On Thursday Oct. 27, 2011, First Candle will be hosting our annual Charity Gala at the Lighthouse at Pier Sixty in New York City.

This year’s Honorees are Justine Simmons and The Lancet Medical Journal. Mrs. Simmons is the wife of Joseph Simmons (also known as Rev. Run from the legendary group Run DMC). The Simmons’ lost their precious infant daughter Victoria Anne five years ago. The tragic incident was captured on the then reality show Run’s House on MTV.   Mrs. Simmons is the quintessential mother and entrepreneur. Her book, “God, Can Your Hear Me?” was released in 2007 and has graced thousands of readers with its powerful message. She and her husband, Joseph Simmons, co-authored the New York Times best seller, “Take Back Your Family” in 2008. The Lancet is a weekly peer-reviewed medical journal.  It is one of the world’s best known, oldest, and most respected general medical journals.  In April 2011, The Lancet released the first global series on stillbirths.  The series is the most comprehensive assessment to date of the global numbers and causes of stillbirths.  The series showcased the work of 69 authors from 18 countries.  This year’s co-chairs are Broderick Johnson and Michele Norris.  Johnson of the Collins Johnson Group was most recently a partner at Bryan Cave, an international law firm, where he headed the public policy and governmental affairs group, and served on the firm’s executive committee. He previously served as the primary liaison to the House of Representatives in the Clinton White House.  Ms. Norris is an author and current host of the National Public Radio evening news program All Things Considered.

For more information please contact Ashawnda Fleming, Director of Development at ashawnda@firstcandle.org.