William M. Mechanic to Be Honored at the 25th Annual ``Dinner of Champions'' Benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society on Sept. 9, 1999

Business Wire, June 4, 1999

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 4, 1999--

Bill Mechanic, chairman and chief executive officer of Fox Filmed Entertainment, will be honored at the 25th annual "Dinner of Champions" sponsored by and benefiting the Southern California Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The gala event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 9, 1999, at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

Chairing the dinner for the seventh consecutive year is Tom Sherak, chairman, Twentieth Century Fox's Domestic Film Group and trustee of the Southern California Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Co-chairing for the fourth consecutive year are chapter trustees Arthur and Britta Schramm. Bob Harper, chapter trustee, will also co-chair this year.

Commenting on the announcement, Sherak said, "I'm incredibly grateful to Bill for accepting this honor. His continued support of the `Dinner of Champions' and my family's commitment to finding a cure is truly remarkable."

Steven Spielberg will attend to present the award to Mechanic, and Penny Marshall will be on hand to extend a very special tribute to David Landers for his inspiration, humor and courage in his own battle with multiple sclerosis.

The Dinner of Champions makes an enormous contribution to the fight against multiple sclerosis by increasing the awareness about MS while raising funds for MS research, chapter programs and services. Because of the continuing commitment of its supporters, especially members of the film industry like Mechanic, the Southern California Chapter's "Dinner of Champions" has become the most successful event held by any chapter of the National MS Society.

Previous honorees include such distinguished individuals as Bob Newhart, Steve Garvey, Pat Riley, Daniel J. Travanti, Steven Hilton, Michael Forman, Keith Barish, Peter Chernin and Joe Roth among others.

Because of funds raised through events like the Dinner of Champions, the National MS Society is able to spend more money on MS research than any other voluntary MS health agency in the world. This year the Society will invest more than $18 million to support MS research, and nearly $6 million is currently in place locally at UCLA and USC. Proceeds from the Dinner also support vital programs for people who have MS and their families.

For additional information about the "Dinner of Champions," call Pamela Thompson or Judith Baines at 310/479-4456. Donations can be made to: The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Southern California Chapter, 2440 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064.