“Blingo to CureDuchenne” Event to Raise Funds to Find a Cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

PHILADELPHIA, March 19, 2014 – CureDuchenne, a nonprofit that raises awareness and funds research to find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, will host its first Blingo to CureDuchenne event on May 3 at the Hyatt Regency in Philadelphia. Blingo is an elegant evening of bingo and bling with celebrity guests to raise funds to find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The event will honor local entrepreneurs and philanthropists Wayne and Kimberly Kimmel, and will include Maria Papadakis of Comcast SportsNet and Philly.com as MC. Appearances will include former Philadelphia Mayor and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell; model Cory Wade Hindorff from cycle 20 of America’s Next Top Model; CNN on-air health expert Dr. Jennifer Caudle; The Preston and Steve Show’s Marisa Magnatta; and The Monday Morning Quarterback’s Andrew Brandt. Providing the night’s entertainment will be DJ Zeke Thomas and singer-songwriter Sarah Burgess, a contestant on American Idol season 6, whose 7-year-old brother lives with Duchenne.

Blingo to CureDuchenne is presented by Bernie Robbins Jewelers who will provide exquisite jewelry for display and auction at the event. “We are thrilled to partner with CureDuchenne for this inaugural event and help support this worthy cause. We hope that the special ‘bling’ from Bernie Robbins Jewelers will result in raising significant funds that will help find a cure for this unfortunate disease,” said Harvey Rovinsky, co-owner and president of Bernie Robbins Jewelers. Guests will arrive in cocktail attire, play bingo with celebrity callers, win amazing prizes, enjoy delicious food and cocktails at the Hyatt Regency, bid on auction items and learn more about Duchenne.

Duchenne is a progressive muscle-wasting disease that impacts 1 in 3,500 boys. Boys are usually diagnosed by 5 and confined to a wheelchair by 12. Most don’t survive past their mid-20s. Currently, there is no approved treatment for Duchenne. All proceeds from Blingo will support the most promising research projects aimed at treating and curing Duchenne.

“Science is getting closer to finding a cure for this devastating disease that impacts my son and more than 300,000 other amazing boys worldwide,” said Philadelphia resident Manu Gambhir, a Duchenne parent and the chair of Blingo to CureDuchenne. “CureDuchenne is leading the charge to fund crucial research and drug development to find treatments and a cure for Duchenne to help save this generation of those impacted with Duchenne.”  

CureDuchenne will honor Wayne and Kimberly Kimmel for their commitment and dedication to the Philadelphia community. Wayne is an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and philanthropist. He is recognized as one of the “Top Innovators” in the Philadelphia region and one of “Philly’s People to Watch” by Philadelphia magazine.

Wayne is the managing partner of SeventySix Capital, treasurer and board member of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and the Board of Trustees of Jewish Federations of North America. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Einstein Healthcare Network and is the chairman of its Development Committee. Wayne is also on the advisory board of the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and the National Advisory Council for Widener University School of Law.  He is a trustee of the Board of the Blue-Gold Delaware High School Basketball All-Star game benefiting Best Buddies Delaware.

Kimberly is the co-founder of Paper Hearts, a stationery and invitation company. She serves on the board of Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, is a member of the Perelman Jewish Day School’s Development Committee and is Lion of Judah member of Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. She also served on the National Board of Directors of the Sigma Delta Tau Foundation.

“CureDuchenne is celebrating 10 years of successfully advancing Duchenne research,” said Debra Miller, founder and CEO of CureDuchenne. “We identify and fund the most innovative therapies with the goal of translating them to clinical trials as quickly as possible. CureDuchenne has funded seven research projects that have advanced into human clinical trials. We will continue to fund research until there is a cure for all boys with Duchenne.” 

Blingo to CureDuchenne is presented by Bernie Robbins and Thrive Gaming LLC. Additional sponsors include Drexel University, Jefferson Hospital, Spalding Automotive Inc., Moss Rehab and special community partner Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Tickets to this not-to-be missed event can be purchased at www.cureduchenne.org/blingo. For more information, interviews or press passes to the event, please contact Alexander Kacala at alex@skaibluemedia.com or 215-625-7988. To be a sponsor, please contact Jesse Rendell at jesse@rendellmgmt.com or 215-432-6415.

Follow CureDuchenne on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

About CureDuchenne                   
CureDuchenne is a national nonprofit organization located in Newport Beach, Calif., dedicated to finding a cure for Duchenne, the most common and most lethal form of muscular dystrophy. As the leading genetic killer of young boys, Duchenne affects more than 300,000 boys worldwide. CureDuchenne has garnered international attention for its efforts to raise funds and awareness for Duchenne through venture philanthropy. With the help of CureDuchenne’s distinguished international panel of Scientific Advisors, funds raised by CureDuchenne support the most promising research aimed at treating and curing Duchenne. To date, seven CureDuchenne research projects have made their way into human clinical trials – a unique accomplishment as few health-related nonprofits have been as successful in being a catalyst for human clinical trials.

About Bernie Robbins Jewelers

Celebrating more than 50 years, Bernie Robbins Jewelers is the region’s leading luxury jeweler. Owners Harvey and Maddy Rovinsky travel around the world to discover and debut exclusive diamonds, jewelry and watches.  With four locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey (Radnor and Newtown in PA; Somers Point and  Marlton in NJ), Bernie Robbins Jewelers has received countless “Best Of” accolades and attracts the world’s foremost designers to its stores for personal appearances, trunk shows, special co-hosted dinners and fashion shows.  For more information, please visit www.bernierobbins.com or “Like” us on Facebook – www.facebook.com/BernieRobbinsJewelers.

About Thrive Gaming

Thrive Gaming is a full service gaming advisory firm specializing in regulated and social casino gaming, based in Philadelphia. Thrive Gaming serves social and real money casino gaming companies, casino operators and government gaming agencies involved in iGaming. Thrive Gaming has been deeply involved in the newly regulated US iGaming market. Its principals have 20 plus years of experience in online real money gaming and social casino industry which includes building, operating and selling online casinos.

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