By Jonathan Friedman
Lookout Staff

April 19, 2010 -- Community leaders and celebrities were among the more than 500 people in attendance Saturday night at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel for the American Red Cross of Santa Monica's annual "Red Tie Affair.” The event included recognition of community contributors and served as a fundraiser for the local Red Cross chapter.

Actress, writer, producer and director Jada Pinkett Smith was recognized for her Red Cross support with the Crystal Cross award. Smith told the audience she was impressed with the Red Cross when she and her husband, entertainer Will Smith, travelled to New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina relief.

“I became a big fan after seeing how competent and efficient this organization was,” Smith said. “During a time when people needed basic things like food, water and a place to stay, the Red Cross immediately could provide everything.”

Smith stars on the TNT medical drama “HawthoRNE,” in which she plays a nurse. The cast of the show also attended the event.

Barbara Browning, whose real-life nursing career has spanned 45 years at Santa Monica/UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital, was recognized with the Rick Crocker Spirit of Volunteerism Award. The prize is named after a Santa Monica police officer and Red Cross volunteer who was killed five years ago in Iraq while serving as a U.S. Marine.

Browning established many programs for the hospital, including the Oncology Unit, the first medication course for licensed vocational nurses and Hospice in Home, a program designed to address post-hospice needs of cancer and AIDS patients. Her other accomplishments include creating a Social Action Committee to address the needs of homeless patients on the Westside and saving a restaurant patron’s life through the use of the Heimlich maneuver.

But the humble woman declined to take credit for her achievements. “Sometimes I can come up with ideas, but it’s (other) people that make those ideas happen,” she said.

Posie Carpenter, chief administrative officer at Santa Monica-UCLA, said in a statement included in the event’s program, “There is no one more compassionate or committed to the nursing profession and the welfare of our patients than Barbara Browning. She has a heart of gold and is the gold standard by which all future nurses should be measured.”

Browning said she was “honored and humbled” by the recognition. She was presented with the award by City Council member Bobby Shriver, who has been involved in many charitable projects throughout his life. In 2006, he and U2 singer Bono founded Product Red, which encourages corporations to put some of their profits toward fighting AIDS in Africa.

The event was hosted for the third year in a row by Fox 11 newscaster Christine Devine. It featured food prepared by celebrity chef Nick Stellino and an auction to raise money for the Santa Monica Red Cross chapter. Among the auctioned items were exotic vacations, a dinner at a Santa Monica firehouse and a beer keg once owned by George Clooney with a signature included.

Some of the famous people in attendance included actor Josh Duhamel, singer Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson and astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who received the loudest applause when the names of the various VIPs were announced.

The American Red Cross of Santa Monica is located at 1450 11th Street. For more information, go to
www.redcrossofsantamonica.org.

Jada Pinkett Smith was recognized for her Red Cross support with the Crystal Cross award
Jada Pinkett Smith