Northwell Initiative to Cure Epilepsy (NICE) Virtual Gala

THANK YOU to everyone who joined us on December 8th
to support those living with epilepsy and seizures. 

If you haven't already made a gift to support NICE and its program of work for 2021, 
you can still make a 100% tax-deductible donation on the Northwell Health Foundation website. 

Watch the Gala

Pre-Show Entertainment

Before the Gala, viewers were invited to enjoy the music of Andrew Latona and Alex Hamburger while watching a slideshow of images highlighting event sponsors and showcasing members of the Northwell Health neurology program staff.

2020 NICE Virtual Gala

Hosted by WPIX11 Anchor and Reporter Kirstin Cole, this special program included patient testimonials, physician updates, and musical entertainment by Steinway Artist and Jazz Pianist Pete Malinverni. The NICE Virtual Gala kicked off the holiday season with a festive event for Northwell Health's neurology patients, family, and friends.

Due to technical difficulties, the audio for a portion of Kirstin Cole's opening remarks is missing from this recording.  Scroll down to see a written summary of the opening comments.

A summary of the missing audio (0:15 - 4:15)

Hello and welcome to the 2020 NICE Virtual Gala!   My name is Kirstin Cole and I am thrilled to be your host for the evening.

Though we wish we could all be together in person, one of the benefits of watching from home is that you can kick back, put your feet up, have a cocktail, and enjoy the event in total comfort.  And trust me, we have some great moments packed into the next 45 minutes!

Not only is tonight a fun kick-off to the holiday season - with some powerful remarks and more great music - it is also an important opportunity to raise critically needed funds for work that lies ahead in the new year.

Established in 2017, the Northwell Initiative to Cure Epilepsy improves the lives of people living with epilepsy and seizures by advocating for patients - educating patients and their families - and conducting groundbreaking research.

Epilepsy is one of the world's most common neurological disorders.  More than 70 million people live with seizures, the majority are young people and older adults.  Gifts to NICE help fund the work of Northwell's epilepsy care team - from nurses to neurosurgeons - and the researchers who are developing the techniques and cures that will improve the lives of those who are suffering. So much more needs to be done.

No one could have guessed that the funds raised at last year's gala would help build the largest known database about COVID's impact on epilepsy patients.   Or that, overnight, epilepsy education programs would need to transition from physical to virtual events because we could no longer gather in the same room.  The pandemic rocked our world, but some of the surprises had silver linings.   Dr. Kuzniecky will tell you more about that in just a few minutes.

You can help Northwell remain laser-focused on serving the needs of the epilepsy community by making a 100% tax-deductible gift tonight.

Dialogue continues in video ...