The Event -- When, Where and Why
On Saturday evening, November 23, 2019 the Reid R Sacco AYA Cancer Alliance hosted the "AYA Red Carpet Holiday Gala" in the breathtaking Grand Ballroom of Boston's Fairmont-Copley Hotel.
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The Gala celebrated 15 years of successfully 'altering the course' of Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Cancer.
Guests were treated to an elegant cocktail reception, fine dining, silent and live auctions, dancing, and live music all night long. Musical guests for the evening include Longwood Symphony Orchestra, The Legit Band, and Jazz for a Cause.
All proceeds from the Gala benefited adolescents and young adults (AYAs) diagnosed with cancer by funding clinical programs specifically designed to close vital gaps in care and research for the cancers that strike this tragically under-served population---cancer patients between the ages of 15 and 39.
VIP Celebrity Guest of Honor -- Will Reiser
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Guests were able to meet Mr. Reiser at a special VIP Reception. Mr. Reiser addressed the audience of more than 500 attendees with a moving, yet humorous, account of how his own battle with cancer inspired his work.
Mr. Reiser is an award-winning screenwriter and producer. Among Reiser’s many credits are the Emmy nominated "Da Ali G Show" and the feature film, 50/50 - inspired by his own personal battle with cancer - which earned Reiser an Indie Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay, the National Board of Review Award for Best Original Screenplay, and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical.
Since the success of 50/50, Mr. Reiser has devoted much of his time to working with cancer patients, traveling and speaking with cancer organizations, advocacy groups, Universities and Medical Schools. He was honored in 2012 with the Extreme Survivor Award by the organization Stupid Cancer for his "courage, irreverence and creativity in achieving meaningful change.
Celebrity Emcee and Auctioneer -- Janet Wu
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Janet Wu graciously served as the event's emcee and auctioneer. Ms. Wu is a national television anchor and special-feature reporter, a decorated journalist, and a professor at Emerson College.
VIP Celebrity Emcee and Auctioneer -- Janet Wu
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Janet Wu graciously served as the event's emcee and auctioneer. Ms. Wu is a national television anchor and special-feature reporter, a decorated journalist, and a professor at Emerson College.