SAVE THE DATE

    Bette Midler will perform in concert on Tuesday, June 20, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in a benefit gala to raise funds for multiple sclerosis (MS) research at UMDNJ. Actor Tony Randall and television talk show host Montel Williams, who was diagnosed with MS a year ago, will host the event.

    This is the second "Musical Moments for MS." The first, held in 1998, raised $2 million to establish an endowed chair in multiple sclerosis research at the Neurological Institute of New Jersey at UMDNJ. Stuart Cook, MD, president of the University and an internationally renowned multiple sclerosis clinician and researcher, was named to the Ruth Dunietz Kushner and Michael J. Serwitz chair for multiple sclerosis research last September at UMDNJ's annual University Day.

    Murray and Lee Kushner of Livingston, founding chairs of "Musical Moments for MS," are also heading up the second gala. Governor Christine Todd Whitman is the honorary chair.

    Excellence awards will be given to three individuals at this year's event: an artistic excellence award to Montel Williams for his commitment to inspiring and motivating people to excel at what they do; a corporate excellence award to Robert N. Wilson, vice chairman of Johnson & Johnson; and a medical excellence award to Dr. Donald W. Nicholson, senior director at Merck Frosst Canada & Co, for research related to multiple sclerosis.

    Information about the gala, including how to purchase tickets, is available on the Foundation of UMDNJ's Web site (www.umdnj.edu/foundation/).