JOHN WAYNE CANCER INSTITUTE AUXILIARY HONORS

DR. MARILOU TERPENNING WITH THE ANGEL AWARD AND

DAN HAY WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD

AT ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON & BOUTIQUE

SANTA MONICA, CA (October 29, 2014) – The John Wayne Cancer Institute Auxiliary honored Marilou Terpenning, MD, John Wayne Cancer Institute oncologist, with the Angel Award; and Dan Hay, president and CEO of Premier Girls Fastpitch and Surf City Tourneys, Inc., with the Public Service Award at its Annual Membership Luncheon and Boutique, October 23, 2014 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Prior to the luncheon, guests enjoyed a holiday boutique featuring fine and costume jewelry, clothing, accessories and other items ideal for gift-giving. Vendors donated a portion of their proceeds to the Auxiliary. 

Event co-chairs, Katie Lewis and Marisol Zarco welcomed the nearly 300 guests before introducing the afternoon’s MC, actor Gerard DiNome, tackling the host duties for the second year. Anita Swift, President of the Auxiliary and granddaughter of John Wayne took a moment to celebrate the accomplishments of the organization which, since its founding in 1981 has raised more than $18 million dollars for the Institute. She announced an April 11, 2015 date for the group’s annual Odyssey Ball, noting that this past Spring’s event was its most successful ever. She also introduced, from the audience, the new chief executive of the John Wayne Cancer Institute and Providence Saint John’s Health Center, Marcel Loh, attending with his wife, Jane.

Patrick Wayne, son of the late, iconic actor and Chairman of the John Wayne Cancer Institute Board, presented the 2014 Public Service Award to Dan Hay, founder of the Huntington Beach based Premier Girls Fastpitch and Surf City Tourneys, organizations that provide a national platform where fastpitch softball players can demonstrate their skills. According to Wayne, it was Hay’s passion for softball and his love of John Wayne films that inspired him to spearhead major softball tournaments benefiting The John Wayne Cancer Institute. In the past three years, over $65,000 has been raised.

Former Auxiliary President and cancer survivor, Lois Rosen, poignantly shared her personal association with 2014 Angel Award honoree, Marilou Terpenning, MD, describing her as “her own personal angel.”  Dr. Terpenning joined the adjunct faculty of the John Wayne Cancer Institute in 2006 and has been Adjunct Professor of Medical Oncology at John Wayne Cancer Institute since 2013. She also serves as president and CEO of Santa Monica Hematology-Oncology Consultants, which she founded in 1988. With a clinical commitment to women’s cancers, particularly breast cancer, she maintains strong community ties with patient support organizations and currently serves as Medical Director of Oncology at Providence Saint John’s Health Center.

A highlight of the afternoon was the presentation of an oversized check by Melanie Wayne, daughter of John Wayne and treasurer of the JWCIA, in the amount of $798,178.00 to Patrick Wayne who was joined on the stage by Dr. Anton J. Bilchik, Professor of Surgery and Chief of Medicine at John Wayne Cancer Institute. The check represented funds raised in the last year by the Auxiliary and earmarked for the Institut

About the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center

Since 1981, the family of John Wayne has been committed to pioneering cancer research in memory of their father, who died of cancer. For more than 30 years, the courageous and dedicated researchers at the John Wayne Cancer Institute (JWCI) have made groundbreaking discoveries that have changed the way cancer is detected, diagnosed and treated around the world. Today, the tradition of excellence continues as JWCI spearheads new research advances, while training the next generation of leaders in the fight against cancer through its renowned Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program. The Institute’s programs focus on melanoma, breast, neuro, prostate and gastrointestinal cancers, as well as innovative research in cancer genomics, molecular biomarkers, and chemo- and immunotherapies. With its unique ability to rapidly turn scientific discoveries into novel approaches for early detection and treatment, JWCI provides immediate hope to cancer patients everywhere. For more information,
please visit www.jwci.org.

About the John Wayne Cancer Institute Auxiliary

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