The Rick Weiss Humanitarian Awards Gala

Last night I attended the 9th Annual Rick Weiss Humanitarian Awards Gala in Palm Springs. The Rick Weiss Humanitarian Award honors individuals whose actions make the world a better place. The annual black-tie gala raises money for charities in Palm Springs and Southern California, including Project New Hope, Desert AIDS Project, the American Heart Association, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and others. Palm Springs is a very philanthropic community; at last night's event alone we raised over $3 million dollars. Photo above left: Honoree William Shatner (center) with daughter Leslie Walker (l) and wife Elizabeth (r).

This year's honorees were William Shatner, Sharon & Kelly Stone, and The Screen Actor's Guild Foundation. Sharon Stone is an Oscar nominee for "Casino", but is best known for playing a sexy murder suspect in "Basic Instinct". Bill Shatner's 50-year career includes playing the legendary Star Trek Captain James T. Kirk, policeman T.J. Hooker and currently for his Emmy Award-winning role on "Boston Legal."

Both Bill Shatner and Sharon Stone have a philanthropic side, for which they were honored by a crowd of over 1,200 people at the black tie gala event. The Screen Actors Guild's SAG Foundation was also honored for it's assistance to actors in need. Actress JoBeth Williams presented the award to SAG Foundation Executive Director Marcia Smith. Other SAG Foundation board members attending included actors Mitchell Ryan, Pamela Reed, and a video message from James Cromwell. There was a special guest appearance by actress Susan Tyrell (Oscar nominee for "Fat City"). She was there to speak in support of the SAG Foundation. She told the story that six days after learning she had a blood disorder, both of her legs were amputated. In addition to catastrophic medical bills, she became depressed, but the SAG Foundation came to her rescue. It was a moving story and quite interesting.

Above left: Sharon Stone, above right: sisters Kelly and Sharon Stone

Above left: Entertainment Tonight host and Palm Springs resident Mary Hart, Above Right: Actress JoBeth Williams and event sponsor Jim Casey of Integrated Wealth Management

Above: Two very powerful US Congresswomen from Palm Springs: Congresswoman Mary Bono and Senator Barbara Boxer

Above left: Guests pose during the Silent Auction held prior to the dinner. Above right: Talk Show hostess: Miss Joey English (r) and with her daughter Kelli, "Baywatch" Actress.

Above left: Each guest received a nicely wrapped Baccarat crystal vase. Above right: Silent Auction hall prior to the dinner and Awards Ceremony.
-Rick Rockhill