John Travolta and Kelly Preston were honored guests at the 27th annual Red Rose Ball held in Jacksonville, Florida on February 15. Their participation made the event the most successful one-day charity fundraiser in Jacksonville history netting $1.2 million for a new neonatal intensive care unit at St. Vincent’s Hospital.
The stars attended the event at the request of their attorney, Michael Ossi, whose entertainment law firm, Ossi, Najem & Rosario, is based in Jacksonville. Ossi served as the event’s honorary chair and his law partner, Lawrence Najem, served as co-chair.
“I’ve never known anyone more generous and philanthropic than John and Kelly,” says Ossi. “Both John and Kelly have a huge heart for children and children’s issues. They stayed at the event for nearly five hours greeting nearly every one of the 720 guests. The celebrities epitomize the very best in Hollywood; they offer their personal time and star power to help children.”
“Kelly and I were happy to support Mike and this event. Nothing is more important to us than the health and welfare of children,” says Travolta.
“Even more important than the seven figure success of the evening, is the number of lives of the tiniest infants that will be saved; the number of babies who will go home with Mom and Dad healthy; and the number of poor mothers who will have the best facility and technology available to anyone, anywhere,” says Scott Whalen, St. Vincent’s President & CEO.
