Celebrating “25 Years of Progress Through Prevention,” the Prevent Cancer Foundation held its 16th Annual Spring Gala at the National Building Museum on March 12, 2010. The Foundation welcomed 700 guests to the gala, whose theme was Indelible Impressions of India. The glittering event raised nearly 1.3 million dollars to further the organization’s mission: the prevention and early detection of cancer through scientific research, education and community outreach. It was held under the honorary patronage of Her Excellency the Ambassador of India, Meera Shankar.
The event was chaired by Tim Keating of the Boeing Company; Joann Piccolo of Tyco Electronics chaired the Dinner (fundraising) Committee. Celebrity poker players and Bad Beat on Cancer™ Founders, Phil Gordon and Rafe Furst, were honored as the Foundation’s 2010 Cancer Prevention Champions for their outstanding efforts in raising awareness and funds for cancer prevention and early detection.
At the conclusion of dinner, Ron Doornink, former President and CEO of Activision Publishing, Inc., gave a moving speech recounting how cancer has touched his life and that of his family. After Mr. Doornink’s speech, popular WUSA anchorwoman and Prevent Cancer Foundation board member Andrea Roane encouraged attendees to donate and to match a dollar for dollar pledge by Mr. Doornink during the “Lighting the Way to Prevention” portion of the evening. “Lighting the Way to Prevention” refers to the flashing lanyards each donor received after making a contribution. Generous guests donated an additional $58,000 in support of the Foundation which will be matched by Mr. Doornink.
“Our annual spring gala gives the Prevent Cancer Foundation the opportunity to raise money for critical cancer prevention and early detection programs and to thank all our supporters,” explains Carolyn Aldigé, president and founder. The Exclusive Presenting Sponsor for the event was Pfizer and both Amgen and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. served as Premier Benefactors. Eisai and sanofi-aventis were Major Benefactors.
The event décor was designed by David Tutera, the acclaimed wedding and event planner and host of “My Fair Wedding” on WE: Women’s Entertainment. David underwrites much of his cost, enabling the Foundation to keep the expense of the gala within reason. In-kind donors included the, Wine Institute, A. Smith Bowman Distributors and the Beer Institute. The museum’s internal architecture fused well with the event’s design, as did the menu. The wonderful catering was provided by Design Cuisine.
One of Washington D.C.’s most anticipated annual events, the Prevent Cancer Foundation hosted its first gala in 1994 with Former President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush serving as its Co-Chairs. Since its inception in 1985, the Prevent Cancer Foundation has provided over $113 million in support of its programs, aimed at ensuring that the next generation will not have to suffer from preventable cancers.
Gala Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Pfizer, Inc.
Premier Benefactors
Amgen
Walmart
Major Benefactors
Eisai
sanofi-aventis
Benefactors
Abbott Laboratories
Aetna
The Boeing Company
Eli Lilly and Company
GlaxoSmithKline
Merck & Co., Inc.
Southern Company
Tyco Electronics*
Tyco International*
Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company
Wine Institute*
Patrons
Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA)
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP
Allstate Insurance Company
AmerisourceBergen
AT&T Services, Inc.
Battelle
BlueCross BlueShield Association*
Boston Scientific*
Honorable Frank Carlucci and Mrs. Carlucci
Corman Construction, Inc.
EMD Serono
FedEx Corporation
Ford Motor Company*
Genentech
Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
Millennium Pharmaceuticals
New York Life Insurance Company
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Salt River Project
Paul G. Stern
United Parcel Service
Sponsors
American Airlines, Inc.
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
American Society of Clinical Oncology
A. Smith Bowman Distillery, Inc.
Beer Institute*
College of American Pathologists
Dell, Inc.
Denny Miller Associates
Honeywell*
The Hutchins and Vanderhye Families
Tony Kavanagh
Korn/Ferry International
Kraft Foods, Inc.
Brock and Diane Landry
OncoTx, LLC and DIAD, Inc.
Personal Care Products Council
The Peterson Family Foundation
Heather and Tony Podesta
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Qwest
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
The Shaw and Massie Families
Siemens Corporation
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
United States Telecom Association
Williams & Jensen, PLLC*
Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America*
Individual Patrons
Mr. and Mrs. James G. Aldigé, III
BIO
The Brink’s Company
The Honorable and Mrs. Cal Dooley
Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. FitzGerald
Rafe Furst and Laura Rose
George Washington University Cancer Institute
Independent Telephone & Telecommunications Alliance
Johnson & Johnson
The Honorable and Mrs. Harold M. Keshishian
Lt. Col. and Mrs. William K. Konze
Mayer Brown, LLP
Honorable and Mrs. Thomas F. McLarty, III
Ms. Jean Perin
The Prostate Cancer Foundation
Prudential Financial, Inc.*
Mrs. Jeanne Weaver Ruesch
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Skehan
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Verizon
Lisa and Howard Waltzman
Heather and Steve Wingate*
Ms. Virginia Weil
Elizabeth and David Wilson
*Sponsorship donations were made in loving memory of our friend and colleague Jeff Becker.