SAN DIEGO -- Wednesday night, 10News celebrated the 2005 recipients of the 10Leadership Award at the 7th Annual 10Leadership Gala held at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park.

The 10Leadership Award recipients were welcomed by 10News Community Action Manager Wendy Urushima-Simmons followed by a salute from 10News Vice President and General Manager Derek Dalton. 10News anchors Hal Clement and Carol LeBeau emceed the event and Geni Cavitt, Lee Ann Kim, Loren Nancarrow, Adriana Alcarez and Jeff Cawley also participated in the inspirational evening that brought together the community’s best and brightest leaders.

Speakers included Matthew Ross, a 7-year-old who helped Hurricane Katrina victims; Dave Thibeault, father of the late Andrew Thibeault, who lost his battle with Osteosarcoma after expanding the Children’s Hospital video library; and a recipient from 1989, Dr. Jon Nachison, who founded the Stand Down event to help homeless military veterans.

The evening ended with the announcement of the 2005 Overall Leader of the Year Award which was presented to David Perez, founder of 2Life8 Foundation. While watching the devastation that Hurricane Katrina wreaked, Perez decided to take action. He rented a plane with his own money and airlifted millions of dollars' worth of materials to Louisiana. He returned with many of the Hurricane’s victims and continues to help them to start their lives in San Diego.

A one-hour Gala special will air on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. on 10News.

The 10Leadership Award is a community action project of 10News, Sempra Energy, and LEAD San Diego, Inc.