Colorectal Cancer Alliance Annual Gala Raised $1.3 Million Towards Research & Screening Programs

National non-profit the Colorectal Cancer Alliance hosted their eighth annual Blue Hope Bash on Thursday, October 25, at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

The event is the premier fundraising gala of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and brings together individuals and corporations that are passionate about supporting the Alliance’s mission to end colorectal cancer within our lifetime. Since the event’s inception in 2010, it has raised more than $8.5 million. This year’s gala brought together more than 650 attendees and raised $1.3 million toward the organization’s key strategic goals:

• Invest $10 million in critical research by 2021
• Save 100,000 lives through increased screening in 10 years
• Double the number of people served by 2021

The theme this year was “In Our Lifetime,” a message that resonated with Today Show and MSNBC News anchor Craig Melvin, the gala’s emcee.  His brother Lawrence Meadows was diagnosed two years ago with stage IV (metastatic) colorectal cancer at age 39. Earlier this year, Craig provided an update on his brother’s cancer journey (link). In March 2018, Melvin invited Alliance CEO Michael Sapienza to the Today Show to talk about early detection and young-onset incidence rates (link).

The 2018 Blue Hope Bash was co-chaired by Jennifer Chow, Jennifer Redmond, Tammy Sickels and Alexa Smith and included a welcome cocktail reception, a special dinner program, live and silent auctions, and concluded with one lucky ally winning a custom 2019 Porsche Boxster.

A few highlights from the evening:

• Guests met 12 incredible AmBASHadors and watched an amazing video about three of them—Joy, Nicole, and Rich.
• Avi Benaim shared information about the Michelle Benaim Memorial Fund.
• Cheryl Litman will soon be driving a 2019 Porsche Boxster, which she won in the Blue Hope Bash car raffle and was donated by Jay and Lyn Ferriero.
• Julie Clowes won a blue sapphire and diamond necklace during the Bubbles & Bling portion of the evening. The necklace was donated by Liljenquist & Beckstead and designed by Steve Clarke.
• Alexa Bennaim took home a Rolex Submariner men’s watch, which she won in the Bubbles & Bling portion of the evening. The watch was donated by Jay and Lyn Ferriero.
• The Alliance's generous sponsors made the evening happen.

Photos from the evening, courtesy of Washington Talent, can be viewed here.