The Skin Cancer Foundation recently held its 22nd annual Gala at The Plaza Hotel in New York. The Champions for Change Gala is the Foundation’s signature fundraising event, and $600,000 was raised to support the organization’s educational campaigns, community programs, and research initiatives.
More than 400 guests attended the event, including The Skin Cancer Foundation donors, industry and physician allies, celebrity supporters, and members of the media. Notable guests included Sofía Vergara, David Harbour, Condola Rashad, Kayli Carter, and Dolores Catania.
Gala Highlights
After the cocktail reception in the Plaza’s Terrace Room, guests were ushered into the Grand Ballroom for the seated dinner and formal program. The evening was emceed by Jeff Rossen, host of “Rossen Reports” on NBC’s Today show, who kept the evening lively as he introduced the night’s speakers. Mr. Rossen shared his own experience with skin cancer and spoke about the similarities between his work and the Foundation’s mission.
Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD
The Skin Cancer Foundation President, Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD, took the stage to talk about the impact of the Foundation’s work. “We do this work at The Skin Cancer Foundation because we believe in what we do and have seen the results. Indeed, we have saved lives,” said Dr. Sarnoff. “We celebrate the champions who face this disease head on, their loved ones who fight right alongside them, and the people who work tirelessly to provide the resources needed to prevent, detect, and treat skin cancer before it can devastate a life.”
The Champion for Change Award was presented to Robert J. Friedman, MD, Clinical Professor at NYU School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, for his dedication to skin cancer education. The Skin Cancer Foundation’s 2018 Media Award was presented to O, The Oprah Magazine, in recognition of the magazine’s outstanding skin cancer–related editorial coverage. ■
