PALM BEACH – On the evening of February 4, 2011 at the American Cancer Society's Annual Gala on Palm Beach,
Mr. Patrick M. Park will be honored with The Dame Celia Lipton Farris National Lifetime Achievement Award.  More than 500 friends, family, colleagues as well as a host of American Cancer Society supporters will gather for this most special occasion at The Mar-a-Lago Club where Donald Trump, Co-Chairman of the event will present this distinguished, national honor to Patrick Park.

“Patrick Park is a dear friend of mine and I can’t think of anyone better to be receiving this award,” said Mr. Trump.  “His service to the community and most importantly to the American Cancer Society is incomparable.  I am honored to present this award to him.”

This exclusive honor was first bestowed upon Dame Celia Lipton Farris at The American Cancer Society's Golden Anniversary Gala in 2008 for dedicating her time, talent, energy and resources to The American Cancer Society for more than 30 years.  Mr. Park has also been a long-standing, devoted benefactor and a dedicated leader to The American Cancer Society and throughout the community.  His commitment and passion to this organization for more than 20 years is why Dame Farris, in conjunction with the Board of Trustees, personally selected him to receive this most prestigious award.

“Dame Celia has been a treasured friend of mine for many years, and I am grateful and humbled to be receiving an award that was first created for her. In addition, the American Cancer Society is a cause very close to my heart and I am proud to be part of an organization that is making such incredible progress in the fight against cancer,” said Park.

The 53rd Annual American Cancer Society Gala, “White Out Cancer…Celebrate Living” is honored to have Mr. and Mrs. Donald J. Trump serve as Chairmen for this memorable event. Dame Celia Lipton Farris will once again serve as Honorary Chairwoman and Chairman Emeritus while Patty Myura, Patrick Park and Nathalie Fernandez will serve as Honorary Chairmen.   Limited Sponsorship opportunities are still available; tickets are $750 per person. Please contact Victoria Peyton, Senior Executive Director at the American Cancer Society, Island of Palm Beach Unit, (561) 655-3449 or victoria.peyton@cancer.org for reservations or additional information.

Proceeds raised through the American Cancer Gala on Palm Beach further the organization’s mission to eliminate cancer as a major health problem.  The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer.  We save lives by helping people stay well through preventing cancer or detecting it early; by helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in ground breaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do.