The annual One Huge Night Gala in Los Angeles on October 27, 2025, returned to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel for an uplifting evening in support of our mission. The event 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 Emmy-winning television writer and producer.
Gift of Life's Founder and CEO Jay Feinberg was proud to receive the Certificate of Commendation for the organization,presented on behalf of the Beverly Hills City Council by the Honorable Dr. Sharona Nazarian, Mayor of Beverly Hills, (pictured above) in recognition of the organization’s ongoing dedication to finding a donor for every patient in need.
The highlights of the evening were the heartfelt introductions of transplant survivors to the Gift of Life donors whose transplants had helped them recover from life-threatening diseases. As donors and recipients are required to remain anonymous for the first year, these first meetings are always long-awaited, emotional events.
(L-R) Miles and Stephanie Gearin, transplant recipient Logan, and donor Orion McLain.
Nothing makes the meaning of Gift of Life’s mission clearer than when we introduce a heroic donor to their incredible transplant recipient. Longtime Gift of Life supporters Melissa Deutsch and Jill Fink were given the honor of introducing marrow donor Orion McLain, 24, to his 3-year-old recipient Logan Gearin and his family.
Melissa and Jill welcomed Logan’s family to the stage and showed a video outlining Orion’s donation story.
When he was an undergraduate computer engineering major at the University of Massachusetts, Orion’s Delta Sigma Phi fraternity brother – a nursing major – urged him to visit the College of Nursing’s donor drive for Gift of Life and swab his cheek.
Less than a year after joining the registry, Orion found out he had matched a patient in need, a toddler battling Wiscott-Aldrich syndrome, an inherited immune disorder.
“I was really excited about the match and knew I had an impactful decision to make,” said Orion. “After the process was explained to me, I was confident I wanted to do this because of how significant it would be for the recipient.”
Young Logan, who is now three, was diagnosed shortly after birth and has an older brother, Easton, who shares the condition and has had a successful bone marrow transplant.
“We are so thankful and incredibly touched that Orion would be so selfless and give such an amazing gift of someone he didn’t know,” said Logan’s mother, Stephanie. “We are amazed at modern medicine and thankful for our donor, all the doctors, and Gift of Life.”
Orion donated marrow, which is donated in an outpatient surgical procedure, although today these make up only 5% of donations, primarily for babies and children. About 95% of transplants are now collected as peripheral blood stem cells from the donor’s arm.
(L-R) Gift of Life supporters Jill Fink and Melissa Deutsch were recognized for their donor recruitment success.
After introducing Logan and his family to Orion, Melissa and Jill were surprised and delighted when four donors – Silas Epstein, Ben Furze, Lucas Smith and Natalie Coughlin –shared their stories of becoming donors after they were invited to join the registry at drives held by the two women. Melissa and Jill have represented Gift of Life at college campuses, law firms, talent agencies, real estate firms and other organizations as they explained the mission and invited new donors to join. Together, their efforts have swabbed more than 5,500 people, resulting in 170 matches for patients and 14 successfully completed transplants.
(L-R) Leukemia survivor Austin Mallis with his stem cell transplant donor Daniel Kamerman-Glick.
Montana Tucker, who served as the event emcee, was thrilled for the opportunity to introduce stem cell donor Daniel Kamerman-Glik, 28, who joined the registry on his Birthright trip, to his recipient, leukemia survivor Austin Mallis, 48, a husband and father of two from Los Angeles.
Austin was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia in early 2022 after experiencing rashes, night sweats, severe oxygen shortage and an inability to exercise even at his basic capabilities. He was preparing to participate in the Maccabee Games in Israel, but his wife suggested he visit a doctor to find out why he was having difficulty. After a blood test, he was told to go to the hospital immediately.
“I was scared when they said it was leukemia,” said Austin. “I have a wife and two children, and kept wondering ‘Why me?’ I was relieved to learn there was an existing process to achieve remission and recovery.”
Although it was a difficult time for Austin, his wife Dorothy, and their two girls, the family was relieved and thankful when his donor was located in Gift of Life’s registry.
“We know there are good people out there willing to sacrifice to help others,” said Austin. “I want Daniel to know how important he is in my being able to continue to live, to be a husband, parent, brother, and friend, and let me continue to be someone who fought through a condition I never imagined would affect me.”
For his part, Daniel found that meeting Austin was an indescribable experience.
“It’s crazy to be here and see Austin for the first time,” he said. “He has my stem cells inside of him, thanks to Gift of Life. Austin is here – he’s with us today! Donating is a miraculous opportunity. I could not be happier or grateful and simply do not have enough words for the emotions I’m feeling.”
(L-R) Steven Bochco award winner Zach Warter 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.
Hollywood director Sean Flanagan, Bochco’s stepson, 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 Gift of Life Campus Ambassador Zachary Warter with the award.
Zach’s involvement with Gift of Life began when he was just a child. His father, Dr. Oren Warter, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2014, but did not survive. The family went on to fundraise in his memory for the organization for several years, but in 2018, another member of the family, Zach’s 17-year-old brother Ryan, passed away suddenly from complications of a chronic illness.
The family then founded the Warter Strong Foundation, Inc., in honor of both Oren and Ryan, and today continues to support Gift of Life along with other causes. Through the Warter Strong Donor Circle, the family has raised nearly $66,000, added more than 3,100 donors and facilitated 7 transplants.
As he grew older, Zach took on running donor recruitment drives at his high school as a senior. Then, when he pursued his education at Tulane University, he joined the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity – longstanding partners with Gift of Life – and ran a big swabbing drive every spring during his time at the university.
On his own, Zach has added more than 700 donors to the registry, resulting in 23 matches and one completed transplant.
Thank you to social media activist, dancer and singer Montana Tucker, who served as the Master of Ceremonies, and Shanee Zamir, an award-winning Israeli American soprano, who provided entertainment.