Comedian Chelsea Handler Receives Bennett Custom Recognition Award

Comedian and talk show host Chelsea Handler recently received a unique custom Bennett recognition award honoring her achievements in the field of entertainment. Handler was presented with the “Rodney Respect Award” at the UCLA Department of Neurosurgery “Visionary Ball”, held October 25, 2012 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The Rodney Respect Award is an achievement award that was established by Joan Dangerfield, wife of the late comedy legend Rodney Dangerfield.

This recognition award is presented on an annual basis, and honors those individuals who have achieved the ultimate success in the field of entertainment. The award recognizes the joy each honoree brings to the community and the UCLA Neurosurgery department’s patients.

Handler was recently named by Time magazine as one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World”. She has achieved great success as the author of four New York Times bestsellers, executive producer/creator/host of the enormously popular talk show Chelsea Lately, and CEO of her own production company, Borderline Amazing.

The custom trophy design used for these recognition awards was created by Bennett Awards, working in close collaboration with Joan Dangerfield. The unique award design is based on a caricature figure of Rodney Dangerfield in one of his classic poses: tugging at his collar. This sculpture trophy stands 12” tall, and is mounted on a black marble base with customized engravings of the recipient name, award name, and UCLA Neurosurgery logo. 

This is the fifth straight year this custom trophy has been used for this award. Past recipients include Jim Carey, Jay Leno, Tim Allen, and Bob Saget. The Visionary Ball raises money to help advance neurosurgical research, education and patient care at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. The Rodney Respect Award is presented annually at this event. Rodney Dangerfield successfully underwent rare and difficult brain bypass surgery at the UCLA Medical Center in 2003 to improve brain blood flow impaired by blockage in his right carotid artery. More information on this event can be found at: "UCLA Department of Neurosurgery Visionary Ball".