The Thirteenth Annual Food Allergy Ball

The Thirteenth Annual Food Allergy Ball, presented by the Food Allergy Initiative (FAI), takes place on Monday, December 6, 2010 at The Waldorf=Astoria. The evening’s proceeds will benefit FAI’s research, education, and public policy programs, aimed at finding a cure and raising awareness of life-threatening food allergies. Renowned chef/restaurateur Tom Colicchio, co-founder of Gramercy Tavern and creator of Craft Restaurants and ”˜wichcraft, will receive the FAI Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Colicchio is head judge on Bravo’s ’Top Chef’ and has received many accolades for his work, including the 2010 James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Chef. The Mount Sinai Hospital will be honored for its international leadership in food allergy research and treatment. Wayne E. Keathley, President & COO, will accept the award. The FAI Legacy Award will be presented to Kathy Franklin, a longtime advocate for the organization’s mission of research, education, and advocacy. Ms. Franklin has helped countless families navigate the challenges of living with potentially fatal food allergies. Julia Koch, Sharyn Mann and Todd Slotkin are the Gala Dinner Chairs. David Koch is the Corporate Dinner Chair. The festivities for this black-tie Gala start at 7:00 PM. Ticket prices are as follows: Tables are available for $50,000, $25,000 and $15,000, and individual tickets are available for $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000. The Food Allergy Initiative (FAI) is a national, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to finding a cure for food allergies, which affect more than 12 million Americans, including some 3 million children under the age of 18. Founded in 1998, FAI is the largest private source of funding for food allergy research. Since its inception, the organization has contributed more than $65 million toward research, clinical activities to improve diagnosis and treatment, public policy initiatives to increase federal funding for research, and educational programs to raise awareness among schools, health and child care workers, and members of the food service and hospitality industries. Please visit www.faiusa.org for additional information. For press information, contact Mitchell Manning Associates, LTD. at (212) 980-1711 or fax to (212) 980-1615. For Gala information contact the Food Allergy Initiative Benefit Headquarters at (212) 627-1000.