Barbra Streisand to introduce presentation by MD pioneering discoveries about gender differences in heart disease.

C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, will address thousands of women attending more than 100 TEDxWomen events around the world during the TEDWomen conference on Thursday, Dec. 1. Barbra Streisand -- the legendary actress, singer and women’s advocate --  is scheduled to introduce Bairey Merz, director of the Women’s Heart Center at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute. Bairey Merz will discuss how the mentorship of women physicians inspired her to focus on uncovering gender differences in symptoms and treatment of heart disease and why women should push for more research.  Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide and often is misdiagnosed in women. 

The day’s events may be viewed via live stream at http://www.livestream.com/tedxwomen. To participate in the conversation via Twitter, use hashtag: #TEDxWomen.  

BARBRA STREISAND ON HOW DONNA KARAN BRINGS PEOPLE & DREAMS TOGETHER

SANTA BARBARA, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Presenter Barbra Streisand attends The Dream Foundation's 10th Annual Celebration of Dreams, honoring fashion icon Donna Karan with The Founders Award and featuring the Donna Karan Spring 2012 Collection, presented by Saks Fifth Avenue, held at Bacara Resort and Spa on November 18, 2011 in Santa Barbara, California.

BARBRA STREISAND ON HOW DONNA KARAN BRINGS PEOPLE & DREAMS TOGETHER

We are delighted to share some very special news with you: this evening, our Founder Donna Karan will receive The Founders Award at the 10th Annual Celebration of Dreams to benefit the Dream Foundation. The Dream Foundation is the first national organization that makes dreams come true for adults in the end stages of life and the benefit will be a celebratory evening of fashion (including a Donna Karan Spring 2012 runway show), fantastic entertainment, and creative cuisine.

Making this evening even more special is the fact that the award will be presented by Donna’s long-time friend, Barbra Streisand. We know that Barbra will be sharing some very thoughtful words borne out of her friendship with Donna and we thought we’d share some of the highlights with you here:

“Donna doesn’t just dress people, she addresses them, mind, body and spirit. She is a creative visionary. Passionate. Forceful. Nurturing. Extremely hands on. And generous to a fault. You can’t help falling in love with her. As a friend, Donna is thoughtful, funny and mothering – she can’t help herself. Years ago, I fell in love with a chenille sweater from Anne Klein. It turned out the fabric was highly flammable. I didn’t care. I even offered to sign a legal waiver should the sweater catch on fire. But Donna said, absolutely not, give it back. She wouldn’t take the chance. Donna doesn’t know I still have that sweater.”

“Donna and I bonded immediately. We were both on spiritual paths and saw everyone, including driving upstate to see Guru Mai for a 15 minute visit that turned into three hours of sitting in the dark. Donna and I even schlepped to Massachusetts to learn to meditate with Deepak Chopra. We were soul sisters.”

“One of the things Donna and I have most in common is our passion for positive change. How to use our voice and creativity to get something done. How to use our platforms and public profiles to bring attention to urgent matters. Every year, we attend the Clinton Global Initiative, where Bill Clinton brings people together to create change. Trust me, few people motivate you more than Bill Clinton. We leave the CGI, inspired to do whatever we can to make a difference.”

“It is most fitting that The Dream Foundation is honoring her. Donna dreams big, and keeps at it until it becomes a reality. Donna dreams for you, for me, for all of us. She brings people and their dreams together.”

Congratulations, Donna! Your entire Urban Zen team is inspired by you, your life and your ever-evolving passions.

Barbra to be on Larry King "Heart Disease" Special in February

From a recent interview with Larry:

Larry: And in February, I'm doing a major special on heart disease which will include Barbra Streisand, Dick Cheney, and two prominent surgeons. We're gonna show you heart surgery.

