Cunard's Queen Mary 2 Hosts The First-Ever American Institute For Stuttering Gala Luncheon

Valencia, CA (May 31, 2007) - On Sunday, June 10, Cunard Line will welcome the American Institute for Stuttering for a first-ever gala luncheon to raise funds for the study and treatment of stuttering.

To be held aboard the company's flagship Queen Mary 2, the event will include lunch in the renowned Queens Room, an awards presentation and performances by Otis and the Hurricanes and comedian J.D. Lawrence.

The gala luncheon will be emceed by CBS News anchor Katie Couric and co-chaired by Sir Harold Evans, James Manley (CEO of Atlantic Pacific Capital), and Tina Brown. During the gala, the Institute will award its first annual Freeing Voices, Changing Lives Leadership Award to honorees Dominick Dunne, Jake Steinfeld, Kenyon Martin, and Carly Simon.

Docked at its New York home of the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook, Queen Mary 2 - the world's grandest ocean liner - will serve as the elegant setting for the afternoon's festivities. The ship will depart later that day for a Transatlantic Crossing to Southampton.

"We can't imagine a more striking setting than Queen Mary 2 for our first-ever fundraising gala," said Tina Brown. "This spectacular ship is truly one-of-a-kind, affording guests an experience that resonates with a bygone elegance and refinement rarely seen today."

Guests expected to attend include Andrè Aciman, Eric Alterman, Marie Brenner & Ernie Pomerantz, Joan Buck, Candace Bushnell & Charles Askegard, Susan Cheever, Ron Chernow, Monica Crowley, Peter Duchin, Patricia Duff, Linda Fairstein, Donna Hanover, Susan Fales-Hill, A.M. Homes, Lauren Hutton, Henry David Hwang, Joel Klein, Elsa Klench, Kevin Kline, John Leo, Brian McNally, Michael Nouri, Faith Popcorn, Rex Reed, Reese Schonfeld, Senator Charles Schumer, Sir Howard Stringer, Calvin Trillin, Sam Waterston, Jack & Suzy Welch, Lynne White, and many more.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that there are over 3 million adults in the United States who stutter and approximately 1 out of every 30 children is affected by stuttering. Though the condition is widespread, the general public is still very misinformed about this genetic and neurological condition, which can lead to inappropriate treatment or even a total lack of treatment. As a result, many people who stutter find themselves isolated or limited by their condition.