Scene & Heard: ‘Rock & Royalty Race to Erase MS’ gala
Nancy Davis and Tommy Hilfiger, co-presenters of the “Rock & Royalty Race to Erase MS” gala, know how to attract the stars.
Among those perusing auction items, strutting the catwalk at the Andrew Charles fashion show or participating in ceremonies on April 29 were Cindy Crawford, Mark Curry, Shaun Robinson, Deborah Gibson, Nicky and Paris Hilton, Tia Carrere, Garcelle Beauvais, LaToya Jackson, Virginia Madsen, Janice Dickinson, Jennifer Tilly, Drake Bell, Regina King, Melissa Joan Hart, Sela Ward, David Faustino, Sugar Ray Leonard, Kyle Massey, Greg Rikaart and Clementine Ford of “The Young and the Restless,” Robbie Jones, Crystal Reed, Jon Lovitz, Rachel Leigh Cook, Daisy Fuentes and Ed Begley Jr. “Dancing With the Stars” contenders Hines Ward and Chelsea Kane attended, as did pro dancers Louis Van Amstel, Kym Johnson, Anna Trebunskaya and Cheryl Burke.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts got the crowd in motion and country star Clay Walker, diagnosed with MS in 1996, closed the show with a shout-out to Davis, calling her his hero. The gala at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel was Walker’s first time at the annual benefit for the Nancy Davis Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis. “It won’t be my last,” he said.
BritWeek gala
Just hours before the royal wedding, the local British community held its own celebration: BritWeek’s gala dinner at L.A. Live, honoring Tim Leiweke, chief executive of the sports and entertainment giant AEG Worldwide, which built — among other venues — Staples Center.
Scheduled to perform three numbers, Seal dedicated a song to his wife, Heidi Klum of “Project Runway,” who blew him a kiss from the head table. Party-goers rose to their feet and clustered by the stage, moving to the music until the final note.
The guest list at the April 28 event included Consul-General Dame Barbara Hay, dinner co-chairs Bob Peirce and Paul Wright, Alex Hyde-White, Michael Keaton, David Hunt, Patricia Heaton of “Everybody Loves Raymond” and Tia Carrere of “True Lies.” Ross King served as host.
Founded by “American Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe, BritWeek highlights L.A.’s British connections. The gala benefited the “Joy of Reading” literacy project for LA’s Best after-school enrichment program.
