Event Honoring Gail Bernstein and Noel Ryan Raises More Than $500,000 for National Jewish Health

Los Angeles Professional Services Ball Benefits the Leading Respiratory Hospital in the Nation

More than 450 guests filled the ballroom at the Langham Huntington in Pasadena to honor Gail Bernstein, of PNC Business Credit, and Noel Ryan, of Houlihan Lokey, on June 3 at the Los Angeles Professional Services Black & White Ball. The annual event raised $510,000 to benefit National Jewish Health in Denver. 
 

The Los Angeles professional services industry has gathered for a dinner to support National Jewish Health and honor members of their profession since the early 1960s. The funds raised at the Black & White Ball go toward the hospital’s mission to care, to discover and to educate.

“For decades, National Jewish Health has grown, made groundbreaking discoveries and improved patient care – not only for the people who travel to the main campus in Denver, but also for people with lung, heart, immune and related disease worldwide,” said Dinner Chair and National Jewish Health National Trustee Robert Ezra, of Freeman, Freeman & Smiley LLP. “That’s in part because of the contributions from the Los Angeles Professional Services.”

Bernstein and Ryan received the National Jewish Health Humanitarian Award, which is given to individuals across the country who have made significant civic and charitable contributions to their communities and professions.

Albert Sun, of East West Bank, congratulated Ryan on the award saying, “You exemplify everything National Jewish Health stands for, and in all the time I’ve known you, like National Jewish Health, you never say no.”

Ryan, who visited the hospital in February, remarked that he was humbled by the award and by joining the prestigious group of previous Humanitarian Award honorees.

“National Jewish Health focuses in on asthma and allergies. As a result, they have attracted world-class talent and continue to try to improve upon that,” Ryan said.

Bernstein also received accolades for her influence on the industry and her community. Long-time friend Nehama Jacobs, of PNC Business Credit, commended Bernstein for climbing the corporate ladder at a time when it wasn’t easy for women to gain leadership positions.

“I think it is incumbent of us to make the world a better place,” Bernstein said. “My philosophy is that you should always give back.”

The evening included a live auction, which offered a dinner at Jonathan Club with a private performance by Martin Chalifour, principal concertmaster and violinist for the LA Philharmonic. Chalifour opened the Black & White Ball with a preview of the private performance. Other packages were a stay in Vail, Colorado, a yacht cruise, concert tickets to see Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, and passes to a “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” taping with access to the green room. The event also featured an antique and estate jewelry silent auction, opportunity drawing, and entertainment by Soulville.

Event leadership included Dinner Co-Chairs Robert Ezra; Ronald Friedman, of Marcum LLP; Robert K. Lewin, of CIT Commercial Services; and Debbie Steinberg. Honoree co-chairs were Vicky L. Balmot; William Kosis, of PNC Business Credit; and Scott Dunfrund, of Houlihan Lokey.

Top supporters of the event included Title Sponsors Houlihan Lokey and the Ryan family; Presenting Sponsors the Bernstein family and PNC Business Credit; Dessert Sponsor Rosenthal & Rosenthal; and Platinum Sponsors Avant Advisory Group, CIT, Enterprise Management Advisors, LLC, and Moss Adams LLP.

For more information about the event, please visit lapsdblackandwhiteball.com or contact Cathy Szyfer at 818.905.1300 or SzyferC@njhealth.org.