Russell Simmons, Hugh Jackman and Ben Vereen to Attend Dr. Oz's HealthCorps 'Fresh from the Garden Gala' to Fight Child Obesity

NEW YORK, March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- HealthCorps® (www.healthcorps.org) will take its fight against child obesity to the Intrepid Sea, Air &  Space Museum in New York City for its Fifth Annual Gala, "Fresh from the Garden," on Wednesday, April 13.  

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110321/DC68822LOGO)

The event honors four individuals making considerable contributions to the health and well-being of American youth: Miami real-estate developer and philanthropist, Tibor Hollo; Hollywood and philanthropic couple Deb and Hugh Jackman; and Russell Simmons, producer, philanthropist and wellness advocate.  Heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, Emmy Award-winning nationally syndicated talk show host of "The Dr. Oz Show" and founder of HealthCorps, will serve as the evening's master of ceremonies. At the Gala, Dr. Oz will make a special announcement about HealthCorps' plans for the upcoming year.

HealthCorps is a wellness program addressing the child obesity and mental resilience crises in schools and communities across the country.  Like a Peace Corps for Health, HealthCorps places recent college graduates, known as Coordinators, in high schools for a two-year full time assignment to serve as mentors to restore students' relationship with the nature of their own bodies as well as the natural world.  In addition, HealthCorps serves as a research vehicle to learn how to create optimal health messaging.

Fresh from the Garden Gala guests will be treated to performances by Broadway, film and television star and diabetes activist Ben Vereen; Caron Wheeler, Grammy award-winning lead singer of Soul II Soul; and Broadway actor Stepp Stewart.  Eturnity Band will provide dance music for the fifth year of the event.

The Gala begins with a Red Carpet "step and repeat" during the cocktail "health fair" hour featuring booths where strategic partners and Coordinators highlight HealthCorps' curriculum.  The evening includes a silent and live auction as well as acceptance speeches by the honorees during the seated black tie dinner.

Among HealthCorps supporters expected to attend are: Red Apple Group CEO John Catsimatidis; Celebrity Chef Rocco DiSpirito; designer Donna Karan; Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent; CBS Medical Correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook; former Def Jam and Warner music executive Kevin Liles; Morgan Stanley's John Mack; Former NBA Star and Philanthropist Alonzo Mourning; ESPN Anchor Jesse Palmer; Wilhelmina Model/Actor Adam Senn; and some of America's most famous physicians.

HealthCorps major sponsors include:  the Dalio Family Foundation; the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene; wellness real estate developer Delos Living; the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services; the California Endowment; the California Department of Public Health; the California Walnut Board; Florida East Coast Realty; Emblem Health; The Coca-Cola Company; Morgan Stanley; sanofi-aventis; Columbia Presbyterian Department of Surgery; UFood Grill; VEMMA Nutrition Company; 24 Hour Fitness and more.

Proceeds raised at the Gala will be used to establish HealthCorps' curriculum in additional high schools across the country in the coming school year and reach at least 400 schools in all 50 states by 2015.  

About HealthCorps

HealthCorps' core mission is to fight child obesity by empowering teens and communities to become health agents of change to enhance the health of their environments and to help the country reach the tipping point towards wellness now and for the future. HealthCorps is focused on three priorities - educating the student body®; achieving community outreach through "Fit Town™" – an initiative to connect and activate citizens and organizations to bring about change through local projects and initiatives; and advocating for policy shifts across all levels of government that put health and physical education back into the core curriculum of the American education system.  The program network spans 41 schools in 11 states.  The HealthCorps Board of Directors includes medical practitioners such as Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. Brian Wansink (Cornell), Dr. David Katz (Yale University), Dr. Michael Roizen (Cleveland Clinic), Dr. John Ratey (Harvard), Dr. Laura Berman and many other renowned health experts.  HealthCorps is a 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization.  For more information, please visit www.healthcorps.org.

SOURCE HealthCorps