Nearly 500 guests joined in the fight against cancer during the 2018 American Cancer Society’s Celebration Gala that was held at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa on May 5, 2018.
This year’s event that coincided with the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration was themed “Let’s Fiesta!”
Guests enjoyed a brilliantly decorated and lavish cocktail hour, delicious three-course dinner and dancing as well as extensive silent and elaborate live auctions.
This year’s honorees were the Sweers Family -- Randy, Kim and Chase – founders of FB Marine Group, one of the largest boat dealerships in South Florida. The Sweers Family used their company’s world-class offshore race boat as a platform for “Racing for Cancer,” which was Indy Car Driver Ryan Hunter-Raey’s charity. The race boat traveled around the world promoting the war against cancer. Then, in a strange twist of fate, Sweers herself was diagnosed with breast cancer and her father-in-law was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer in the same year. Due to early detection and the advancements in cancer research both are in remission today.
The Celebration Gala was hosted by Dale McLean, in-arena host for the Miami Heat. Ellen Crane of Cancer Treatment Centers of America and a breast cancer survivor herself was this year’s mission speaker. She spoke about her diagnosis and brought the house down with a stunning demonstration of strength when she broke a piece of wood, Karate style. Lori Castle returned for the second consecutive year as co-chair with her daughter Heather Frantz. Palm Beach County hosts were Loriann and Peter Gary.
“We need to eradicate cancer, said Noreen Salah Burpee of The Salah Foundation, Presenting Sponsor for the Gala. “One in three will be diagnosed in their lifetime, we need to fund research to make sure our children live in a cancer free world.”
The Salah Foundation has been the presenting sponsor for the American Cancer Society Celebration Gala for two consecutive years. Executive Director and Ellis Island Medal of Honor Recipient, Noreen Salah Burpee shares “the philosophy of my family has always been that one cannot take from this world without giving back. In part, we see our job as identifying a need and then fulfilling it.” With this in mind, The Salah Foundation has made a significant impact in the fight against cancer and has become the heartbeat of the American Cancer Society Celebration Gala.
The 2018 Celebration Gala was presented by The Salah Foundation. Gold Sponsors included the Frantz Family, FB Marine Group, Pinnacle Advertising & Marketing Group, LSCU Broward & Southernmost Chapters and Optime. Silver Sponsors were JM Family Enterprises, Inc., the Mintz Family and AutoNation. Bronze Sponsors were Afrohead, Durée & Company, Ultimate Software, Sweet Guilt, Lifestyle Media Group, Toast Vodka, Aloré Event Firm, South Florida Business & Wealth and Suerte Tequila. VIP Table Sponsors included Coral Cables Trust, Lynn Cancer Institute, Mercantil Bank, Memorial Health Systems, Northwestern Mutual, Everest Business Funding, Peter Zupcofska and Bob Wilson, Whitelock Family, Holy Cross Hospital and 21st Century Oncology/ South Florida Radiation Oncology. Survivor Sponsor was the Cancer Treatment Centers. Mission Sponsor was the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Centers.
The 2019 Celebration Gala will be held on May 4, 2019. Visit www.cancer.org for more information.
The American Cancer Society is available to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Visit cancer.org or call 1-800-227-2345.
About American Cancer Society
About the American Cancer Society: The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society's efforts have contributed to a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. Thanks in part to our progress nearly 14 million Americans who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year. We're finding cures as the nation’s largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air, and more. For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
