Every month of May finds the blossoming jacaranda trees purpling the landscape of Los Angeles.
And every month of May, Nancy Davis hosts her Race to Erase MS galas, which, over these past 24 years, has raised $50 million from the events she masterfully organizes. They are meticulously planned, and, frankly, with her gung-ho smarts, we would not be surprised if she commandeered a studio.
The Race to Erase MS came about when Nancy herself was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In no way deterred, she stood tall and vowed defensively to seek a cure. Which, as she proudly believes, is forthcoming, considering the “happening” research over the years.
Nancy’s a devoted wife to investment banker Ken Rickel, a devoted mother to sons Brandon and Jason, who has turned a page (Jason’s slimmed down to an athletic physique), and mom to gorgeous twin daughters Isabaella and Mariella, who’ll be bat mitzvahed come autumn.
Nancy’s a loving daughter to her philanthropic mom Barbara Davis, who has raised megamillions with her legendary decades-long Carousel Ball. We attended her very first dinner, flying to Denver with Lucille Ball and Gary Morton.
Dad is the late oil and real estate mogul Marvin Davis. The Davises youngest daughter Dana had been diagnosed as a diabetic.
A pacesetting dynamo, Barbara’s given her energies and high intelligence to fund medical research. A hospital bearing her name in Denver welcomes young patients from around the world.
Last week’s Race to Erase MS at The Beverly Hilton honored Jamie-Lynn Sigler, and featured a rousing concert from the rock group Chicago that drew standing ovations from the jump-for-joy crowd. The gala added $l.6 million for contributed research by the forever-grateful MS medical community that bows to Nancy as their guardian angel.
On the Saturday after the Friday night event, Nancy schedules seminars with the leading experts who welcome the public, gratis, to participate.
Now, about coincidences.
The morning when the new issue of People Magazine arrived, we were smitten with its cover of U.K. Princess Charlotte on her second birthday. Charlotte being the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — Prince Will and Princess Kate, who Will acknowledges as Catherine.
That AM we received an e-mail from longtime friend Wendy Goldberg, after asking for pictures of her grandchildren.
This candid snapshot of Wendy’s five beautiful grandchildren won our heart.
We decreed they were our Beverly Hills royals.
Prince Vincent Mirisch, 9, is the son of our Beverly Hills councilman John Mirisch.
Princesses Cecilia Jean, 5, and Josephine, 2, whose mom is Amanda Goldberg and Dad is WME agent Phil Raskin. Amanda’s dad is the renowned producer Leonard Goldberg (Blue Bloods), who’s wed to Wendy.
Princesses Sophie, 7, anda Grace, 10. are the issue of producer Richard Mirisch. John and Richard are Wendy’s sons.
Folks, we are looking at good parenting and the future, with a blessed promise of hope from our young royals creating their winning tomorrows.
____________________
Washington reports that the unemployment rate dropped to 4.4 percent in April, and that the illegal border crossings are now down to 76 percent. Meanwhile, snake bites increased 40 percent.