Actress, activist, and advocate Olivia Munn will be honored with the prestigious “Courage Award” at the Women’s Cancer Research Fund’s marquee fundraising gala, An Unforgettable Evening, taking place Monday, April 28, at the Beverly Hilton. The annual star-studded affair celebrates strength, survivorship, and scientific breakthroughs in the fight against women’s cancers, while raising vital funds for life-saving research.
This year’s gala will feature a performance by country music superstars and three-time Grammy Award winners Little Big Town, with acclaimed comedian and writer Whitney Cummings set to host the evening. The gala will be chaired by WCRF Co-Founder Jamie Tisch, alongside Quinn Ezralow and Laurie Feltheimer, with an esteemed list of Co-Chairs and Honorary Chairs including Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Tom Ford, Wallis Annenberg, Martin Short, Steve Tisch, and more.
A Personal Story That Sparked a National Movement
Olivia Munn, known for her versatility on screen and her candid, courageous voice off screen, revealed in March 2024 that she had been diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer in April 2023. What began as a routine checkup led to the discovery of an aggressive form of the disease at stage 1. Over the past year, Munn has undergone five surgeries, including a double mastectomy, lymph node dissection, and a hysterectomy. Despite the deeply personal and painful nature of her experience, Munn chose to share her story with the world.
In doing so, she ignited a critical national conversation about breast cancer screenings and proactive healthcare. Her heartfelt and transparent advocacy inspired thousands of women to take charge of their health particularly in understanding the tools available to assess personal cancer risk.
One of the most significant impacts of her advocacy was a 4,000% surge in use of the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool following her public story. Munn credited the little-known Tyrer-Cuzick Breast Cancer Risk Assessment test, developed by BCRF researcher Dr. Jack Cuzick, with saving her life. The tool evaluates comprehensive family history to assess a woman’s lifetime risk of developing breast cancer and prompted early detection in Munn’s case.
A Gala of Inspiration and Hope
“For over 25 years, An Unforgettable Evening has been a powerful celebration of hope, progress, and community,” said Jamie Tisch, WCRF Co-Founder and Gala Chair. “This year, we are incredibly proud to honor Olivia Munn, whose bravery and openness have sparked transformative change and underscored the urgency of early detection. Olivia embodies the very essence of courage.”
This year’s program will include moving tributes to cancer survivors and those lost to the disease, shining a spotlight on the importance of continued research and support. Past honorees have included Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Kate Hudson, Christina Applegate, Renée Zellweger, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Hudson, and Sir Elton John.
The Women’s Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), a program of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), directs funds raised from the gala to world-renowned research institutions across the U.S., accelerating groundbreaking research in tumor biology, treatment for triple-negative breast cancer, prevention, and metastatic modeling systems. With breast cancer diagnoses on the rise especially among women under 40 the need for urgent, cutting-edge research is more critical than ever.
A Star-Studded Evening with a Purpose
Country music powerhouse Little Big Town will bring their electrifying energy to the stage as the evening’s musical guests. The quartet Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbrook has amassed over 45 major award nominations and 20 wins, including Grammy, CMA, ACM, and American Music Awards. Their chart-topping singles like “Pontoon,” “Girl Crush,” and “Day Drinking” have cemented their place in country music history, and they’re set to hit the road again this summer with their highly anticipated “Little Big Town Summer Tour ’25.”
Hosting the event is Whitney Cummings, one of comedy’s most distinct and influential voices. Known for her fearless humor and cultural candor, Cummings is the creator of NBC’s Whitney and co-creator of the Emmy Award-winning CBS hit 2 Broke Girls. She continues to reach global audiences through her popular podcast Good for You and is currently touring North America with her Big Baby stand-up tour.
Olivia Munn: A Life of Impact On and Off the Screen
Olivia Munn rose to prominence in the early 2000s as the breakout host of G4’s Attack of the Show, eventually becoming the first East Asian correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. She later starred in HBO’s acclaimed series The Newsroom and blockbuster films including Magic Mike, X-Men: Apocalypse, and The Predator. Her latest project, the Apple TV+ drama Your Friends & Neighbors opposite Jon Hamm is now streaming to critical acclaim.
Beyond her film and television work, Munn has long used her platform to champion underrepresented voices, animal rights, and mental health awareness. Her breast cancer journey has added a deeply personal dimension to her activism. In recognition of her influence and advocacy, Munn was named one of TIME’s 2025 Women of the Year and featured on TIME’s 2024 100 Most Influential People in Health list.
Munn currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, comedian John Mulaney, their three-year-old son, and their four-month-old daughter.
Advancing a Future Without Breast Cancer
One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. With increasing rates of diagnosis among women under 40, the mission of WCRF and its collaborators at BCRF has never been more urgent. An Unforgettable Evening raises critical funds to fuel discoveries that save lives and to honor those, like Olivia Munn, who turn personal hardship into powerful purpose.
For tickets, donations, and more information about the gala and the Women’s Cancer Research Fund, visit www.wcrfcure.org.
