NEW YORK, June 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 1000 guests will pack New York's American Museum of Natural History tonight to honor David W. Levinson, Chairman and CEO of L&L Holding Company. The "Sold Out" event benefits the Jeffrey Modell Foundation (JMF), which is celebrating 25 years of research and patient support dedicated to Primary Immunodeficiency (PI).

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Levinson, together with his partner Rob Lapidus, founded L&L Holding Company 11 years ago. It is a privately owned real estate investment and development company that owns more than 5-1/2 million square feet of commercial office space valued at over $3 billion.

Named by the New York Observer as one of the 100 most powerful people in New York real estate, David W. Levinson brought together the elite of New York's commercial real estate community to support the event. Gala Chairpersons are Robert T. Lapidus, President & Chief Investment Officer of L&L Holding Company, Stephen M. Ross, Chairman and CEO of Related Companies, and Mary Ann Tighe, CEO of New York Tri-State Region, CB Richard Ellis. Journal Chairpersons are David R. Greenbaum, President, Vornado Office, Vornado Realty Trust and Philip Waterman III, Managing Member of Waterman Interests, LLC.

The Gala Committee includes: Jeff Blau, President, Related Companies, Ric Clark, President & CEO, Brookfield Properties, Kenneth Fisher, Partner, Fisher Brothers, Robert J. Ivanhoe, Chairman, Global Real Estate, Greenberg Traurig LLP, Jonathan Mechanic, Chairman, Real Estate Department, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, Bruce Mosler, Co-Chairman, Brokerage, Cushman & Wakefield, Peter G. Riguardi, President, New York Region, Jones Lang LaSalle, Aby Rosen, Principal, RFR Holdings, Mitchell Steir, Chairman & CEO, Studley, Steven Witkoff, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, The Witkoff Group…and many more of the biggest names in the New York commercial real estate industry.

The Jeffrey Modell Foundation was established by Vicki and Fred Modell in memory of their son, Jeffrey, who died at the age of 15 from a Primary Immunodeficiency (PI), an umbrella term that encompasses more than 150 diseases caused by a defect in the immune system. Experts estimate that PI affects at least 1 million Americans and 10 million worldwide, mostly children.

"The Real Estate community and their generosity have supported our Foundation since the very beginning," said Fred Modell, Co-Founder of the Jeffrey Modell Foundation.  "We know this group has the ability to write checks and attend galas, but what people don't realize is that their commitment has gone beyond that. They want to know how they have changed the lives of the patients, especially the children."  

To kick off the Jeffrey Modell Foundation's 25th Birthday Celebration, more than 300 of the world's leading Immunologists from 62 countries are participating in JMF's first ever World Immunology Conference at Rockefeller University in New York City, June 1st – 5th. These renowned researchers will also help honor David W. Levinson, JMF's "Man of the Year."

To coincide with this year's 25th Anniversary, the JMF launched a new Public Service Advertising Campaign on PI.  The ads have already been prominently featured on TV, radio, airports, shopping malls, magazines, and even a large billboard in Times Square.  Vicki Modell, Co-Founder of JMF, described the new Campaign as "one that allows a child to dream of days without hospital visits, sleepless nights, and without fevers.  It encourages a child to be whatever they want to be…playing baseball, fighting fires, becoming a chef, and even a glittery rock star. These children now have a chance."  

For more information regarding the Gala or Primary Immunodeficiency, please visit www.info4pi.org or call 212.819.0200.

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Learn more about the Jeffrey Modell Foundation

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SOURCE Jeffrey Modell Foundation