'Law & Order' Star, Pfizer, Danny Glover Star In Foundation's New York Awards Gala Epilepsy Foundation Website May 29, 2003 * Credit to Ashleigh for finding this! Elisabeth Rohm, known to her millions of "Law & Order" fans as assistant district attorney Serena Southerlyn, brought her own special brand of glamour to the Epilepsy Foundation's 35th Anniversary Distinguished Achievement Awards Gala. She emceed the event, which was held May 22 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. "Ever since my first encounter with epilepsy, I have made it a point to learn more and fight hard against this disease. Tonight we are committed to finding solutions," she told the audience during the gala ceremony. She also urged on auction bidding on such items as a villa in Tuscany and a castle in Ireland. The annual event raised more than $570,000 for epilepsy research, advocacy, education and services and was marked by a surprise announcement of a $1 million matching challenge grant by Foundation board member Warren Lammert. Lammert, who is also a founder of the Epilepsy Cure Project, announced a partnership between that group and the Epilepsy Foundation to fund innovative research through a new entity, the Epilepsy Research Foundation. "Every dollar given to the Epilepsy Research Foundation will go 100 percent for research and will be matched 100 percent up to $1 million," he said, as the audience rose to give him a standing ovation. Rohm's participation in the gala was also a big hit with the Foundation's friends, supporters and volunteers who packed the Waldorf's famed Starlight Roof. "I'm a huge fan of 'Law & Order,' and Elisabeth brings so much to the show. It was great to have her here with us tonight," said Eric R. Hargis, the Foundation's president and CEO. "It was good to hear how she feels about our cause and our fight to make things better and find a cure." Hargis also praised Warren Lammert's million dollar challenge and spoke warmly of the partnership that has created the Epilepsy Research Foundation. "I believe it's a very important step towards new breakthroughs and, eventually, a cure," he said. Danny Glover's award celebrates his efforts to increase awareness and acceptance for people who suffer from seizures, and his willingness to disclose publicly that he experienced the condition earlier in his life. He developed epilepsy as a teenager, and lived with the condition for several years until it disappeared in adult life. "I certainly want to thank the Epilepsy Foundation for bestowing this award on me, but more importantly for the work that it does," he said. "For the last 35 years, the Epilepsy Foundation has provided services, education, advocacy, and research for those who are afflicted with epilepsy and seizures," he said. Glover said the real heroes for people with epilepsy are those who provide support: parents, siblings, and loved ones. He had especially warm words for his parents and the emotional support they gave him when, as a teenager, he began to experience seizures. "They were the ones who, at that very crucial moment in my life, embraced me and told everyone that their son Danny was no different, even though he suffered from seizures and some of my activities were restricted because of those seizures. Those are the real heroes," he said. Because he is currently appearing in a Broadway revival of the hit play, "Master Harold and the Boys," Glover could not attend the Gala, but instead delivered his remarks on videotape. Hargis expressed his appreciation of Glover's decision to share information about having epilepsy. "Too often, people in the public eye are unwilling to disclose their experience of seizures, furthering the secrecy that feeds stigma and myth," he said. "We are fortunate that Danny Glover has been willing to speak openly about his own past experience with epilepsy as young man. In doing so, he has inspired many and we hope it will encourage others to speak out." The Epilepsy Foundation also honored J. Patrick Kelly, president, U.S. Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Inc, during the New York gala. Pfizer is a leading manufacturer of medications used to treat epilepsy. It also has a long tradition of philanthropy, including support of Epilepsy Foundation programs such as research, public and patient education and grassroots organizing. In presenting the Distinguished Achievement Award to J. Patrick Kelly and Pfizer, Epilepsy Foundation board chair William Braunlich cited the company's long record of public service and Kelly's own long term commitment to patient empowerment and patient education. "Pfizer is one of America's great corporations and we are pleased to honor them here this evening," he said. "People with hard to control seizures - and there are many of them - look to the commitment of the pharmaceutical industry for new products that can change their lives. We are encouraged that Pfizer is continuing to develop and test new drugs, and that it continues its tradition of supporting activities to help people with epilepsy." Accepting the award, J. Patrick Kelly paid tribute to his colleagues and co-workers at Pfizer. "They are the people who have forged a partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation. Together, they are making information more available and understandable as part of their mission, and they are committed to making a real difference in people's lives." Find out more at This article is the intellectual property of the Epilepsy Foundation Website and its author. It is transcribed simply for fan purposes. No copyright infringement is intended. :: Back up ::       2008 Rohm with a View. Rohm with a View (lis-rohm.net) is an independent publication and is not endorsed by Elisabeth Rohm, her management or any related companies. Opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Elisabeth Rohm or her management.