Beach Boys’ Co-Founder Brian Wilson Headlines Ninth Annual Bella Sera Benefiting National Jewish He

Aspen Event Honoring Shelly Friedstein Raises $600,000 for the Nation’s Leading Respiratory Hospital

More than 250 guests enjoyed an exclusive performance by music legend Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys, at the Ninth Annual Bella Sera on August 6, 2015, at Belly Up in Aspen. The sold-out event raised $600,000 for National Jewish Health, the leading respiratory hospital in the nation. At the event, long-time Aspen resident Sheldon “Shelly” Friedstein was honored with the institution’s prestigious Humanitarian Award for his generosity and service to the community and National Jewish Health.

“National Jewish Health has had pulmonary, allergy and immunology clinics to serve Aspen Valley residents for decades and we remain committed to staying in this community,” said Michael Salem, MD, president and CEO of National Jewish Health. “In addition, the research conducted at National Jewish Health helps your family and friends here in Aspen and worldwide.”

National Jewish Health, based in Denver, works closely with local physicians to bring the institution’s world-class care to patients with respiratory, allergic and immune diseases.

Al Jardine, also a co-founder of the Beach Boys, joined Wilson for the performance. Wilson, a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and a multi-Grammy Award winner, sang many Beach Boys’ classics with Jardine, including “Good Vibrations,” “California Girls,” “Catch a Wave,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Sloop John B,” “I Get Around,” and “Surfer Girl,” as well as the title song from the recently released movie about Wilson’s life, “Love and Mercy.” In addition to the musical performance, the evening included cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at Belly Up, one of Aspen’s most celebrated nightclubs.

Shelly Friedstein is a vice president of Goldman Sachs, where he has worked for 51 years, making him the most tenured person at the company. Friedstein’s contributions include serving as co-chair of the Aspen Valley Medical Foundation, chairman emeritus of Jazz Aspen and as a National Council Member of the Aspen Music Festival. He is also a fellow of the Aspen Institute, former chair of the Finance Division for the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, and a former vice chairman of the Cleveland Clinic Campaign Fund.

The event was presented by Nancy and Richard Rogers, for the sixth consecutive year.

Co-chairs for the evening were:

Louise and David Gitlitz
Kristen and Marc Holtzman
Rozanne and Billy Rosenthal
Linda and David Stein
Mort Zuckerman 

The family of Aaron Fleck, an Aspenite and National Jewish Health supporter, surprised him at the event with the creation of the future Aaron H. Fleck Patient Care Center to be located at National Jewish Health. Fleck, who will celebrate his 95^th birthday soon, and his wife, Barbara, have been part of Bella Sera since its first year. The Fleck family also has supported National Jewish Health for generations. The Patient Care Center is being named in honor of the family’s recent gift to the institution.

Host committee members included:

National Jewish Health is the leading respiratory hospital in the nation. Founded in 1899 as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish Health today is the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to groundbreaking medical research and treatment of children and adults with respiratory, cardiac, immune, and related disorders. Patients and families come to National Jewish Health from around the world to receive cutting-edge, comprehensive, coordinated care. To learn more, visit the media resources page.