The annual One Huge Night Gala in Los Angeles on September 16, 2024, was a heartwarming and uplifting event held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The evening featured the introduction of two transplant survivors to their life-saving donors, as well as the presentation of the prestigious Steven Bochco Award in memory of the famed director.
The event also celebrated the 20-year partnership of Gift of Life with Taglit Birthright Israel, and the 500th transplant completed through that program. Both philanthropist Dr. Miriam Adelson and entertainer Montana Tucker made presentations – please click here to read full coverage.
Gift of Life’s mission is never clearer than when we have the opportunity to show supporters the incredible results of their monetary contributions. This gala featured two introductions of heroic transplant donors to their determined and grateful recipients and their families.
(L-R) Leukemia survivor Mark Josephson, his stem cell donor Jacob Isrow, and Birthright Israel Foundation Chairman of the Board Philip de Toledo.
After seeing a compelling presentation about Gift of Life’s mission to save lives, Jacob Isrow joined the registry during his Birthright trip in 2022. A father’s friend had passed away from blood cancer while awaiting a transplant, so he understood the urgent importance of being on the registry. Eight months after swabbing, Jacob learned he was a donor match for a man in his 60s battling acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).
“I was surprised as it had only been a few months,” said Jacob. “I was also excited that I would be able to help someone.” Jacob is now 21 years old, and a biomedical engineering student at the University of California, Berkeley.
His recipient, 62-year-old Mark Josephson, is a resident of New Jersey. He went in for some medical tests after feeling unusually run down during a family vacation and received the shocking diagnosis of AML. A stem cell transplant was his best option for recovery.
Although Marc’s brother was a perfect match for him, doctors recommended a transplant from a younger donor who also matched him. This donor turned out to be Jacob.
“My doctors preferred to have a younger match with more robust stem cells, ‘ideally a 19-year-old surfer’ they told me,” said Mark. “We little suspected that my donor would be a 20-year-old who spends his free time surfing!”
The two were welcomed to the stage and introduced by Philip de Toledo, Chairman of the Board of the Birthright Israel Foundation. The two men hugged joyfully to the sound of cheers and applause from event attendees.
“I’m lucky, fortunate, and thankful more than I can express,” said Mark. “Jacob is this amazing, awesome young man. A few days ago, I was on my paddleboard and that’s one of the things I can do now because of him. I wouldn’t be doing anything without Jacob, and Birthright, and Gift of Life – thank you”
“I’m very grateful that you’re healthy and here today,” said Jacob. “Life is measured by the impact you have on the people around you, helping others and being compassionate. This has been a significant experience, and Gift of Life made it so easy for me to donate.”
(L-R) Jackson Kobernat, Robert Kobernat, Baelynn Kobernat, Ashley Kobernat, Isla Kobernat (recipient) and Jason Tornes (stem cell donor).
Gala chairs Alexis and Jon Waterman were thrilled to take the stage again this year to introduce another donor to the beautiful and spirited child whose life he saved, and her loving parents.
Isla Kobernat was born in November 2022, but during routine tests for newborns, it was discovered that she was born without an immune system, a condition called Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disorder. With no immune system, Isla could easily contract an infection that would not harm most people but could quickly end her young life.
Her parents Ashley and Rob learned that she had a strong chance of living a normal life if she could receive a stem cell transplant from a matching donor. All their family members were tested, but none of them were a close enough match for a transplant, and time was running out.
To have the best chance of survival, Isla would need a transplant before she was three-and-a-half months old. Her two siblings stayed at home, while her parents took turns staying with her in the hospital.
Then, wonderful news: a matching donor was found in Gift of Life’s registry and the transplant could go forward.
Jason Tornes, a 24-year-old Medical Assistant from Dayton, Ohio, had joined the registry as an undergraduate at the University of Dayton when the Alpha Epsilon Delta pre-med honor society invited Gift of Life to present at a meeting.
“I joined the registry because it was an opportunity to do something similar to donating blood and help someone – it was a no-brainer,” said Jason. “But when you realize the sheer numbers involved, to actually be chosen to help someone, and then be standing here with them a year-and-a-half later, this is something really special.”
“Jason, we really can’t thank you enough, there are no works for the gift you have given us,” said Ashley. “It’s probably hard to understand, but my daughter wouldn’t be here without you and without Gift of Life – thank you!”
(L-R) Steven Bochco award winner Tommy Hartman, Jesse Bochco, and Sean Flanagan.
Gift of Life and the family of famed television producer and writer, Steven Bochco z”l, present the Steven Bochco Award annually to a Gift of Life volunteer, donor, or recipient who has creatively used their vision, innovation and personal story to educate the public about the need for donors to join the registry and further Gift of Life’s mission.
Television director and film producer Jesse Bochco, son of Steven Bochco z"l, and his step-brother Hollywood director Sean Flanagan, took the stage to announce this year’s award winner. After a video about the life, creative works, and enduring influence on the entertainment industry of Steven Bochco, they presented Tommy Hartman with the award.
Tommy joined Gift of Life’s Campus Ambassador Program (CAP) in 2022 as a freshman at Indiana University in the pre-med program.
“When I met my fellow Gift of Life CAPs in 2022, I knew we had the chance to do amazing things,” said Tommy. “That first fall we finished the year with 1,400 new members in the registry. The original goal assigned to our team had been to swab 500 people, but our team of CAPs crushed it!”
In just two years, Tommy has swabbed more than 10,000 new donors to join the registry – the first Campus Ambassador to ever reach that number. So far, 169 matches for patients have been found, resulting in 12 completed, life-saving transplants. He has also recruited 40 more Campus Ambassadors and additional volunteers to help run drives.
“With each year, the CAP program grows exponentially,” said Tommy. “It will not be long before every college student learns about the program and takes the steps to save a life.”
Photo Gallery: Click here to view event photos.
Thank you to everyone who attended One Huge Night Los Angeles. We deeply appreciate your support for our mission: to ensure that every person in need of a blood stem cell or marrow donor, can find one at the time they are needed.