UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation 'Taste for a Cure' Honors Showtime Networks President of Entertainment David Nevins

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., March 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation (JCCF) at UCLA hosts its 16th annual Taste for a Cure Friday, April 15, 2011 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. This year's event honors Showtime Networks President of Entertainment, David Nevins, with the Gil Nickel Humanitarian Award.  Event co-chairs are Jon Holman, Larry Maguire, Jay Sures and Dana Walden.  Award-winning actress Laura Linney will serve as Honorary Co-Chair.  Actress, singer and dancer Julianne Hough, star of the upcoming feature film, Footloose, and Broadway, television and film actor and singer Matthew Morrison, star of Glee, will perform.  Michael C. Hall, star and co-producer of the Showtime series Dexter, and Eric Stonestreet of Modern Family are expected to attend.

Taste for a Cure's unparalleled, luxury wine and food tasting reception will feature 15 wineries from Willamette Valley, Oregon's leading wine region, recognized as one of the premier Pinot Noir producing areas in the world.  The Napa Valley Wineries Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel and Dolce, long-time event supporters, will serve as honorary wine partners.  Outstanding Willamette Valley restaurants including JORY at The Allison Inn & Spa, Wildwood Restaurant, The Painted Lady, Lincoln Restaurant and Beaker & Flask will offer signature dishes. Since its inception, this event has featured the best in food, wine and entertainment in support of the fight against cancer.

"We look forward to recognizing David Nevins as our honoree," said Judith C. Gasson, Ph.D., Director, UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.  "David's commitment to putting the spotlight on the personal subject of cancer through The Big C and his dedication to philanthropy so aptly reflect the Gil Nickel Humanitarian Award." This award was created in memory of JCCF event supporter Gil Nickel, proprietor of Napa Valley's Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel and Dolce wineries, who lost a courageous battle against melanoma in October 2003.

Honoree David Nevins, President of Entertainment of Showtime Networks Inc., is responsible for developing, acquiring and supervising all aspects of programming for all Showtime Network channels.  The first projects greenlit by Nevins at Showtime include Homeland, House of Lies, Episodes and Shameless.  An Emmy® Award-winning producer and veteran network and studio programming executive, he served as President of Imagine Television from July 2002 until June 2010, where he oversaw development, production and acted as executive producer on all Imagine Television shows including Friday Night Lights, Arrested Development, Lie to Me, and Parenthood.  In addition, he oversaw production for the Emmy and Golden Globe® Award-winning series 24. Prior to joining Imagine, Nevins served as Executive Vice President, Programming, at Fox Broadcasting Company, where he oversaw all development and current programming for both comedy and drama series.

The JCCF, founded in 1945, is the single most important vehicle for raising private funds for cancer research at UCLA. UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC) is ranked among the nation's top 10 cancer centers by U.S. News & World Report.  The JCCC's dedicated researchers are recognized as international leaders in the discovery of new and better ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer.

For information on UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation, please visit www.cancer.ucla.edu. For tickets and information on Taste for a Cure, visit www.tasteforacure.com or call LPA Events at 310-201-5033. Individual tickets are $500 per person, sponsorships begin at $5,000.

SOURCE UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation