Dallas 'Conversation' With Miles O'Brien to Raise Funds for Cancer Research, Patient Care
Newswise — HOUSTON - Sir Richard Branson, global entrepreneur and founder of Virgin Group, will share his unique business perspective in an interview with Miles O'Brien at A Conversation With a Living Legend® Jan. 4 in Dallas. The 22nd annual luncheon, supported by business and community leaders in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, benefits research and patient care initiatives at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Underwriters of this year's event, 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Hilton Anatole, are Andrews Distributing Company and AT&T. Luncheon chairs are Stephanie and Hunter Hunt. Honorary chairs are Ana and Don Carty.
One of the world's most recognized and respected brands, Virgin encompasses air and rail travel, leisure and hospitality, telecommunications, media, health and wellness, space tourism and clean energy through more than 400 branded companies in 29 countries with branded revenues of $21 billion. The Virgin family of airlines includes Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia and Virgin Blue.
Branson founded Virgin at age 20 as a mail order record retailer and later expanded it into a record shop and recording studio. Virgin Music became one of the top six record companies in the world. In 1986, Branson crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a boat in the fastest recorded time ever. The next year his Virgin Atlantic Flyer was the first hot air balloon to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
Branson realized his dream of opening the world's first commercial space tourism business with the launch of Virgin Galactic, designed to take passengers to suborbital space.
In 1999, Branson was knighted for "services to entrepreneurship."
In 2004, he launched Virgin Unite to tackle tough challenges facing the world. In 2007, he joined Nelson Mandela, Graça Machel and Desmond Tutu to form The Elders, a group that seeks sustainable solutions to global humanitarian issues. In 2010, he launched the Carbon War Room to advance climate change efforts. He recently formed Ocean Elders with Ted Turner and others to promote ocean conservation, protect the ocean's habitat and wildlife and preserve its ecosystems and species biodiversity.
Branson is the author of "Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way," (Crown Business, 1998) "Screw It, Let's Do It: Lessons in Life" (Virgin Books, 2006) and "Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur" (Virgin Books, 2008). His latest book is "Screw Business as Usual" (Portfolio/Penguin Group USA, December 2011).
Miles O'Brien is a 30-year broadcast news veteran whose career reflects a lifelong passion for aviation, space, science and technology. Based in Washington, D.C., O'Brien is science correspondent for "PBS NewsHour." He has produced several documentaries for PBS programs "Frontline" and "Blueprint America." He is chief correspondent for the National Science Foundation series "Science Nation" and the Discovery Science Channel series "Innovation Nation." O'Brien also is managing editor and a founder of a series of shuttle launch webcasts hosted at www.SpaceflightNow.com.
He worked as a CNN correspondent, anchor and producer based in Atlanta and New York for more than 16 years. In February 2003, he led the network's coverage of the Space Shuttle Columbia loss.
A third generation general aviation pilot, O'Brien is the owner of a small single-engine airplane and frequently flies himself to and from assignments.
Since its inception in 1990, A Conversation With a Living Legend in Dallas has raised more than $10.5 million. With every $1 million the event raises, MD Anderson creates a new endowed Dallas/Fort Worth Living Legend Chair for Cancer Research at MD Anderson, enhancing the institution's ability to recruit and retain new faculty of the highest caliber, advance its research and patient care initiatives and train future generations of physicians and scientists
For more information, call 866-262-9029 or email [email protected].
About MD AndersonThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. MD Anderson is one of only 40 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. For eight of the past 10 years, including 2011, MD Anderson has ranked No. 1 in cancer care in "Best Hospitals," a survey published annually in U.S. News & World Report.
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