Susan Bass Levin, President and CEO of The Cooper Foundation, announced today that the Ninth Annual Pink Roses Teal Magnolias Brunch raised $850,000 for breast and gynecologic cancer research and clinical programs at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper.
“The money raised through Pink Roses Teal Magnolias supports women in the fight against breast and gynecologic cancer and benefits patients and their families’ right here in our South Jersey community,” said Levin, an ovarian cancer survivor. “We have made tremendous strides in diagnosing and treating breast and gynecologic cancer, but we know there is still much more work to be done. We cannot rest until we conquer cancer once and for all.”
More than 700 people attended this year’s brunch held at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill, NJ. The event honored Dianne Hyman, RN, Transition Care Manager; Pallav Mehta, MD, Director of Integrative Oncology; and Roland Schwarting, MD, Chairman and Chief of the Department of Pathology.
“With the support of Pink Roses Teal Magnolias we are able to fund innovative research that results in better treatments and brings us closer to a cure,” said Generosa Grana, MD, Executive Director of MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper. “Pink Roses Teal Magnolias also helps support critical programs, such as the Dr. Diane Barton Complementary Medicine Program, which helps heal the body and mind.”
This year’s fundraising event included a Survivors March to recognize all cancer survivors in attendance, a health fair, raffles, a silent auction and an online quilt auction. The event also featured inspiring stories from four cancer survivors: Cathy Crawford, Claire Davis, Jan Emanuel-Costley, and Phyllis Markoff.
Since the first brunch in 2010, fundraising for Pink Roses Teal Magnolias has totaled $5.35 million. Funds have been used to support research; new technology; the Patient-In-Need Fund; the Survivorship Program; and the Dr. Diane Barton Complementary Medicine program, including the Tea Cart, in which employees volunteer to serve snacks to patients and their families during chemotherapy.
“MD Anderson at Cooper is transforming cancer care for the people of South Jersey and the region,” said George E. Norcross III, Chairman of Cooper University Health Care. “I am tremendously grateful for the contributions of our community and for the support that has helped make MD Anderson at Cooper the leading cancer center in South Jersey.”
The brunch was co-chaired by community members Donna Forman, Cherry Hill; Ilene Grossman, Voorhees; Janet Knowles, Moorestown; and Carolyn Shelby, Westampton; along with MD Anderson at Cooper leaders Generosa Grana, MD; Kristin L. Brill, MD; Francis R. Spitz, MD; David P. Warshal, MD; and Anthony Dragun, MD.