Countdown to a Cure ’14 – THANK YOU from NephCure! December 18, 2014 by Jessica Martin Another Countdown to a Cure has come and gone, but CDTAC 2014 was anything but ordinary. From the beautiful scenery of New York City’s Chelsea Piers, to the heartfelt dedication of NephCure’s inaugural Humanitarian of the Year award to Michael Levine, Countdown to a Cure 2014 was a night to remember. The real success of Countdown , however, has always been measured by the generosity of many hundreds in attendance who consistently show support for NephCure in our quest to accelerate research to find better treatments and a cure. Auction bidders were excited, Fund a Cure donations exceeded expectations and along with plenty of paddle raising, many participated in a game of “Heads or Tails,” willing to get a little silly for the cause. Those of us at NephCure are incredibly grateful, and we would never be able to express our gratitude enough. There are so many people, without whom, this night would not have been so successful. First, we would like to express heartfelt appreciation to Committee co-chairs Rich Genatt and Michael Levine. Michael and Rich are persistence personified, and their leadership of our Countdown committee is unmatched. Speaking of the Committee, a very special thanks to every member of our Countdown committee for your unique and invaluable contributions. Another thank you to the Milligan Family, our 2014 Fund a Cure Honorees. Jennifer and Jarrett, your unwavering determination to spread awareness and your passion for finding a cure for all those affected by Nephrotic Syndrome is the picture of strength and courage in the face of adversity. Congratulations! Joining us in kicking off the evening was Michelle Williams, Grammy award winning singing sensation and host of Oxygen’s Fix My Choir. Michelle graciously took the stage to welcome everyone in attendance. NephCure would like to thank Ms. Williams and congratulate her on the release of her fourth album, Journey to Freedom, as well as her nomination for a Stellar Music Award. We are thrilled to continue to work with Ms. Williams as a future Ambassador for NephCure. NephCure would also like to thank special guest Cuba Gooding Jr. The Oscar® award winning actor took the stage in supreme fashion and delivered a wonderfully vibrant dedication to Michael Levine, presenting him with his Humanitarian of the Year award with passion and enthusiasm. Thank you for your support of NephCure, Mr. Gooding, and best wishes and congratulations on both the upcoming release of Paramount Picture’s “Selma,” and your role as O.J. Simpson in FX’s American Crime Story. Finally, thanks to YOU. To each of you reading this who’ve decided to STAND UP & BE COUNTED to fight FSGS and Nephrotic Syndrome. We can’t do this alone. We need you, we’re grateful for you, we thank you. Watch Videos Here: [huge_it_videogallery id=”3″]