Celebrity News June 06, 2011
Jane Fonda Honored at UCLA Longevity Center Icon Award
Actress Jane Fonda was touted for her environmental, human rights and health efforts, as well as her work in women's empowerment and other issues, at the UCLA Longevity Center Icon Awards Saturday.
"American Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez presented Fonda the award, saying, "You're busy like crazy. I thought I was busy!"
On ascending the podium at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Fonda talked of the "rectangularization" of aging, replacing the notion that "you're born, you peak at midlife and then you decline" with a long, healthy life. She then ticked off reasons that life improves with age, among them, "You know where the tiger is hiding; you don't have to keep looking for it in the bush."
Awards also went to philanthropist and entrepreneur James Collins and the Jules Stein Eye Institute's Founding Director, Dr. Bradley Straatsma.
And last Thursday, philanthropist Wallis Annenberg accepted the Nancy M. Daly Founder's Award at the United Friends of the Children's Brass Ring Gala and announced a $500,000 pledge to the organization.
Combined with another $240,000 from an auction offering, among other items, tickets to both "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and the premiere of the final "Harry Potter" movie, UFC's gala ended up raising $2 million to help foster youth transition into successful adult lives.
Kimberly Marteau Emerson and Ande Rosenblum co-chaired the dinner, which also honored Phil Kent, CEO of the Turner Broadcasting System.
