Fundraiser for Veteran CNN Cameraman Jerry Thompson & His Family

By Molly Stark Dean 

A lot of notable tvnewsers will be at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar in Washington, DC next month, all to help out CNN cameraman Jerry Thompson and his family: Wolf Blitzer, John King, Dana Milbank, Candy Crowley, Major Garrett, Dana Bash, Mike Viqueira, Jill Dougherty, Claire Shipman, Jamie McIntyre, Chris Plante, Ed Henry, Lisa Sylvester, and Brett Baier are just a fraction of the names set to be at the event.

The 25-year TV veteran was diagnosed with brain cancer and lost his job at CNN when his medical leave expired. The event will raise money for Thompson and his three children. Celebrity bartenders from CNN, Fox News, NBC, ABC, The Washington Post and National Journal, and entertainment from, Suspicious Package, the Washington all-journalist band. Tickets for the event, which will be held November 17 from 7-10pm can be purchased through Eventbrite.

More information about the event is after the jump…

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A Powerhouse of Fun Anticipated at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar for Veteran CNN Cameraman Jerry Thompson to Help with Expenses in His Battle with Brain Cancer

Washington, D.C., (October 12, 2010) – On Wednesday, November 17th from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Washingtonians are encouraged to come sip signature mojitos and enjoy James Beard award-winning Chef Guillermo Pernot’s “Nuevo Cubano” fare at newly opened Cuba Libre restaurant. All proceeds from the food and beverage sales will go to benefit a trust for Jerry Thompson’s three children. Thompson, and very popular 25-year career CNN cameraman was diagnosed with brain cancer and he lost his job at CNN when his medical leave was exhausted.

Celebrity journalist bartenders from CNN, Fox News, NBC, ABC, The Washington Post and National Journal will be shaking up the evening at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar on November 17th. A silent auction with prizes such as four tickets to The Colbert Report, Ravens and Capitals tickets, photographs by Pulitzer Prize winning photographers and a week at the beach will be available to the highest bidder. Matching donation challenges on this energized evening are also anticipated. Suspicious Package, the Washington all-journalist band, whose members include Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist Tom Toles of The Washington Post, is donating its services to enrich the fun. Tickets are priced at $55, $100 and $250 per person depending on how much guests are willing to donate and can be purchased through Eventbrite.

Thompson was diagnosed with the same type of brain cancer that Ted Kennedy battled and because Jerry worked for CNN, most, if not all of their broadcast talent has agreed to participate, as well as correspondents from other networks. A preliminary list of “celebrity bartenders” includes Wolf Blitzer, John King, Dana Milbank, Candy Crowley, Major Garrett, Dana Bash, Joe Lockhart, Mike Viqueira, Jill Dougherty, Claire Shipman, Jamie McIntyre, Chris Plante, Ed Henry, Lisa Sylvester, and Brett Baier with the roster growing daily. The public outpouring of affection and support from colleagues all over Washington and beyond has been overwhelming and Members of Congress have also expressed interest to offer support to the event.

The event is being organized by a former colleague and friend of Jerry’s with no prior fundraising experience. He’s a fellow cameraman who feels so strongly about what has befallen his friend and his friend’s family that it was his time to stand up and do something.

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