The Michael Landon Children’s Cancer Fund Featured Charity for 2011 Country Music Awards Gift Bags

Nov. 9, 2011 - PRLog -- The Michael Landon Children’s Cancer Fund is the featured charity for the 2011 Country Music Awards (CMAs) gift bags presented to nominees by Hollywood Baskets.  Susan McCray, renowned casting director and creator of the fragrance Nightfall by Susan McCray™, was the driving force behind bringing this charity into the spotlight.  

McCray says, “Michael Landon loved kids.  He wanted every youngster to have the chance to live a healthy, happy and productive life, and he used his many talents, both on and off the screen, to help further that goal.  We are thrilled that Hollywood Baskets has chosen to highlight the charity at this year’s CMAs.  In light of Steve Jobs’ recent passing from pancreatic cancer, it is a time that has us all remembering Michael’s untimely passing.”

After Michael’s death from pancreatic cancer in 1991, those closest to him decided to honor his memory by continuing his commitment to the welfare of children.  Along with the The Michael Landon Celebrity Tennis Tournament committee, long time close friends and colleagues, Kent and Susan McCray, and The Landon Family helped establish the Michael Landon Children’s Cancer Fund.  The work that the Landon Fund supports is important: It is aimed at eliminating cancer as the leading cause of death from disease among children between the ages of one and 14.  

From donations it receives, the Landon Fund provides seed grants for new pediatric oncology research at two University of Arizona centers of excellence-the Arizona Cancer Center and the Steele Memorial Children’s Research Center.  Seed grants are the impetuses that later bring larger grants from other sources to fund cancer research. Such grants have led to demonstrable breakthroughs in research that now permit a better quality of life for cancer patients.  

Since its inception in 1992, the Landon Fund has supported basic science cancer research that demonstrates strong promise to impact the lives of pediatric cancer patients.

A portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the  Nightfall by Susan McCray™ Special Holiday Gift Set, available through January 6, 2012, will  also be going towards the Michael Landon Children’s Cancer Fund.  The Gift Set includes the 2 oz. Eau de Parfum with the .05 Purse Atomizer.  It is offered at a special price of $73.50 (normally $85.00) and is only offered on the perfume's site: www.nightfallbysusanmccray.com.

For anyone wanting to make a donation to this amazing charity.  Hollywood Baskets will also be auctioning one of these amazing CMA gift bags.  Proceeds will benefit the Michael Landon Charity.  Please contact 1-800-379-8219 for bidding information.  Gift Bags assembled and provided by www.hollywoodbaskets.com

Hollywood Baskets has also donated an identical gift bag valued at $3000.00 to the fund to be auctioned off at www.charitybuzz.com

For more information or to make a donation to the Michael Landon Children’s Cancer Fund, call 1-520-626-2280 or mail Paola Werstler, Arizona Cancer Center, P.O. Box 245013, Tucson, Arizona 85724.

About Susan McCray

Susan McCray has made her childhood dream of launching her own fragrance line come true with the Eau de Parfum, Nightfall by Susan McCray™.  She was Michael Landon’s trusted "starmaker" as the casting director for all of his iconic television shows, discovering such talents as Melissa Gilbert Shannen Doherty, Paul Walker and Jason Bateman.  Landon, a close friend, was Best Man in her wedding (to film and television producer Kent McCray).  Their careers and personal lives were deeply intertwined at a time when Landon’s shows were playing a large role in shaping American culture.  She credits Landon’s celebrated business practices as influential to her approach and success as an entrepreneur. Susan McCray’s many talents include: long-time Hollywood casting director, a tv producer, record producer, children’s author, radio host, and even a gourmet shop owner—the Malibu institution, Malibu Nutcorn.  This venture as fragrance designer is one that started in her childhood.  At eight years of age, McCray began blending scents with her late mother Francesca Paley, an accomplished musician, artist and designer. Susan McCray named her fragrance after a composition written by her father, Academy Award winning composer Harry Sukman.  McCray has authored a children's book, “Harry's Piano,” produced a CD, “Warm Heart…Cool Hands” and  hosts and produces two successful internet radio programs: “Getting To Know You,” celebrating its sixth year, and “Orchestra Hall,” both heard on KSAV.org.

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