For Immediate Release
January 21, 2005

Actress Rue McClanahan To Receive Gilda Radner
Courage Award at Roswell Park All Star Night Gala

(BUFFALO, NY)— Rue McClanahan, an Emmy Award-winning actress, will receive the Gilda Radner Courage Award this Saturday at the 15th annual All Star Night Gala for Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI). The event is presented by HSBC and the Roswell Park Alliance Community Advisory Board at the Adam’s Mark Hotel. Over 1,250 guests will attend the sold-out fundraiser, expected to raise $400,000 for research and patient care.

McClanahan, most famous for her role as Blanche Devereaux on the television series, The Golden Girls, is a breast cancer survivor. She will be recognized for her national advocacy for cancer awareness and prevention.

The gala will feature a “Return to Casablanca” theme, silent and live auctions, casino-style games, and the All Star Night awards. The awards honor individuals for their contributions to cancer research, awareness, prevention and volunteerism.

Youcef (Joe) Rustum, PhD, Senior Vice President for Science Administration at RPCI, will receive the Thomas B. Tomasi, MD, PhD Achievement Award for his contributions to international cancer research and his leadership to reshaping the basic and translational research program at RPCI.

Sally Russell, a member of the Roswell Park Alliance Community Advisory Board, will receive the Katherine Anne Gioia Inspiration Award for her volunteer leadership to events including Herd About Buffalo, All Star Night and the Ride for Roswell.

All funds raised will support research at Roswell Park leading to new treatments and lives saved. RPCI was the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center. The Institute is Upstate New York’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers.

Jacquie Walker and Don Postles of News 4, WIVB-TV, will be co-masters of ceremonies for the evening’s awards program.

For more information, visit www.roswellparkfoundation.org or call (716) 845-3517.

The Roswell Park Alliance Community Advisory Board, founded in 1990, is a volunteer membership organization that raises funds year-round to support scientific and clinical research, state-of-the-art medical care, and patient-related activities at Roswell Park.

# # #