New York City - In the landmark Rainbow Room high atop Rockefeller Center with its sweeping panoramic view of the New York area, guests at the 2009 Gala Give Kids a Shot were given an unexpected treat during cocktail hour - a brilliant real rainbow crossed the sky leading some to read it as a positive omen in the war against a vaccine preventable disease, meningitis on Tuesday, May 11.

Kevin and Mary Carroll with Nick Springer and Chieko.

Sara Herbert Galloway, co-chair of the gala with Gary Springer, led the applause when the brilliantly colored ribbons appeared right outside the floor to ceiling windows. It was a lovely moment that set the tone for an evening celebrating survivors of the dreaded disease and two individuals who are at the forefront of the movement to bring attention to this vaccine preventable disease. Despite the seriousness of the issue, the mood was anything but somber indeed it was celebratory.

As Sara and Gary are well known in both the Hamptons and New York, both the honorary and benefit committees were loaded with glittering names including Alec Baldwin, Lenore Cooney, Meredith Viera, Barry Klarberg, Bob Balaban, Lynn Grossman, Joe Pantaliano, Candie Benn, Lynn Bozof, Henry Buhl, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Cassandra Seidenfeld Lyster, Errol Rappaport, June Springer, Rod and Judy Gilbert, Joe Trentacosta , Jeri Acosta, Marlene LaPorte, Jeri Brooks Greenwell, Lainie Kazan and Richard Thomas.

Actress Diane Ladd and honoree Nick Springer.

The evening began with cocktails with the aforementioned rainbow providing a spectacular backdrop to the guests, many whom had flown in from Los Angeles as Gary represents many film stars, films and festivals including the Hamptons International Film festival. Mingling in the sunlit aerie while sipping champagne were Swedish actress Liv Ullman, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Diane Ladd, the dynamic singer and star of stage and screen Lainie Kazan, producer Barbara Ligeti who is now Santa Barbara based and riding the crest of the fitness movement producing a film Malibu Pilates, Montauk director and acting teacher Gary Swanson, Christine Lisle and the always fun couple, former hockey great Rod Gilbert and his vivacious wife Judy.

The center of attention was young Nick Springer, Gary's son, who at age of 14 contracted meningitis while at summer camp resulting in the amputation of his hands and legs. This tragic result of the disease never stopped Nick from being a normal teenager - playing rugby in a wheelchair bound team of athletes, learning to drive a car, going to college and doing all the things teens do. So resilient is Nick that he persevered in rugby and traveled to Beijing for the Olympics and came home a Gold Medalist in the Para-Olympics. Regretfully, the thrill of victory for Nick was short-lived as his mother Nancy Ford Springer succumbed to cancer as he flew back from Beijing to share his gold medal with her. However, he did meet a lovely young lady while training in Japan, Cheiko now his girlfriend who stood by his side throughout the fete.

Bonnie Comley, Stewart Lane, June Springer, Sara Hergbert Galloway, and Barry J. Klarberg enjoy the evening.

Slowly guests worked their way into the magnificent main room for dinner and the special presentations where Lynn Bozof, Executive Director of the National Meningitis Association, welcomed guest and introduced the Master of Ceremonies, the much loved actor Richard Thomas, the iconic "John Boy" of the long running series "The Waltons." From the outset Thomas mirrored the feelings of many in the room and laid down the message of the evening saying." It's great to be here among you and this great group of people. Gary Springer is a dear friend and someone you can't say "no" to - especially for something as important as NMA and its work to safeguard kids from this terrible disease".

With that said, he introduced "My Big Fat Greek Wedding Star" Lainie Kazan who most appropriately sang a triumphant "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" that brought the audience to its feet.

Alana and Sara Herbert Galloway with Lainie Kazan.

Following dinner, Thomas introduced Olivia Springer Nick's sister who broke the hearts of the audience with her memories of her brother's devastating illness that was preventable and her mother Nancy's resolve to educate the country and push for parents to have their children vaccinated especially for those with kids going away to school or camp where the disease tends to spread virulently.

Speaking with great poise and a visible effort to contain her emotions, Olivia said, "In 1999, my brother, Nick, came down with this horrible disease that has killed so many and almost killed him. My mom, Nancy, started doing as much research as possible to learn everything she could about this illness we had never heard of.
What she learned, was that the life changing event we had gone through could have been prevented by a simple vaccine. A vaccine that had been being given for many years to the military among other groups, but was not 'economically viable' - not enough people died - to give to the general public. She decided to reach out to others so that the same thing didn't happen to them. She became a founding member of the National Meningitis Association so she could do something".

The magical Rainbow Room atop Rockefeller Center NMA Gala on May 12.

She then introduced the first three Nancy Ford Springer Award winners Melanie Benn, John Kach and her brother Nick via an emotionally packed video spotlighting the courage and determination of these three young survivors. Melanie, a clinical social worker and a swimmer was a medal winner in two Paralympics Games - the 2000 games in Australia and the 2004 games in Athens, Greece; John who graduated form college plays sports, owns his own computer business and is a public speaker at health care events and finally to her brother Nick.

Lynn Bozof presented two very special awards to individuals who have raised the awareness of this insidious disease, Dr. Nancy L. Snyderman, NBC, Chief Medical Editor who 10 years ago shed light on this horrifying disease in a 20/20 TV special and has supported the efforts of the NMA enormously and to Dr. Paul Offit, Chief, Division of Infectious Disease at the world renowned The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia whose championing the drive to vaccinate children has protected millions of lives.

The message was not lost on the audience with many of them like Masha Leon who vowed to have her nieces vaccinated before they headed off to camp this summer. A message that all parents and caregivers should take seriously.