Champions to Cure Duchenne Newport Beach Gala to feature food from local celebrity chef Jason Quinn and honor Sage Hill football coach J.R. Tolver

Special Guest: 2011 NFL Super Bowl Champion Clay Matthews III

CureDuchenne, a nonprofit that raises awareness and funds research to cure Duchenne muscular dystrophy, will host its 2012 Champions to CureDuchenne Newport Beach Gala on Saturday, February 11 at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort. Orange County’s most prominent business and community leaders will be treated to a special dinner and wine pairing menu designed by Jason Quinn, owner and chef of the Playground Restaurant. Quinn was recently featured on The Food Network, winning one of its most popular challenges.

CureDuchenne will recognize California native, former USC football player and 2011 NFL Super Bowl Champion Clay Matthews III for his support of CureDuchenne at the gala. Matthews has helped increase awareness of Duchenne, a devastating muscle disease that impacts 1 in 3,500 boys, by bringing international attention to the efforts of CureDuchenne and the critical research it funds.

CureDuchenne will also honor J.R. Tolver, head coach of the Sage Hill School football team and former NFL football player, for the example he sets for Sage Hill students and compassion for children with disabilities.

“Coach Tolver enlisted my son Hawken to be the statistician for the Sage Hill football team,” said Debra Miller, founder and CEO of CureDuchenne. “Coach Tolver sets an example that students with disabilities can be included in high school sports and be part of a team.”

Wells Fargo is a title sponsor and PIMCO is a supporting sponsor of the Champions to CureDuchenne Newport Beach Gala. Tables for 10 are $2,500 and individual tickets are $250. They may be purchased by registering at www.cureduchenne.org or by calling CureDuchenne at 949-872-2552.

CureDuchenne, a national nonprofit organization located in Newport Beach, Calif., is gaining international attention for its efforts to raise funds and awareness for Duchenne – a devastating and lethal muscle disease in children. One in every 3,500 male births results in a child being afflicted with the disease. More than 24,000 boys are living with the disease in the United States alone, and most will not survive their mid-20s.

The funds CureDuchenne raises support the most promising research projects aimed at treating and curing the disease with the help of its distinguished panel of Scientific Advisors from around the world. To date, seven research projects have made their way into human clinical trials with support from CureDuchenne. This accelerated push to move research from the lab into clinical trials could save the lives of those afflicted and give them hope for halting the progress of the disease. Very few health-related nonprofits have been as successful in being a catalyst for human clinical trials.