AEG Presents’ Jay Marciano Partnering With Evan Funke, David Blaine, Conan O’Brien on City Of Hope Dinner Benefits

Jay Marciano, chairman and CEO of AEG Presents, is working with City of Hope and Chef Evan Funke to host exclusive events to raise funds for the nonprofit cancer research center.

Marciano and Funke are partnering to host “Charitybuzz Hosts: Good Evenings” at a private dining room inside the chef’s Beverly Hills restaurant. Three dinners up are for auction, with the first taking place Oct. 17 hosted by Funke offering a sneak peek at the menu he is planning for the Spirit of Life gala happening the following week. The Oct. 21 dinner will be hosted by magician and mentalist David Blaine, and another event on Nov. 19 will be hosted by comedian, writer and podcaster Conan O’Brien.

In addition to spending quality time with celebrity hosts, the events will give auction winners an opportunity to experience old-world handmade pasta techniques. Each auction package will be sold as a pair of seats for 18 guests, and all proceeds go to City of Hope.

“I’m honored that these incredible individuals have committed their time and talents for three unforgettable evenings in support of City of Hope,” Marciano said in a statement. “Offering people experiences of a lifetime is at the heart of what we do: connecting them to magic, emotion, and energy to create moments they will remember forever. Doing so in service of City of Hope’s work to eradicate cancer makes it that much more meaningful.”

Marciano has extended his fundraising efforts by including once-in-a-lifetime opportunities accessible to fans who want to support City of Hope’s mission, including a chance to bid on a pair of tickets to the Spirit of Life gala that is typically open only to members of the Music, Film and Entertainment Industry (MFEI). The AEG Presents executive will be honored with the Spirit of Life Award at the gala, which takes place at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and will be hosted by comedian, actor and musician Fred Armisen. The event will feature performances by David Blaine and Elton John, as well as food from Chef Funke.

Earlier this year, Marciano raised additional funds for City of Hope by donating artist passes for Coachella, giving auction winners an opportunity to attend the “night before” dinner in the desert, VIP tickets and meet-and-greets with artists like Taylor Swift, The Rolling Stones and Kane Brown. His efforts resulted in $750,000 being raised for the nonprofit. The gala will conclude Marciano’s year-long fundraising campaign benefiting cancer research.

“Our partners in the music industry continue to raise the stakes when it comes to finding creative ways to speed City of Hope’s cancer research through philanthropy,” Kristin Bertell, chief philanthropy officer at City of Hope, said in the release. “Jay and his team are doing what they do best — inspiring their fans. I’m so grateful that it’s to the benefit of cancer patients.”

Visit jaymarcianospiritoflife.com or email [email protected] to purchase gala tickets and sponsorship, donate or learn about more ways to participate in the campaign.