LUNGevity Foundation’s Celebration of Hope Gala

As the Fall gala season is in full swing, LUNGevity Foundation’s Celebration of Hope Gala at the swanky Pierre Hotel celebrated the remarkable progress in lung cancer research and two special award winners who have made life better for lung cancer patients and survivors. Even non smokers are susceptible to lung cancer with every one in five non smoking women diagnosed every year.
LUNGEvity Foundation President and Chairman Andrea Ferris presented the Face of Hope Award to Donna Karan for the Urban Zen Foundation which she founded in response to her husband’s battle with lung cancer. While the doctors treated the disease, Karan saw a critical need to treat the patient and as she noted, “return the ‘care’ to healthcare.” Through a holistic approach to health and lung cancer treatment, Urban Zen Foundation has made a meaningful difference for those living with the disease.

Senior Vice President for US Oncology Teresa Bitetti accepted the Hope Award for Corporate Leadership on behalf of Bristol-Myers Squibb in recognition of its corporate commitment to lung cancer communities across the United States and around the world.

Bristol-Myers Squibb was honored with the Hope Award for Corporate Leadership for its commitment to lung cancer communities around the world.

NBC4 News Anchor David Ushery’s remarks mirrored this sentiment as he addressed the survivors, caregivers, advocates, and supporters in attendance, noting that “your inspiration and help will ensure that we continue to make the progress that is creating a brighter future for all who are affected by lung cancer.”
Notable attendees such as Donna Karan, Ashley and Jason Bernhard, Mrs. John Updike, Rachel and Alexander Stern, Richard Gormley and Sulaika Zarrouk, Kelly Gerstenhaber, Pauline and Marshall Brown, and Gabby Karan De Felice and Gianpaolo De Felice, were on hand to lend their support for the gala dinner and a lively afterparty.

About LUNGevity Foundation
LUNGevity Foundation is firmly committed to making an immediate impact on increasing quality of life and survivorship of people with lung cancer by accelerating research into early detection and more effective treatments, as well as by providing community, support, and education for all those affected by the disease. Our vision is a world where no one dies of lung cancer. For more information about LUNGevity Foundation, please visit www.LUNGevity.org.

About Lung Cancer
· 1 in 14 Americans is diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime
· More than 224,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year
· About 60% of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers
· Lung cancer kills more people than the next three cancers (colorectal, breast, and pancreatic) combined
· Only 17% of all people diagnosed with lung cancer will survive 5 years or more, BUT if it’s caught before it spreads, the chance for 5-year survival improves dramatically