CURE celebrated a “Decade of Progress” at its 1st Annual New York City Benefit, sponsored by PARADE Magazine and held at the Yale Club on May 13, 2008. Over 170 devoted friends and supporters joined honorees David Axelrod—father and national political consultant—and his wife, Susan Axelrod—president and co-founder of CURE—in looking back at the strides made in epilepsy awareness and research during CURE’s first ten years. Through a special video presentation and posters sharing personal stories, the event highlighted how much can be achieved when families band together to accomplish a shared dream—no seizures, no side effects—but also how much work remains to be done as CURE enters its second decade.

The evening was emceed by Randy Siegel, CURE Board member and president and publisher of PARADE Magazine. Siegel presented Susan and David Axelrod with the 2008 CURE Leadership Award, a designation recognizing the Axelrods’ unwavering commitment, dedication, and decade-long leadership in helping to find a cure for epilepsy. The program continued with a showing of the 2008 CURE video, the latest in a poignant series of CURE productions documenting the devastating effects of epilepsy. George Stephanopoulos, Chief Washington Correspondent for ABC News, delivered the dinner program’s keynote speech.

Thank you to all of you that contributed to making this event special. Key sponsors included:

Platinum Sponsor
PARADE Magazine

Gold Sponsors
Lisa & Randy Siegel
Wendy & Richard Yanowitch

Silver Sponsors
Autism Speaks
Greenberg Traurig
Meredith Publishing
Lisa & Joel Benenson
Mr. & Mrs. John S. Gibbs, Jr.
The Sabo Family
Tracy & Lawrence Shar
Madeleine Siegel

Bronze Sponsors
Electronic Knowledge Interchange
Loretta & Walter Anderson
Debra Josephs & Ben A. Kaplan
Kathy & Arthur Judd
Sheila & Bill Lambert
Laura Lewis Mantell, MD & Alan Lewis
Terri McCullough & Howard Wolfson
Helen & Ronald Ross, MD
Laura & David Ross
Karen & William Siegel
Peter Siegel
Susan & Michael Siegel
Joan Yanowitch

Proceeds from the Benefit will fund innovative scientific research that will one day lead to a cure for epilepsy.