“Raising over $1 billion dollars is an enormous sum of money. I do believe when they cure [Parkinson’s] disease, they’re going to look back and say it’s because of Michael,” said Brad Paisley, country music star and supporter of The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) as he spoke on the red carpet of MJFF’s annual A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s.

On Saturday, October 23, nearly 700 friends gathered at the iconic Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City to celebrate the Foundation’s research progress and recognize a milestone — since inception in 2000, MJFF has funded $1.5 billion dollars (and counting!) in global research programs. Since its start 20 years ago, the gala has raised more than $103 million, with $5 million of that total coming from 2021 alone. Thanks to the Foundation’s Board of Directors, every penny raised from the evening goes directly to the Foundation’s high-impact programs to end Parkinson’s.

After nearly two years apart due to the pandemic, #FoxGala guests were ready to celebrate a night filled with laughs thanks to host Denis Leary, who opened the evening reminiscing on two decades of Funny Thing talent. The evening also included hilarious performances from returning Funny Thing comedians Michelle Buteau, Mike Birbiglia and Colin Quinn. Julianne Moore then took to the stage to spotlight the Foundation’s work by introducing a short film directed by Michael’s producing partner and Foundation Board member, Nelle Fortenberry. Finally, guests were up on their feet with star-studded performances from Brad Paisley, Ms. Lisa Fischer and Sting. Leaving guests with an extra special moment, Michael J. Fox joined all the musicians on stage with his guitar to perform Sting’s legendary hit “Message in a Bottle.”

Many of Michael’s and the Foundation’s closest friends gathered to attend the event including MJFF Board members Akbar Gbajabiamila, Willie Geist and George Stephanopoulos, Funny Thing co-chair Katie Couric, Julianna Margulies, Blake Griffin, Richard Kind, Spike Lee and Joan Jett. View the gallery below and search #FoxGala on social to get an exclusive look into the all-star celebration. While on the red carpet, comedian Michelle Buteau spoke about her admiration for the Foundation:

“The great thing about The Michael J. Fox Foundation is that you know where the money is going and it has changed lives. People can wake up, have new determination, fight and put pep into their step, breath into their body because of this Foundation. I think a lot of people think ‘my voice doesn’t matter or my dollar doesn’t count,’’ but here it absolutely does.”

Looking out across the audience, Michael said it best in his closing comments for the evening:

“Since the earliest years of the Foundation, you have believed in us. And you have shared our vision for the power of science to transform lives.”

(Read more of Michael’s reflections on what this event means to him in an exclusive interview from Variety.)

Check out these moments from the #FoxGala.