Link to interview: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/2011/11/larry_king_talk.php

Barbra To Present Donna Karan With Award

A star studded evening with Saks Fifth Avenue presenting the Donna Karan Spring 2012 Collection

Source: Carol Marshall PR

The Dream Foundation, the first national organization that makes dreams come true for adults in the end stages of life, is proud to honor fashion icon Donna Karan with The Founders Award at the 10th Annual Celebration of Dreams on November 18, 2011 at the Bacara Resort and Spa. An event unlike any other, Celebration of Dreams combines high fashion on and off the runway, world-class entertainment, and creative cuisine, all benefiting Dream Foundation.

The Founder’s Award will be presented to Ms. Karan by her dear friend Barbra Streisand. The evening’s festivities will be highlighted by the Donna Karan Spring 2012 runway show, presented by Saks Fifth Avenue. Ronald Frasch, President of Saks Fifth Avenue, will introduce the fashion show. “Saks Fifth Avenue is proud to support the incredible work of the Dream Foundation, and no one is more deserving of this honor than our friend, Donna Karan,” says Frasch.

The evening will also include performances by Grammy award-winning singer Macy Gray, recording artist and American Idol finalist Pia Toscano, Naya Rivera and Amber Riley of GLEE and recording artist Jackson Guthy.

In addition to a silent auction, actor and long-time Dream Foundation supporter, Dan Aykroyd will host a live auction to help raise money for the foundation. Auction items will include high-ticket items such as a seven-day voyage on The World, the largest privately owned residential yacht on earth;a 5-star African Safari from Singita &Beyond; VIP seats to the Argentine Open in Buenos Aires; a private dinner with acclaimed actor, Morgan Freeman and VIP tickets to Donna Karan’s Fashion week show (including a $2,500 shopping spree at Saks Fifth Avenue’s New York flagship and VIP tickets to Mercedes Benz Fashion week), amongst others.

Also, as part of the evening a special tribute will be made to dream recipients in attendance and the more than 2,000 dreams fulfilled over the year.

For the first time in the Dream Foundation’s history, Donna Karan - as the fashion partner - will be honored with the “Founders Award” due to her work with the Urban Zen Foundation. Previous recipients included Jeff and Susan Bridges and Rob and Sheryl Lowe.

The Founders Award recognizes excellence in humanitarian efforts on behalf of those facing illness. There is tremendous synergy in the services offered by Dream Foundation and Urban Zen’s Wellness Initiative. Both provide relief and comfort to those facing illness, beyond that which is offered through western medicine and treatments.

For Dream Foundation this comes in provision of basic need items and resources that allow for closure, peace, and happy final memories. For Urban Zen this comes via accessible forms of eastern healing techniques and meditation.

Dream Foundation Founder, Thomas Rollerson, comments, “In our 10 years celebrating this event, it has always been about dreamers who hope to find closure with loved-ones; who wish to give their children a lasting memory of special family time and who want to live out their remaining moments in comfort and peace. Those participating in this gala are literally making hundreds of dreams like these come true.”

Celebration of Dreams Sponsors include: Saks Fifth Avenue, Donna Karan, ThinkThin, CKE Restaurants, Revelry Event Designers, Bacara Resort & Spa, as well as live auction donors: The World – Residences at Sea, Crystal Cruises, The Ranch at Live Oak Malibu, Strictly Vacations, American Airlines, Singita Game Reserves &Beyond Africa.

For more: http://www.dreamfoundation.org/events/event/10th-annual-celebration-of-dreams

Barbra honored by the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors at their annual Gala

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Barbra Streisand and Robert Barth were honored by the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors at their annual Gala on Tuesday, November 8th at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Proceeds from the Gala, sponsored by Lexus, benefit the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute.

Lexus donated a 2012 Lexus LS 600h L Luxury Hybrid sedan which was raffled off during the Gala.

The Gala included a performance by Marvin Hamlisch, Alan Bergman, Kenny G and a special appearance by Seth Rogen.

The Board of Governors' current campaign benefits the Board of Governors Heart Stem Cell Center in the top-ranked Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, led by Eduardo Marbán, MD, PhD.

A major component of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Heart Institute, the Women's Heart Center, led by C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, is the only one of its kind, with strengths in clinical care, education, and research.

This year's Gala will benefit the Women's Heart Center as part of the current Board of Governors campaign.