WASHINGTON, September 21, 2004 -- National Rehabilitation Hospital will honor Stevie Wonder at the 2004 Gala Victory Awards® being held November 18 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington. This evening of inspiration and entertainment is a tribute to the multiple Grammy and Academy Award winning artist for displaying exceptional strength and courage in the face of adversity.

The founding chairman of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegun, is the Honorary Chairman of the gala event being held under the gracious patronage of The Ambassador of Turkey and Mrs. Logoglu. Over the years, famous faces like Kirk Douglas, Ray Charles, Gloria Estefan, Heather Mills McCartney, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Bob Dole have been honored along side everyday men and women. Presented each year since 1986, recipients of National Rehabilitation Hospital’s Gala Victory Awards® share one thing in common – a victory of the human spirit. They are individuals who serve as shining examples of the abilities of persons with disabilities. As Stevie Wonder has said, “I love touching people with songs, but I also want to reach people’s conscious and trigger some emotion on matters other than the heart.”

On November 18, the Mellon Auditorium will invite guests to experience all the Splendors of Turkey as they enjoy a silent auction reception, dinner, entertainment, a live auction, and the centerpiece Victory Awards® presentation to Stevie Wonder. Pat Skantze is serving as Gala Chair. For more information or to reserve your ticket (prices start at $400), please call 202.877.1781. All proceeds from the 2004 Gala Victory Awards® support the patient care, research and education missions of National Rehabilitation Hospital.

Located in the nation’s capital, National Rehabilitation Hospital treats a complete range of neurological and orthopedic conditions, including spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, arthritis, and amputations among many others. Since 1986, NRH has grown from a single hospital into The NRH Medical Rehabilitation Network. This expanding system now includes more than 30 NRH Regional Rehab outpatient therapy centers throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Northern Virginia; the National Center for Children’s Rehabilitation at NRH, the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Georgetown University Hospital; rehabilitation services at Washington Hospital Center; and a state-of-the-art research program for people facing disabling injury or illness. National Rehabilitation Hospital is consistently ranked in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for medical rehabilitation.