Recognizing service and sisterhood, this year’s annual Women’s Guild Cedars-Sinai Spring Luncheon honored philanthropist Wendy Howard Goldberg and her sister, CAA motion picture agent Toni Howard on May 1 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Nearly $1 million was raised at the event to benefit the Women’s Guild Neurology Project, which supports research and education related to neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s, ALS, and Alzheimer’s, and the Women’s Guild Distinguished Chair in Pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s, Shervin Rabizadeh, MD, MBA. Dr. Rabizadeh is a leader in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease and has established one of the biggest programs at Cedars-Sinai to find new therapies for children living with the chronic illness.
The sisters were presented with the Trailblazer Award by Samuel L. Jackson. “Everyone in this room knows Wendy,” Jackson said. “When it comes to needing help or information or a doctor … Wendy is the first call to make.” Goldberg is a New York Times bestselling author and philanthropist who also worked as a creative partner with her late husband, film and television producer Leonard Goldberg. Her son John Mirisch is presently the vice mayor of Beverly Hills.
“I can’t imagine my life without her,” Jackson said when introducing Howard. “She’s been my agent, friend, consigliere, someone who is to high-stakes blackjack what Superman is to hero comics. She’s been my hero for at least 30 years.” A revered agent in the industry, Howard has represented Jackson for decades. Her client list also includes the likes of Michael Keaton, James Spader, Goldie Hawn, Diane Lane, Christopher Walken, Michael Caine, and more.
The sisters then sat down for a fireside chat moderated by their longtime friend, Judge Judy Sheindlin. “I came to Hollywood at the tender age of 52,” Sheindlin said. “If anyone had suggested to me that 30 years later, I would be standing here celebrating these two fabulous women, I would have said, ‘What are you smoking?’” Having met Howard 27 years ago, Sheindlin described her as the most gifted agent in Hollywood and Goldberg as a philanthropic mountain climber.
“Women’s Guild, you have my supreme admiration for all that you do,” Howard said. She went on to praise the level of care at Cedars-Sinai hospital, which she witnessed firsthand this year, after her husband had been hospitalized on two occasions. “I was moved by the kindness and the enthusiasm shown by your staff. David loves talking to people, and no matter what someone’s job was, he ended up having a conversation with them … Everyone put such energy and joy into their work.”
When Sheindlin asked Goldberg why she gives so much of her time and energy to the Women’s Guild, she responded matter-of-factly: “If one is privileged and has the wherewithal to do it, you do it.”
In addition to having some of Hollywood’s biggest names present, the luncheon was emceed by “Entertainment Tonight” host Nischelle Turner. Just outside the Crystal Ballroom, an Elysewalker pop-up boutique was also set up for the event, and 10% of the proceeds went to the Women’s Guild Cedars-Sinai. Since its inception, the Women’s Guild has raised over $70 million for Cedars-Sinai.
