American Idol Elliott Yamin To Raise Money For Diabetes

NEW YORK, Oct. 3, 2007 – American Idol finalist Elliott Yamin will take a break from his U.S. tour to appear at a benefit for Columbia University Medical Center’s Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center. When Yamin was 16 years old he was diagnosed with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. Last October, he cut the ribbon for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s “International Walk to Cure Diabetes.” This October, Elliott again turns his attention to diabetes, which affects about 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7 percent of the population, according to the American Diabetes Association.

WHO: Young Friends Group of the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, others include: Talent: Elliott Yamin, Constantine Maroulis, NY Yankees’ Jim Leyritz, Mike Fredo, SoapNet’s “Fashionista Diaries” cast, Current TV’s Jason Silva and Max Lugavere, Erika Rose and DJ Berrie. Designers: Tommy Hilfiger, Rachel Roy and Rafe Totengco. Tastemakers: Damon Dash, Ally Hilfiger, Laura Katzenberg, Shawn Modell, and Casey Johnson, Maura Weissman, Todd Peebler and Kristian Laliberte.

WHAT: Art Rocks! is the Young Friends’ first-ever annual benefit for the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, which leads clinical and research activities in diabetes at Columbia University Medical Center. Art Rocks! raises money and awareness for the Berrie Center, particularly its pediatric program for undeserved children with diabetes.

WHERE: Aboard the SeaFair Yacht, Chelsea Piers, Pier 59, Surfside 3 Marina, NYC; http://www.expoships.com

WHEN: Wednesday, October 10 at 8 p.m.

PRESS CALL at 7 p.m.

Note: Advance ticket price is $150 at www.nbdiabetes.org and $200 at the door. Working media with credentials are welcome free of charge. For details, please visit: http://nbdiabetes.org/artrocks/index.html

# # #

Columbia University Medical Center provides international leadership in basic, pre-clinical and clinical research, in medical and health sciences education, and in patient care. The medical center trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of many physicians, scientists, nurses, dentists, and public health professionals at the College of Physicians & Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. For more information about Columbia University Medical Center, visit www.cumc.columbia.edu