The fourth annual Rebels With A Cause Gala raised $12.1 million in support of the lifesaving research led by Dr. David B. Agus, MD, Founding Director and CEO of the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute of Transformative Medicine of USC.
Held on Oct. 24 at The Water Garden in Santa Monica, the evening honored Larry Ellison, Co-Founder, Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Oracle for his generous support through the years, with a standing ovation. Lynne and Marc Benioff hosted the gala, while James Corden emceed with live performances from David Foster with Pia Toscano and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and up-close magical acts by David Blaine.
Notable guests included Ashton Kutcher, Sara Foster, Barry Manilow, Lorna Luft, Elisabeth Shue, Linda Ramone, Mitchell Hoog, Jai Rodriguez, and more.
Ellison was celebrated with the first-ever Rebels With A Cause Award, designed by Chopard. Prior to honoring Ellison, Dr. Agus praised his friend, stating “[He’s] one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. Every day I thank him for his love for discourse to push for knowledge and truth. I thank him for allowing me to learn from him. Cancer continues to affect us all and we’re obligated to think outside of the box. “
Slated to open later this year, the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC’s new state-of-the-art facility is located at 12414 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles.
