Robert De Niro will be honored at the Carousel of Hope Ball’s 40th anniversary gala on Oct. 6 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.
The biennial event, hosted by Barbara Davis, benefits the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, created after her daughter, Dana Davis, was diagnosed at age 7.
De Niro, a “longtime supporter,” will receive the Brass Ring Award for his philanthropy. Past recipients for the honor, which symbolizes finding the cure for childhood diabetes, include Hillary Clinton, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston and Halle Berry.
Davis describes her gratitude for the team that helps organize the ball: “We’ve had the same people truly since we’ve started. Jay Leno has been our emcee since day one. And I love him, he’s wonderful.” With help from David Foster, the musical director, and music chairmen Clive Davis and Quincy Jones, “I really make it very twinkly, very exciting” with performers, adds Davis. “And I try very hard not to have a boring moment.”
The black-tie galas have together raised more than $100 million for the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and clinical research at the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes.
