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Annual
Benefit Gala: Celebrating Women of
Distinction
On November 15th, 2007, Gilda’s Club New York City held its Annual
Benefit Gala, Celebrating Women of Distinction, at the Pierre Hotel.
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Left to right: Marisa Acocella
Marchetto, Deborah Dunsire, MD,
and Titia de Lange, PhD
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The event was a great
success – more than 350 people attended, and over $615,000 was
raised
to further our mission
of providing free social and emotional support to New Yorkers who have
been touched by cancer.
This year we honored three women who have made great contributions to the
lives of women and men affected by cancer. The Corporate
Vision
Award was presented to Deborah Dunsire, MD, President and
CEO
of Millennium Pharmaceuticals, for her work in developing new medications
that change standards of cancer care. The Advancement of
Cancer
Research Award was presented to Titia de Lange, PhD, for her
pioneering work studying human telomeres and the role that they play in
cancer and aging. The “It’s Always
Something”
Award was presented to Marisa Acocella Marchetto, a
cartoonist who chronicled her experience living with breast cancer in the
graphic novel Cancer Vixen. |
Once again, the Gala was hosted with aplomb by Diana Williams and Sade
Baderinwa from WABC-TV’s Eyewitness News. Nicolas Lowry from Swann
Galleries also reprised his role as auctioneer.
The highlight of the evening was a presentation from one of GCNYC’s
youngest member, Alexandra Capellini. Only 12 years old, she spoke with
confidence well beyond her years about her diagnosis and treatment, and
how
being a GCNYC member has helped her learn to live with cancer. For the
first time ever, attendees were asked to consider sponsoring a
Gilda’s Club member for one year, at a cost of $500. We could not
have anticipated the outpouring of support that followed, as $50,000 was
given to sponsor 100 of our members!
Thanks to all the honorees, donors, attendees and volunteer s who made
this Gala a spectacular success. We could not have done it without your
continued support and dedication. For a full list of Gala
supporters, please click here. |
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A Night with Dan Aykroyd
On October 16, East River Medical Imaging held a very special event to
benefit GCNYC. Over 50 people, including many ERMI employees and GCNYC
board members, gathered at Prohibition bar on the Upper West Side for a
cocktail reception, performance and auction. The evening’s highlight
was a special appearance by Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner’s co-star in
the original SNL cast, who performed several songs with his band
to the crowd’s delight. Special thanks go to volunteer Diana Kuen,
who helped organize the event, to Mr. Aykroyd, and to East River Medical
Imaging, who raised over $10,000 to benefit GCNYC. |
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Member profile – Cal Pritner
Cal Pritner, an actor and retired theater professor, was living in Kansas City when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1995.
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After two years and two unsuccessful surgeries, he was told that his
cancer was incurable. He looked for support in a variety of ways,
researching his diagnosis online, taking workshops on meditation and
relaxation and joining prostate cancer support groups. Throughout his time
in Kansas City, Cal’s cancer did not spread, but it steadily
worsened, and his prognosis did not improve.
Cal and his wife moved to New York City in 2000. His new oncologist was a
specialist in holistic urology, who developed a regimen of supplements
which seemed to contain the cancer where traditional treatments had
failed.
Cal slowly learned to live with a diagnosis that was a constant presence
in
his life, even when it was apparently under control. |
On Cal’s birthday in 2002, after they watched a movie at the nearby
Film Forum, Cal’s wife noticed Gilda’s Club New York City. She
suggested that he become a member. As Cal recalls, “I think my wife
had good reasons for introducing me to this – that I needed the
opportunity to interact with people with experiences like mine.”
Surprisingly, this is something that was lacking in the prostate cancer
support groups Cal had joined previously, where he was always the only one
whose cancer was untreatable.
Cal has been a mainstay of the Friday afternoon Wellness Group ever since
joining Gilda’s Club over five years ago. The group helps him to
frame his own, ongoing experience with cancer, while he is an invaluable
listener for many other members. “You often have people walk in
there
who are really frightened, or who have never talked to anyone about their
cancer experience,” he explains. “I think having some of us in
the room who have dealt with cancer over a long period of time can be
helpful to those who are newly diagnosed.” |
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ICAP Charity Day
On December 12th, GCNYC had the good fortune to
participate in the ICAP Charity Day.
ICAP, the world’s premier voice and electronic interdealer broker,
holds
this event annually, where commissions earned on all trades during the day
are donated
to a select group of non-profits. GCNYC
was represented by our friend and volunteer, reigning Miss USA Rachel
Smith,
who wowed the brokers on hand and even completed some trades
herself! The Charity Day earned nearly $19 million
worldwide, $150,000 of which was donated to GCNYC. Special thanks go
to ICAP for inviting us to
participate in this wonderful event, and to Rachel Smith for livening
the day.
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Thank you to our donors!
Please follow this
link for a list of donors who have contributed in the past six
months.
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