BEVERLY HILLS—On Saturday, June 27, actress and philanthropist Kate Linder co-hosted the 36th Annual 2009 Vision Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. The ceremony is put on by the Retinitis Pigmentosa International Association every year.
Hundreds of Hollywood’s best and brightest in film, television and music attended the awards ceremony for the star-studded, 36th Annual Vision Awards. The gala fundraising event, which has become an annual Hollywood tradition, honors entertainment and business luminaries as well as medical professionals who have exhibited exceptional gifts of sight, foresight and insight in the creative arts, related technologies and medical research.
Kate Linder, Helen Harris, Vision Awards Founder & President RP
International President, and Chelsea Gilligan, Miss California Teen USAPhoto by Amanda Edwards/PictureGroup
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Among those in the entertainment field honored this year, the film “Twilight” received the award in the Film of Vision category. Recipients of this award include producers: Wyck Godfrey, Greg Mooradian, Mark Morgan and Guy Oseary. Other honorees include: Leader of Vision, Jim Walton, President of CNN Worldwide, Film Artist of Vision: Diane Ladd, "Rambling Rose," "Wild At Heart," Film Producer of Vision: Lawrence Bender, “Inglourious Basterds,” Producer of Vision – Documentary: Stephen Nemeth, “Fields of Fuel, Flow: For Love of Water,” Producers of Vision – Television: Ian Sander and Kim Moses, “Ghost Whisperer,” Matthew Weiner, “Mad Men,” Woman of Vision – Entertainment: Shonda Rhimes, “Grey’s Anatomy,” Woman of Vision – Fitness & Motivation: Jillian Michaels, “The Biggest Loser,” Screenwriter of Vision: Grant Nieporte, “Seven Pounds” and Lester Sill Award-Composer/Editor of Vision: John Ottman, “Valkyrie.”
Larry King and Kate Linder Courtesy: Photo by Amanda Edwards/PictureGroup
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The official release from (RP) states, “The Vision Awards is produced by RP International, the nation’s leading non-profit fighting degenerative eye diseases. RPI was founded by blind activist, Helen Harris, a Woodland Hills housewife who, in 1972, was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a degenerative blinding disease, along with her two young sons. Physicians told Harris that there would be no hope, no help and no cure. Harris and her family set out to prove them wrong, and to prove that a cure for blindness could become a reality. Today, due to Harris’ ongoing efforts, and those for the international organization that she founded, more than 200 celebrities, producers, directors and other luminaries are helping to bring the cause to the public’s attention.”
Actress Kate Linder who stars on CBS’s mega daytime drama “The Young and the Restless” told Canyon News, “I was honored to be asked to co-host this year’s event. Seeing my friend Larry King at the awards just weeks after attending his foundation’s latest fundraiser was a highlight. But I am always interested in helping to raise awareness of diseases that effect millions of people in the world and eye health is something most of us don’t give a lot of thought or concern to. I was happy to help bring attention to this important health issue.”
To learn more about The Vision Awards and retinitis pigmentosa, go to: rpinternational.org/page6.html or visionawards.com.
