By Joel Stratte-McClure

"Roll the way!" Robin Williams said to a wheelchair-bound guest wearing a "Go Forward" dog tag with a Superman insignia at "Making Magic Happen," the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation benefit at the Century Plaza on Wednesday night.

Williams followed the wheelchair past Angie Harmon, Stephen Collins and Rex Lee to a private cocktail party, where he joined wife Marsha, hugged Jane Seymour and Cheryl Hines, and chatted with Billy Crystal and biking buddy Lance Armstrong.

"We all know that Mr. Williams gives 110, or maybe 175, percent, when he acts," Wilmer Valderrama said a few minutes later as he kicked off an evening honoring Williams for his work with a foundation dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with spinal cord injury. "But many don't realize that he gives even more when he's off stage."

Williams thanked David Crosby, Bonnie Hunt, Eric Idle and other friends for joining him to receive an award "that I plan to put on the front of my car."

Then he mentioned 4-year-old Chase Ford, who, after being paralyzed two years ago following a fall while jumping on a sofa, had just made his way across the stage using crutches.

"I don't want to get weepy, but Dana and Christopher would have found it extraordinary to see Mr. Chase walk tonight," said Williams, who first met Reeve when they were grad students at Juilliard. "They would want us all to keep working on their behalf."

But the audience didn't just get a call for donations. They also each took home a container of Robin shampoo, which comes in a plastic shampoo container listing Williams' movies on one side and the charities he supports on the other.