Celebrating 20 Years of Free Cancer Support

Winter 2014
Record breaking $1.1M raised at the
19th Anniversary Benefit Gala
Celebrating 20 Years of
Free Cancer Support
The year 2015 will mark a milestone for Gilda’s Club New York City.
Twenty years ago in June 1995, we officially opened our Red Door at
195 West Houston Street to the cancer community.
More than 480 guests attended our
19th Anniversary Gala at the Pierre
hotel on November 13th and helped to
raise a record breaking $1.1M for our
free cancer support program. WABC
TV news anchor and ABC News 20/20
correspondent, Bill Ritter, hosted the
event for the 3rd consecutive year and
auctioneer C. Hugh Hildesley of Sotheby’s entertained
the guests with his lively auction rapport. Miss USA, Nia
Sanchez, assisted Mr. Hildesley by lending a hand to auction
off a beautiful red Vespa during the live bidding.
Individuals who have made an impact in the cancer
community. Sandra E. Peterson, Group Worldwide
Chairman of Johnson & Johnson was presented the
Corporate Vision Award, Laura Schumacher, Executive
Vice President, Business Development, External Affairs
and General Counsel of AbbVie the Advances in Cancer
Research Award, and Paul B. Shields, CEO of EMCOR/
Penguin the Bill Modell Heart of Gold Award.
Fourteen year-old Margaux received a standing ovation
after she spoke eloquently and fondly about her experience
as a member of Gilda’s Club, and how the program helped
her through her mother’s cancer and then through her
bereavement.
IN THIS ISSUE
Celebrating 20 Years of
Free Cancer Support
Corporate guests and sponsors in attendance included
Platinum Door Benefactor: Celgene; Red Door Benefactors:
AbbVie and Johnson & Johnson; and Gold Door Patrons:
BBDO, DDB, OMD, Eisai, Genentech, IPG, J. Walter
Thompson and McKinsey&Company among many other
corporate sponsors, benefactors and philanthropists.
Special thanks goes to our honorees for their amazing work,
Margaux for sharing her story, Bill Ritter for hosting the
event, Miss USA Nia Sanchez, our Gala Co-Chairs Bob
Easton and Mark Alles and Dinner Chair Ann Russo, and of
course, all of our guests and supporters for helping us make
this year’s gala such a success. We look forward to seeing
everyone next year at our big 20th Anniversary celebration!
Member Spotlight:
Meet Alan
Congratulations to our
Marathon Team!
Record breaking $1.1M
raised at the
19th Anniversary Benefit Gala
Founded in memory of Gilda Radner by Gene Wilder, psychotherapist
Joanna Bull, Mandy Patinkin, Joel Siegel, and other notable friends,
Gilda’s Club was created to provide a welcoming and homey space
where people of all ages could come together and support
one another through their cancer experience.
To kick off our 20th Anniversary celebration, Gilda’s Club NYC proudly
announces our first Gildafest to be held on January 27th at Carolines on
Broadway (see below for more about Gildafest’15).
Be sure to check our website throughout the year, or follow us on
Facebook and Twitter, as we continue to celebrate our 20th anniversary
all year long!
“Having cancer gave me
membership in an elite club
I’d rather not belong to.”
- Gilda Radner
See more photos on our
Facebook page!
Gilda’s Club New York City | 195 West Houston Street | New York, NY 10014 | (212) 647-9700 | www.gildasclubnyc.org
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Board of Directors
Robert J. Easton, Chairman
Mark J. Alles
Laura Bartlett
Rob Bochicchio
Brian Cohen
Robert C. Faulkner
Frank Gibbons
Amanda Goddard, PhD
Carl S. Goldfischer, MD
Sofija Jovic, PhD
Mike Lee
Sharyn N. Lewin, MD
Ellen A. Lubman
Matthew R. Patterson
Michael J. Posillico
Andrea F. Rabney
Jami Rubin
Francis J. Russo
Alexander Scott
William S. Slattery
Congratulations to our
2014 Marathon Team!
Member Spotlight:
Alan
Associate Board
Krista Gundersen, Chair
Dara Adams
Julia Bartlett
Jordan Benkov
Amy Brooks
Tracey Doolin
Maria Franceschelli
Whitnee Glinski
Blaike A. Hannay
Neil Heckman
Megan Knurr
Andrew Levison
Andrew Maksymowicz
Zach R. Mattler
Karen Menzie
Rada Milenovici
Ellie Newman
Bridgette Payne
Ashley Sampson
Ari Schnitzer
Jessica Serre
Steven Smolyn
John Switzer
Stefani Zien
Staff
Lily Safani, CEO
Migdalia Torres
Deborah K. Wilson
Nadine Bartholomew
Christine Braunstein
Joshua Fesi
Michele Halusic
Carolina Hoires
Eileen Jackson
Michelle Marte
Ramona Maysonet
Jordan Patinkin
Michelle Ramlochan
Nicole Randall
Pontip Rasavong
Emily Riordan
Jessilyn Torres
GildaGram
Publication of the Development Office
Deborah K. Wilson, Director of Development
Pontip Rasavong, Development and Marketing
Communications Associate
Gilda’s Club New York City, Inc.
195 West Houston Street • New York, NY 10014
(212) 647-9700 • development@gildasclubnyc.org
www.gildasclubnyc.org • @gildasclubnyc
This year, we had 23 runners on the Gilda’s Club NYC marathon team and we couldn’t be more proud to
be represented by these amazing athletes. On Sunday, November 2nd the team ran in the 2014 TCS NYC
Marathon in honor of Gilda’s Club NYC and raised over $93,000 for our program of free cancer support.
Alan and his family came to
Gilda’s Club NYC after the loss
of his wife. “I didn’t know how to
deal with the loss and was unsure
of how to provide support for my
kids,” he said. Upon becoming
members, Alan was placed into a
bereavement support group while
his two children attended our
Noogieland program for children
ages 4-12.
For Alan, his support group
became like his family. Because
they all shared similar experiences,
he was comfortable talking more
freely with them than with his
friends who he didn’t think could
always help him.
His daughter says she likes coming
to Gilda’s Club because she can
be around others who are going
through the same thing. His
son likes the support he receives
from the other children and even
recommended Gilda’s Club to
another boy who had lost a parent.
It was important to Alan that
his kids have support from other
children who share a common
experience so they wouldn’t have
to deal with their loss alone. After
coming to Gilda’s Club, Alan
has found that his children now
feel good about themselves and
can help other kids with their
experiences.
Alan and his family are just a few
of the 4200 members who come
to Gilda’s Club for free cancer
support. Your support ensures that
families like his will receive the
help they need.
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Thank you to all of our runners for your outstanding support, dedication & hard work and to all of your friends
and family who helped you reach your fundraising goal.
To join the 2015 Marathon Team, or for more information, please email gildaontherun@gildasclubnyc.org.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
For more information about any of the listed events, please visit our website at
www.gildasclubnyc.org under Special Events or email development@gildasclubnyc.org
December
December 25-26
Clubhouse Closed
Happy Holidays!
December 31
Final Day
for Year-End Contributions
January
January 1
Clubhouse Closed
Happy New Year!
January 19
Clubhouse Closed
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 27
Special Event
GildaFest’15 honoring Amy Poehler
January 27
Clubhouse Lecture
Private Insurance: Coverage Denials
& the Appeals Process
February
February 26
Special Event
Rememberance Gathering
March
March 14
Member Event
Health & Wellness Day
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