For Immediate Release

Contact: info@stopsarcoidosis.org

FORMER CLASSMATES GATHER TO CELEBRATE BERNIE MAC & RAISE MONEY FOR
SARCOIDOSIS RESEARCH AT RED CARPET GALA

Chicago, IL (14 November 2008) More than 300 Chicago Vocational School classmates and their families gathered Friday evening to honor the memory of Bernie Mac who died in August at age 50. This event, held at Marcus Chicago Heights Cinema featured a special screening of Mac’s last film, Soul Men co-starring Samuel L. Jackson.

Bernie was remembered by fellow 1975 graduates for his humor and the fact that he always honored his roots on the city’s south side. “No matter how famous he became, when he saw someone from the old neighborhood he always made you feel important. His gift to us was laughter, tonight we are giving something back in his name,” said one of the event organizers Betty Abrons.

The Red Carpet Gala raised just over $2000 to assist programs at the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, an organization Bernie supported through his involvement with the NBA Cares program.

Sarcoidosis (pronounced SAR-COY-DO-SIS) is an inflammatory disease that can affect almost any organ in the body. It causes heightened immunity which means that a person's immune system, which normally protects the body from infection and disease, overreacts, resulting in damage to the body's own tissues. Sarcoidosis is often serious and can even be life-threatening, especially if you do not know you have it. The cause remains unknown and there is no cure.

For more information about sarcoidosis, please visit the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Web site at www.stoparcoidosis.org.