More than 550 members of the Fox Chase Cancer Center community gathered in Center City on a recent Saturday night to celebrate the cancer center’s 50th Anniversary Gala. This unforgettable affair raised nearly $5 million (and counting) for clinical research and patient care at Fox Chase.
It was a night devoted to honoring a singular past while setting the stage for a bright future. Guests learned about the unique beginnings of Fox Chase, and how bringing cancer discovery and delivery to a unified institution provided a blueprint for the modern cancer center. A photo exhibit showcased milestones of the past and present, and speakers explained some of the very promising work happening today, and the importance of continued donor support.
In addition to remarks from the event co-chairs and Fox Chase leaders, special guest, Phillies legend Mike Schmidt was nearly as compelling on stage as he was on the baseball diamond. He spoke about the importance of cancer screening and helped kick off the live auction. Schmidt also was honored with the inaugural Fox Chase Freedom Award in recognition of his advocacy work.
In a poignant moment, guests watched a video about the importance of supporting clinical research at Fox Chase, before honoring featured patient Elaine Spangler with a standing ovation for sharing her story. Co-chair Matthew Zelesko encouraged guests to pledge their support in whatever amount was most meaningful, and many in the room generously answered the call.
“Thanks to the generosity of our many donors and sponsors, we will be able to expand and strengthen our clinical research capabilities in pursuit of even more options and better outcomes for our patients and their families,” said Robert Uzzo, MD, MBA, FACS, President and CEO of Fox Chase.
Just before the evening erupted into a dance party, two attendees gave the room a major reason to celebrate – each announcing a transformative major gift to Fox Chase.
Hundreds of photos capturing the energy and excitement of this special evening are available on Flickr.