Dr. Guenther Koehne, Chairman of the 2018 Light the Night Campaign, and Fisher Island CEO Bernard Lackner co-hosted an intimate soiree in honor of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Executive Committee at the historic Vanderbilt Mansion on May 9.
After arriving to the exclusive private island by ferry, guests were treated to an al fresco seaside reception before attending the five-course, candlelit dinner held in the historic Vanderbilt Mansion library.
Orion Gornes from Dark Star Imports graciously provided the wines while expertly guiding the guests through a tasting of Bastianich and La Mozza fine Italian vintages. The glamorous evening, meticulously designed by events and lifestyle impresario Iman Hasan, served as a prelude to the upcoming Leukemia & Lymphoma Society kick-off and recruitment luncheon to be held at Northern Trust on May 22nd.
The high-powered luncheon will serve to identify corporate sponsors, individual donors, and to organize family and corporate teams for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s premier fundraiser, The Light the Night event, which takes place on November 3rd at Bayfront Park in the heart of downtown Miami. During the event, more than 5,000 people – including corporate and family teams who have been touched by cancer – will gather to walk in an emotional and uplifting evening that aims to shine light on one of life’s darkest moments. Together they join a massive cancer community of approximately 1 million people at 150 inspirational evening walks across the U.S. and Canada to end cancer.
“The vital support of our committee members cannot be overstated and this evening was a very special way to celebrate their efforts to raise awareness and important funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. By supporting LLS, they not only advance the most pioneering cancer research of our time, they help accelerate promising treatments that save lives,” said Dr. Koehne, chief of Hematologic Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation at Miami Cancer Institute, who is steering this year’s fundraiser.
Among those in attendance were: Jim and Susan Carr, Diane Cruz, Sissy DeMaria Koehne, Lani and Gene Drody, Jessica Hershberger, Dan and BruKodsi, Tova and Israel Kreps, Hebe Occupati, Mike Villasana, Iman Hasan, Orion Gornes, Dana and Kevin Nateman, Dr. Nancy Reierson, Steve Smith, Dr. Lisa Reale, and Masoud and Stephanie Shojaee.
Survivors celebrate by carrying white lanterns and taking part in an inspiring survivor ceremony within the survivor circle as a white beam of hope reaches up to the sky illuminating the darkness. A Remembrance Pavilion honors those who have passed and allows a quiet place where family, friends and co-workers can leave tributes to their loved ones.
A 501 charitable organization, LLS was founded in 1949 and serves as the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting blood cancer. For more than 68 years, LLS has invested more than $1.2 billion to advance cancer therapies and save lives. LLS brings hope instead of despair by working to ensure access to treatments for all blood cancer patients. The nonprofit brings communities together to celebrate those who are fighting the disease and to honor those who have been lost. LLS identifies and funds the most promising blood cancer research projects and forges partnerships with academic institutions, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to accelerate the development of new therapies. For more information please contact Hebe Occupati at hebe.occupati@lls.org.
