On Tuesday, October 20th, “My Teacher, My Hero” hit the red carpet at the 2009 Angel Ball. In it’s the sixth go-around, the Angel Ball drew a number of celebrities, attending to show support for Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research and to participate in a night of entertainment and auctioning in order to generate money for the cause. The event, initiated with a gala in 1998, took place in New York City at Cipriani Wall Street.
Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research was launched in response to actress/model Gabrielle Rich Aouad’s struggle with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. Following a battle Hodgkin’s disease in 1993 and a period of remission, Gabrielle was diagnosed with AML in 1996. She passed away that same year, but not without bestowing her family with the vision of a better method of treatment for Leukemia and other forms of cancer; one that would not cause the pain and damage of chemotherapy. Her mother, Denise Rich, would start the foundation in 1997 so that her dream could be one step closer to realization.
The gala is an illustrious event that attracts a multitude of big name celebrities and well-to-do guests ranging from Ivana Trump to astronaut Buzz Aldrin who are given the opportunity to enjoy live entertainment and bid on several items up for auction. The items are provided by sponsors and can range from items provided by Audi to Louis Vuitton.
“My Teacher, My Hero” took the opportunity to ask some celebrities walking the red carpet which teacher had the greatest impact on their otherwise well-documented lives, providing rare insight into a source of inspiration for some unusually successful people. Though this is not your everyday, gossip-fueled, fashion obsessed line of red carpet questioning, many stars were happy to oblige with some humorous, interesting, and genuine responses. Among the interviewed celebs were Kathie Lee Gifford, rapper/producer Swizz Beatz, model Bar Refaeli, and radio personality Howard Stern.
Howard Stern, a bit taken aback by the nature of the question: “Did a teacher change your life?”, discussed a professor at Boston University. “Adults never paid any attention to me. There was a guy named Jim Wilcox, a professor at Boston University who was actually very nice to me. He encouraged me to write and I became something of a writer in college…” After finishing, Stern turned in response to a commotion and quipped; “Oh, some controversy, must be my teacher Jim Wilcox!”
Bar Refaeli, Israeli model and 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition cover girl, graced our correspondents with her presence, offering a somewhat unorthodox answer. “Probably my mom, Tzipi. She always taught me to give, and the most important thing is to help other people...[put] yourself out there and you will get twice as much back, it works!”
Mr. Lee taught Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) the virtue of accountability. “If you were bad, you got hit with the ruler…He let me know that you are accountable for every action that you make, and I live by that.” While we do not endorse corporal punishment, the discipline he learned from first grade teacher Mr. Lee is an admittedly invaluable asset.
Finally, the ever-stunning Kathie Lee Gifford paid tribute to the woman who inspired her to develop her gift of communication and presentation in a Maryland state pageant. “It was my senior high school honors English teacher, and she threatened to flunk me if I didn’t enter the Maryland Junior Miss pageant. Now back in 19…70, ehrm…” pausing as she blushes with the realization that she has just all too precisely dated herself, “pageants were not the thing to do…but this teacher said ‘you must, it’s going to take you to the next level…’” Clearly, the teacher saw keenly what was one of the greatest television hostesses in America in the making.
Everybody has a teacher who has taught him or her something invaluable, inspired them to keep trying, or who saw something in them that they could not see themselves. Even celebrities have this source of inspiration and cultivation of talent and virtue. This year, at Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, “My Teacher, My Hero” was able to give some stars the opportunity to thank that special source, and to give us an inside look at what helped these celebrities rise to a life of limelight and affluence.
Special thanks to Gerardo Velez of Gerardo Velez Productions for giving “My Teacher, My Hero” the opportunity to attend this important event and spread appreciation for our teachers. For a full list of celebrity red carpet videos, visit "My Teacher, My Hero" today.
