The North Fork Breast Health Coalition raised almost $120,000 for local breast cancer patients at its annual Pink Pearl Gala, held April 11 at the Sea Star Ballroom in Riverhead, the organization announced in a press release.
The gala, named for the late Pearl Philindas, a past president of NFBHC, celebrated breast-cancer survivors and thrivers as well as providers and caregivers. It featured a cocktail reception, seated dinner, raffles and dancing to music by DJ Phil of Make Some Noise.
The gift basket raffle raised an additional $21,000 to benefit the NFBHC Keri Lynn Stromski Stage IV Breast Cancer Research and Support Fund. The fund was established in 2021 to provide financial support to oncologists who are treating local patients and are actively doing cutting-edge research on extending and saving lives of Stage IV breast cancer patients. The fund also supports Stage IV thrivers who often have unexpected costs and expenses associated with their treatment.
The North Fork Breast Health Coalition is a volunteer-run nonprofit that supports local breast cancer patients with programs such as Helping Hand grants and offers free services to breast cancer patients and survivors, including gentle yoga, reflexology, massage therapy and “Strength for Life” exercise classes, as well as free hats, scarves, wigs and protheses from the Rita Duva Boutique at the organization’s office in Riverhead.
The organization was founded in 1998 by Ann Cotten-DeGrasse and her late husband Antonio DeGrasse because they saw a great need for such an organization on the North Fork, where there is an especially high rate of diagnosis of the disease.
During this year’s gala, the North Fork Breast Health Coalition honored Lisa and Anthony Sannino with the NFBHC Community Spirit Award and The Simmons Point Group of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC with the NFBHC Corporate Leadership Award.
For more information about the NFBHC or the organization’s Stage IV Fund, call 631-208-8889 or visit www.northforkbreasthealth.org.
Editor’s note: This article was amended to correct an error regarding the names of the recipients of awards presented at the gala.
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