Stage, Screen and Television Star Debbie Reynolds to
Host ESCAPE Family Resource Center's
26th Annual Fundraising Event

Local and National celebrity personalities cook up a fiery feast at
Benihana to raise money for the education and prevention
of Houston-area child abuse.

WHAT:  With over 50 years of stage and onscreen appearances, and most recently acclaimed for her part as "Grace's" mother on the NBC sitcom "Will and Grace," Debbie Reynolds, will delight us at our 26th Annual Celebrity Chef Benefit.  The Native Texan will join Houston's top sports and media celebrities to wield the knife as Benihana chefs in support of the ESCAPE center, which has endeavored to educate and strengthen Houston-area families to prevent child abuse since 1983. 
 
In the mid fifties, Debbie Reynolds was one of Hollywood's most sought after female stars.  In 1959, she became one of the top ten box-office stars of the year.  In 1960, she signed a three year contract with ABC to produce a series of yearly television specials, entitled "A Date with Debbie."  She is known for her work as the voice of "Charlotte" in the 1973 version of "Charlotte's Web," the lead female role in "Singin' in the Rain," and for her highly successful exercise video entitled, "Do it Debbie's Way."  In November 2006, Debbie Reynolds received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from Chapman University in Orange, California.
 
Co-chairs Joan Schnitzer Levy and Gerald Franklin join Astro's announcer Milo Hamilton and special guest Debbie Reynolds to host the 26th annual event, which will again prove to be a wild and blazing success. Channel 13 anchors Tom Koch and Don Nelson will conduct the live auction.
           
It is no wonder this event has been so successful - with celebrity "chefs" donned in Benihana hats and hand-painted aprons from local children that show off their finest cooking abilities. The event is expected to raise more than $300,000.
 
WHEN:  Thursday, April 12, 2007
             1st Seating:                         6 p.m.
             Live and Silent Auction:        8 p.m
             2nd Seating:                        9 p.m.
                       
WHERE:    Benihana of Tokyo
                9707 Westheimer at Gessner
                Houston, TX
 
INDIVIDUAL SEATING:   $300
 
LEVELS OF SPONSORSHIP: 

EMPEROR $10,000	Name on invitation, private dining for 10, cocktails with celebrities, souvenir photo with national celebrity, first choice of local celebrity chef, prominent recognition in program, top recognition signage at event. (4 Emperor sponsorships only - 2 at each seating)
TAIPAN $7,500	Name on invitation, preferred dining for 10, souvenir photo with national celebrity, second choice of local celebrity chef, prominent recognition in program, special recognition signage at event.
SHOGUN $5,000	Name on invitation, special dining for 10, souvenir, photo with national celebrity, third choice of local celebrity chef, recognition in program, signage at event.
SAMURAI $2,750	Dining for 10, souvenir photo from event, recognition in program.

About ESCAPE Family Resource Center:
ESCAPE Family Resource Center was founded in 1983 by local Exchange Clubs to prevent child abuse and neglect in vulnerable families in the Houston area, Brazoria, Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties.  During 2006, over 4900 parents and children learned how to live together safely and supportively through 227 ESCAPE's programs.  ESCAPE Family Resource Center provides skill building parenting classes for families in crisis to prevent child abuse and neglect before a child is hurt.  For more information please visit www.escapefrc.org.
 
Debbie Reynolds Biography
For over six decades, our lives have been enriched by the talents of a singer, dancer and actress we know as Debbie Reynolds.  The Hollywood Princess was born on April 1, 1932 in El Paso, Texas.  In 1939, her family moved to Southern California.  Debbie Reynolds is often referred to as the Girl-next-door; and as an MGM Golden Girl of Hollywood Musicals and Comedies. She's the star of such classics as Singing in the Rain, and Three Little Words.

In 1948, Lockheed Aircraft sponsored the local "Miss Burbank" beauty pageant. Debbie's young age of sixteen did not stop her from entering.  She not only won, but also was noticed by two scouts from Warner Brother's and MGM.  Warner Brother's soon signed her to a contract, for which she played in two movies.  Following, MGM signed her to a contract, beginning her career as an MGM superstar. Her first movie for MGM was "Singing in the Rain."

During the 1950's and 1960's her pictures were featured on the covers of magazines such as Movieland, Movie Screen, Motion Picture, and Photoplay. Debbie formed Harman Productions in 1960, which launched her ABC television special, "A Date with Debbie."
  
In 1972, she started a non-profit organization, which laid the groundwork for the future Hollywood Motion Picture Museum.  During the 70's, Debbie spent a lot of time raising funds for the Thalian Mental Health Clinic, for emotionally disturbed children.  She also starred in a West Coast revival of "Annie Get Your Gun," during the 70's.
 
She played occasional comedy series guest roles, including "Alice," "The Love Boat," and "Jennifer Slept Here." In 1988, she published her autobiography: "Debbie: My Life."  In 1989, Debbie and Harve Presnell toured the U.S. in a revival of "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," in which she received a Best Actress Oscar Nomination.
 
In the mid 1990's Debbie earned a golden Globe nomination for her performance in Albert Brooks' "Mother."  And in 1998, she was nominated for Favorite Supporting Actress in a Comedy based on her performance in "In and Out."  She then acted as the voice of "Lulu Pickles" in the animated children's film, "Rugrats in Paris: The Movie."
 
Currently, Debbie focuses on her nightclub act.  She is reinforced by the love of her children.  She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 which honored her outstanding contributions to Hollywood.  Debbie is a woman whose solution to adversity is not to merely survive, but to constantly revive, renew, and live life to the fullest.  She is, and will forever be, America's Sweetheart.