Bottoms Up® Celebrity Charity Event Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

The star power will be out in full force in Fairfield, CT, this September 13-14 as the fifth annual Colorectal Cancer Alliance Bottoms Up® Invitational Golf Tournament & Concert swings into action. The two-day fundraiser is hosted by Today Show anchor Craig Melvin and his wife, award-winning sportscaster Lindsay Czarniak, in honor of Craig’s brother, Lawrence Meadows, who died from colorectal cancer at the young age of 43.

Behind the celebrity lineup and live music is an urgent, escalating crisis. Colorectal cancer is the deadliest cancer in people under 50 and second deadliest overall. The disease is highly preventable and, when caught early, highly treatable. Yet cases are increasing in young patients, and three out of four are diagnosed at late stages, when treatment options and survival odds narrow dramatically.

That's the gap the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (Alliance), the nation's largest nonprofit dedicated to ending the disease, is working to close through patient support, education, and research innovation that saves lives. In the past four years, the Bottoms Up Invitational has raised more than $4.4 million for that mission. This year, as the event celebrates its fifth anniversary of impact, organizers aim to make it the biggest yet.

"We are in a race against a disease that is skewing younger and more aggressive every year," said Michael Sapienza, CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. "Craig and Lindsay chose to turn their loss into action and that choice has already helped fund lifesaving research and programs for countless families. This September, we're asking everyone to join us for the fifth anniversary and be part of the solution." 

Concert & Golf for a Cause

Along with spreading awareness about the disease and raising funds for the Alliance’s lifesaving initiatives, Bottoms Up inspires an upbeat energy through fun, engaging activities.

• Opening Reception & Concert: 5 p.m., September 13 – Fairfield Theater Company
  • Guests will enjoy live performances by a star-studded line up of talented artists, dinner, open bar and celebrity mingling.
  • Past musicians include members of Hootie & The Blowfish, Lisa Lisa, Chris Barron of the Spin Doctors, Branford Marsalis, Edwin McCain, and more.
     
• Celebrity Golf Invitational: 8:30 a.m., September 14 – Shorehaven Golf Club 
  • Golfers will enjoy being paired with celebrity guests, as well as a breakfast and dinner with specialty items as takeaways from the event.
  • Past celebrity golfers include concert musicians, Carson Daly, Dylan Dreyer, Willie Geist, Maury Povich, Michael Eaves, Alex English and more.

Tickets & Support

Concert tickets are $275 and include dinner, open bar, entertainment, and a chance to connect with celebrities and advocates. Proceeds fuel the Alliance’s programs that drive prevention, support patients, and accelerate research.

To sponsor the golf tournament, purchase tickets, or donate, visit bottomsupinvitational.org.

About The Colorectal Cancer Alliance

The Colorectal Cancer Alliance is the leading patient advocacy organization dedicated to ending colon and rectal cancers. The Alliance helps people facing the disease today, while innovating toward a future where fewer people are diagnosed and more lives are saved. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Alliance invests in innovation, supports patients and families, champions awareness and advocacy, and builds community to ensure no one faces this disease alone. For more information, visit colorectalcancer.org or call the helpline at (877) 422-2030. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok.

BOTTOMS UP is a registered trademark of the Bottoms Up Organization and is used by the Colorectal Cancer Alliance under license.

Media Contact
Emily Blasi
eblasi@ccalliance.org
(202) 971-9964