelps Visionary Award, presented by Dr. David Hovda
• Tim Allen Rodney Respect Award, presented by Jaime Lee Curtis and Joan Dangerfield
• Peter Morton Visionary Award, presented by Skip Bronson and David Geffen

Another highlight was three live patient testimonials by Evelyn Freed, Hank Zavaleta, and Lisa D’Andrea Nunez. The evening concluded with a musical performance by Thelma Houston.


Endorsements

“The ball was the best ever. It was so well-paced and light and moving and truly magical.”
– Advisory Board member

“All of our guests were touched by the stories of struggle and recovery. It is a gift to have a place like the UCLA Neuroscience & Neurosurgery Department in our Neighborhood and in our hearts… Thank you for all that your hard work has accomplished!!!” – Dinner Committee member

“I thought the whole event was a class act from start to finish. Congratulations!” – UCLA Media Relations

“I wanted to let you know that in my ten years of doing events, your team was by far one of the very best I have ever worked with, and it was my privilege and pleasure to be a part of such an amazing event.”  – Event Consultant

“I have been telling everyone that it was one of the most perfect events of its kind. The program was excellent. It conveyed the perfect mix of extraordinary professional, medical care, with a deep sense of compassion which is so often missing in big university hospital departments. The people who attended were so classy. It was a reflection of the affection that we all have for you and Edie, and the outstanding people who were honored… The Peter Morton segment, portrayed as a group of shy, public-speaking averse people, was really quite charming. There was a sincere expression of shared fondness that was very evident. Jamie Lee, Joan Dangerfield, and Tim Allen gave the night a quirky edge that still provided an emotional link to all the other emotional stories shared by the families with success stories.”
– Event Guest

“You and your committee certainly know how to put on a party! Last evening's UCLA Division of Neurosurgery Visionary Ball was outstanding indeed! ... let me say that last evening spoke of excellence! Each of the former patients who presented their stories of having been operated on at UCLA Division of Neurosurgery would almost certainly not have had the excellent outcome in evidence, if treated in most other hospitals and medical centers. Dr. Martin and the other faculty members and medical staff personnel are to be highly complimented on this highest-level of excellence.”
– Advisory Board member