Nancy Reagan will be honored with the first “True Grit” Award at the John Wayne Cancer Institute Auxiliary’s (JWCIA) 21st Annual Odyssey Ball. Norman Lear will be presenting the award to Reagan, who is being honored for embodying “the American values that were characteristic of John Wayne and who ha[s] demonstrated through [her] body of work uncompromising integrity and commitment to the values of America.” Perhaps best known for her “Just Say No” campaign, Reagan has also worked with a myriad of charitable organizations as well as supporting POW’s and foster grandparents.
Rodeo champion, stuntman and Olympic gold medalist Dean Smith will receive the Special Service Award, nicknamed the “Duke.” This award is given “to people who have made extraordinary and lasting contributions to the fight against cancer or who have demonstrated a humanitarian spirit in the community.”
The Auxiliary has raised over $14 million dollars since it was founded in 1982.
The theme of this year’s ball is “Our Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys.” News anchor Colleen Williams is the host. It will be held on April 8, beginning at 6pm, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. For more information, call 310.829.8324 or go to www.jwci.org.
