Jada Pinkett Smith awarded Crystal Cross at                              
Santa Monica Red Cross 2010 Red Tie Affair.                                                                           

The American Red Cross of Santa Monica's annual "Red Tie Affair" fundraiser gala was held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica on Saturday, April 17, 2010. The theme of this year's Affair was a salute to the nursing profession.
 
Red Tie Award Honorees

Red Tie honorees included actress, writer, producer and director Jada Pinkett Smith and her nursing-driven medical drama "HawthoRNe," that begins its second season on TNT this summer. Smith received the coveted American Red Cross Crystal Cross award at the gala. 
 
The Red Tie Affair gala honors the humanitarian spirit of those who have shown courage, exhibited unselfish character and whose work has saved lives and/or improved the human spirit. The Rick Crocker Spirit of Volunteerism Award was be bestowed on Barbara Browning, RN. Browning's career as a nurse at Santa Monica/UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital spans 45 years of service to the community and is filled with a long list of amazing accomplishments and medical "firsts."
 
The award is named for Santa Monica Red Cross volunteer and Santa Monica Police Officer, Ricardo A Crocker who was killed in Al-Anbar province, Iraq on May 25, 2005 while on active duty as a United States Marine Corps Reservist.
 
Celebrity Chef & lots of VIP's                                                                                                                               

Celebrity chef, author and TV show host, Nick Stellino supervised the preparation of a three-course, gourmet dinner which included sea bass in truffle sauce created especially for the event. Award winning KTTV Fox 11 News anchor, Christine Devine was Master of Ceremonies for the gala for the third year in a row.
 
In addition to awards recognizing local heroes for their volunteerism and extraordinary service to the community, the gala featured music and entertainment as well as live and silent auctions. Items up for bid included jewelry, exotic vacations, limited edition wines, art, sports and Hollywood memorabilia and designer dresses.
 
 500 persons including influential community leaders, a large number of famous entertainment and professional sports celebrities and VIPs attended including Jada Pinkett Smith and actor, Will Smith; actor Josh Duhamel: singer, Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson: former Astronaut, Buzz Aldrin and the entire "HawthoRNe" cast.
 
Corporate sponsors included Los Angeles Occidental Petroleum, Los Angeles Chevron, Wells-Fargo, Sears, Hope Wine, C & H Sugar, Rand Corporation, Fox11, Santa Monica/UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital, Santa Monica Bay Physicians, Da Vinci Pasta, Santa Monica Daily Press, Awards Plus and UPrinting.com.
 
Funds raised will go the American Red Cross of Santa Monica. 1450 11th Street in Santa Monica, to support its programs and services to the community. ARCSM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that provides health and safety education, youth services, blood services, CPR and first aid training, disaster awareness and disaster relief efforts.