Hollywood Turns a Spotlight on Bleeding Disorders with Landmark Livestream Event

NEW YORK, NY – March 19, 2026 – By Timothy Bell

In a major push to elevate awareness for a frequently overlooked community, the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF) is partnering with the advocacy platform Talk About It to launch Bleeding.org LIVE!, a first-of-its-kind, celebrity-driven national event. Set to stream live on March 28, the three-hour special marks the 10th anniversary of Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month by uniting Hollywood star power, live music, and powerful personal stories to engage a nationwide audience.

Hosted by actor and advocate Greg Grunberg, known for his roles in Heroes and Star Wars and as the co-founder of Talk About It, alongside NBDF President and CEO Philip M. Gattone, the event promises to be a pivotal moment for individuals and families affected by conditions like hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, and other rare factor deficiencies. It serves as the centerpiece of NBDF’s multi-platform “Educate to Elevate” campaign, designed to drive action and improve care across the community.

The Hollywood Effect: Star Power Meets Rare Disease Advocacy

Bleeding.org LIVE! represents a significant evolution in health advocacy, moving beyond traditional awareness campaigns to create a dynamic, large-scale digital experience. The event has marshaled an impressive roster of celebrities, including Jennifer Garner, Alex Borstein, Scott Foley, and Dr. Drew Pinsky, who will make appearances. The evening also features special musical performances from artists like Jennifer Love Hewitt, Scott Grimes of The Orville, and Rob Benedict of Supernatural.

This strategy is the hallmark of Talk About It, the organization Grunberg co-founded after his oldest son was diagnosed with epilepsy. The platform has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for its effective model of using authentic, relatable voices to demystify complex health issues. Grunberg brings that same personal commitment to the bleeding disorders community.

"The bleeding disorders community has never seen a night like this. A night where Hollywood shows up, the music is live, and the whole country is watching," said Grunberg. "That's what March 28 is. And it's long overdue."

The event’s approach leverages celebrity influence not just for reach, but for impact. By integrating stars into a program filled with medical expertise and patient testimonials, the NBDF aims to break through the noise and foster a deeper, more empathetic public understanding of what it means to live with a bleeding disorder. The evening will also feature a live performance by Grunberg’s own celebrity cover band, The Action Figures, further blending entertainment with advocacy.

Beyond the Diagnosis: Unmasking a Hidden Women's Health Crisis

A critical focus of the livestream will be the silent struggle of women and girls, who remain significantly underdiagnosed with bleeding disorders. While conditions like von Willebrand disease (VWD) may affect up to 1% of the U.S. population, impacting men and women equally, women often bear a heavier burden due to symptoms related to menstruation and childbirth. Yet, diagnosis can be tragically delayed, with studies showing a median delay of over 10 years from the onset of symptoms.

Heavy menstrual bleeding, a common symptom, is experienced by one in five women, but for about a quarter of them, it is a sign of an underlying bleeding disorder. The consequences of delayed diagnosis are severe, contributing to a higher risk of postpartum hemorrhage, recurrent miscarriages, and a greater likelihood of hysterectomy at a young age.

"Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month has always been about making sure no one in this community felt invisible," stated Philip M. Gattone, NBDF’s President and CEO. "Bleeding.org LIVE! takes that mission to a whole new level — we're celebrating our people, amplifying voices that need to be heard, especially women and girls who are too often underdiagnosed."

This focus is not new for the foundation. As far back as 2000, the organization, then known as the National Hemophilia Foundation, partnered with the CDC on "Project Red Flag," a national campaign to raise awareness of women’s bleeding disorders. The upcoming event builds on decades of advocacy, using its new high-profile platform to demand better recognition and care for a population that has long suffered in silence.

A New Name for a Broader Mission: NBDF's Digital Frontier

The 10th anniversary of Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month is a fitting backdrop for an event that showcases the NBDF’s own evolution. In 2023, the organization officially changed its name from the National Hemophilia Foundation to the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation. This rebranding, along with a domain change from hemophilia.org to bleeding.org, signaled a formal commitment to serving the entire spectrum of inherited blood and bleeding disorders.

Bleeding.org LIVE! is the embodiment of this expanded mission, leveraging digital technology to unite a diverse community that includes not only those with hemophilia but also the much larger population affected by VWD, rare factor deficiencies, and platelet disorders. The event will feature live watch parties from NBDF chapters across the country, connecting local communities to the national broadcast and celebrating their unique victories.

The “Educate to Elevate” campaign, of which the livestream is a part, reflects a modern, multi-pronged strategy. It combines celebrity advocacy with premieres of new educational content and crucial policy updates from NBDF leadership, empowering patients with both knowledge and a direct way to participate in shaping their healthcare future.

The Ecosystem of Awareness: Industry Backing and Future Therapies

Supporting this ambitious initiative are key players in the pharmaceutical industry, including Sanofi, Kedrion Biopharma, Genentech, and Pfizer. Their sponsorship highlights the growing ecosystem connecting patient advocacy with therapeutic innovation. This support comes as the treatment landscape for bleeding disorders is being revolutionized by scientific breakthroughs, including gene therapies and novel non-factor treatments that offer new hope for patients.

Companies like Pfizer and Genentech (a member of the Roche Group) are at the forefront of developing these next-generation therapies. Their investment in community engagement and patient education through events like Bleeding.org LIVE! underscores the importance of an informed and empowered patient population, especially as complex new treatment options become available. This symbiotic relationship helps fund critical awareness efforts while ensuring that the community is prepared for the future of care.

The three-hour program will also look back, featuring a world premiere sneak peek of Poster Child, a new documentary produced by Greg Grunberg that tells the story of Ryan White, the Indiana teenager who became a national icon for HIV/AIDS advocacy after contracting the virus from a contaminated blood treatment for his hemophilia. By honoring a pivotal figure from the community's past, the event bridges the historical fight for recognition with its forward-looking mission, creating a powerful narrative of resilience and progress. This blend of entertainment, education, and heartfelt advocacy aims to ensure the bleeding disorders community is not only seen but also heard, loud and clear.