|
S.L.E. LUPUS FOUNDATION TURNS
“LUPUS RESEARCH UPSIDE DOWN”
AT GALA 2012
Honoring Dedicated Supporters Fern and Lenard
Tessler
and Industry Pioneer Dr. Henry Hess of EMD
Serono
Five-time
Tony Winner Audra McDonald Performs
Today Show Co-host Willie Geist MC’s
More than 700 members of New York City’s philanthropic,
government, business and health care communities joined
forces tonight as the
S.L.E. Lupus Foundation hosted its Gala 2012
to Turn Lupus Research Upside Down.
Held at The American Museum of Natural History, the world’s
largest gathering for lupus was hosted by
Willie Geist, new co-host of NBC’s
Today Show and MSNBC’s Morning Joe. The night
raised over $2.5 million to turn the tables on lupus
with novel innovative research that is producing the pivotal
discoveries to improve treatments and uncovering the root
causes of lupus that can lead to a cure.
Five-time Tony award winner
Audra McDonald
captivated the audience with the breadth and versatility of
her artistry as both a singer and an actress. But she
captured their hearts with her expression of support. “I can
only begin to understand the devastation that lupus can
bring having watched a colleague cope with her mom’s death
from this disease. I wanted to perform for you tonight to
help raise the funds needed to drive the most creative
research that can turn the situation around for people with
lupus as well as millions of others suffering from similar
autoimmune diseases.”
S.L.E. Lupus Foundation President Richard DeScherer
commented, "The S.L.E. Lupus Foundation and the Lupus
Research Institute are turning lupus research on its head,
working with the world’s finest scientific minds among
academia and industry to solve what is the prototype for all
autoimmune diseases."
DeScherer also announced that in addition to devoting funds
raised to lupus research, the Foundation is donating $50,000
to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. “We have been committed
to New York for 42 years – while we expand across the
country and worldwide,
New York will always be our home.
And as New Yorkers, we want to help our neighbors
get back on their feet.”
Honorary Dinner Chair
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg addressed the crowd,
noting, “New York has the most lupus laboratories, private
sector lupus research produced, opportunities for lupus
diagnosis, treatment and care and the most established and
active outreach to combat racial disparities in lupus. The
work of these groups over the past several decades has
greatly contributed to helping our city assume that
leadership role in the U.S. and worldwide.”
Gala honorees Fern and Lenard Tessler were celebrated
for their steadfast dedication to the S.L.E. Lupus
Foundation and its Lupus Research Institute (LRI) in the
relentless pursuit of improving lupus care through novel
research. Lupus is a devastating autoimmune disease that
affects 1.5 million Americans, 90 percent of whom are women
-- with a two to three times greater risk among women of
color.
In accepting the award presented by Board member, past Gala
honoree, dear friend and lupus patient Carol Weisman,
Fern commented, “Our family’s lives were turned upside down
when our niece was diagnosed with lupus at 15. As a young
woman, Gillian is living her life with lupus with undaunted
spirit but we want more – we are determined to give her the
future she deserves and the best way we can is to support
this organization that finds and funds the most
groundbreaking research.
The Foundation’s annual Scientific Leadership Award went to
Dr. Henry Hess, Director, Immunology and
Pharmacology, Research, TA Rheumatology, for
EMD Serono, a subsidiary of Merck KgaA.
“The award recognizes Dr. Hess’ vision in initiating an
unprecedented partnership between EMD Serono and our
organization to advance the most novel research that is
leading to better treatment for lupus patients,” said Dr.
Peter Lipsky, Scientific Advisory Board member of the LRI.
“I’m extremely proud of this collaboration as a prime
example of how industry, academia and non-profit can work
together to offer a new approach to funding novel research
that can speed development of new drugs for lupus,” noted
Dr. Hess. “While there has been a lot of progress in lupus
research and therapy, we must continue to invest resources
in organizations like the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation and the
LRI. This group provides the forum for industry and academia
to come together to build the knowledge that may translate
into groundbreaking new therapies.”
Congressman Bill Keating
of Massachusetts, co-chair and founder of the new
Congressional Lupus Caucus, sends greetings and
congratulations to Dr. Hess and to EMD Serono, located in
his state, honoring its work to help lupus patients and
further lupus research.
Of his personal commitment to the lupus community,
Congressman Keating promises to “do all that I can in
Congress to get the word out and help further research
efforts for this life threatening autoimmune disease.”
Gala 2012 Dinner Chairs were Jennie & Richard DeScherer;
Susan Golick & Alan Wasserman;
Ronnie & Michael Kassan; Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg
& Senator Frank R. Lautenberg;
Andrea & Jeff Lomasky; Lisa & Mark Neporent;
Linda & Seth Plattus; Beth & Alan Waldenberg
and Carol & Michael Weisman.
New York luminaries supporting the event included
Audra’s husband and Broadway star
Will Swenson; Governor Mario Cuomo
& Mrs. Matilda Cuomo; opera legend Jessye
Norman; philanthropists
Edward & Arlyn Gardner and socialite
Karen Koeningsberg.
A live auction conducted by world-renowned Christie’s brought in many more
members to the growing family of active combatants against
lupus.
DeScherer concluded, “The support in this room tonight and
throughout the year is what allows us to continue closing in
on the cause and going for the cure. It is what allows us to
keep fighting for a “Life Without Lupus.”
About S.L.E. Lupus Foundation:
The S.L.E. Lupus Foundation is the country’s preeminent
organization delivering direct patient services, public
education and novel research at a national level. Founded
more than 40 years ago in New York City by lupus patients
and their families as the first nonprofit to serve the lupus
community, it remains the cornerstone of comprehensive care
in all five boroughs in the continuous battle for a Life
Without Lupus. |