Tommy & Thalia Mottola Honored at 7th Annual FedEx/St. Jude Angels & Stars Gala

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital celebrated its 7th annual FedEx/St. Jude Angels & Stars Gala by honoring Tommy and Thalia Mottola at the InterContinental Hotel in Miami. Lili Estefan, co-host of the popular Univision show El Gordo y La Flaca presented Tommy and Thalia with the 2009 Al-Rashid Hope Award for their commitment to children’s causes and for their contributions to the entertainment industry.

More than 550 guests, including St. Jude patients and television and music industry celebrities, walked the red carpet. For the 7th year, model and television personality Daisy Fuentes served as hostess of the gala and welcomed celebrities and athletes such as Sammy Sosa, Raul de Molina, Ana Maria Canseco, Romero Britto, Felipe Viel, Rodner Figueroa, Catherine Siachoque, and Miguel Varoni.

Guests not only enjoyed an elegant dinner and silent auction, but attendees were treated to live performances by some of the hottest Latin music stars including Mexican singer Cristian Castro, Cuban singer Willy Chirino, Colombian songstress Fanny Lu and pianist and composer Arthur Hanlon. The live auction included exclusive items such as an opportunity to join Thalia at a music video shoot, vacation packages, tickets to the Late Show with Jimmy Kimmel in Los Angeles, and an extravagant European cruise.

Since 2002, the FedEx/St. Jude Angels & Stars Gala has raised more than $1.6 million in support of the groundbreaking research and lifesaving care provided by St. Jude for children from across the country and around the world. This includes the St. Jude International Outreach Program which has dramatically increased the survival rates for children with cancer across the world. This program has partnered with clinics in more than 15 countries including Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Honduras, Chile and Brazil.

Gala sponsors include FedEx Express, Pollo Campero, The Gutierrez Family, International Dermatology, VISA International, Anthony R. Abraham Foundation, Tony & Sandy Tamer, Fahad Al-Rashid The “M” Point, ARASCAPE Inc., Mercedes Benz of Miami, Universal Music Latino, Eventus, Amna Healthcare, Univision Radio, Stephen James Associates, Office of the Mayor of Miami-Dade County, AT&T, Leon Medical Center, Inktel Direct, DDB, MillerCoors, Fiji Water, Car Factory Outlet, cocktails courtesy of Grey Goose Vodka, Carnival, Social Affairs Magazine, AirTran, Miami Parking Authority and Noiseworks Productions.