Annual Celebration of Hope Gala Set Nov. 4 to Benefit Huntington’s Disease Society

SAN DIEGO, October X – The San Diego Chapter of Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) will hold its 16th annual Celebration of Hope Gala on Saturday, November 4, at the Pendry Hotel in Downtown San Diego.

HD is a fatal genetic brain disorder that causes the deterioration of all mental and physical capabilities, and affects tens of thousands of Americans each year. The goal of the Celebration of Hope Gala is to raise awareness about the devastating nature of HD while honoring those living with HD as well as those making a difference in the mission to find a cure.

The event will honor Chris Berman, legendary ESPN sports broadcaster, who will receive the 2017 Guthrie Award, HDSA’s highest honor, for his generous support of the fight against HD. The Guthrie Award pays tribute to legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie, who died from HD, and his wife Marjorie, who led the way in building a national HD community and driving the search for a cure.

The 2017 gala is presented by Ron Fowler, Peter Seidler and the San Diego Padres as well as ESPN and Major League Baseball. Event sponsors include DLA Piper, Peggy and Eric Johnson, Microsoft, Jan and Mike Neil, Pendry San Diego, Kathy and Jay Rains, and the San Diego Half Marathon.

Mark Grant, San Diego sports personality and Padres broadcaster, will emcee the event and lead a fun, interactive program with Berman and others. More than 300 are expected to attend the dinner party and auction.

The HDSA’s annual Celebration of Hope Gala is recognized as one of San Diego’s most entertaining winter events and annually earns the national HDSA’s “Outstanding Fundraising Event Award.”

The event starts at 6:00 p.m. in the Pendry, 550 J Street, with a reception and live and silent auctions. Individual tickets to the event are $400 and table sponsorships begin at $3,500. HDSA is hosting an exclusive VIP reception with Berman for $1,000 a person, including dinner.

Auction items include a weekend stay in Monterey during the 2018 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro- Am, and "inside the ropes" experience on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018; week stays in Kauai and Maui; behind- the-scenes VIP experience at the Del Mar Races; VIP tickets to the Torrey Pines Suite at the 18th green during the Farmers Insurance Open on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018; court-side tickets to a Los Angeles Lakers game; weekend stay at La Quinta Resort and golf at PGA West; wine and dining packages; and autographed sports memorabilia.

About Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA)

HDSA is the Nation’s largest 501(C)(3) nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to providing help for today and hope for tomorrow for everyone affected by Huntington’s disease. HDSA is committed to providing support for at-risk individuals and caregivers, public advocacy, and the search for treatments and a cure of this devastating disease. HDSA San Diego, one of 54 chapters and affiliates of HDSA, serves San Diego and Imperial Counties through its network of volunteers. HDSA San Diego sponsors a monthly support group for affected families, raises money for the care and cure of HD, helps support a Center of Excellence for Family Services, publishes an annual report, and provides a range of other services for the HD community.

For more information about ways you can help HDSA please visit www.hdsa.org/sd