ZIGGY MARLEY @ SAMUEL WAXMAN FOUNDATION FETE

****

‘Collaborating for a Cure’

Photos By: James Edstrom

****

Ziggy Marley

Ruth Finley And Chris Wragge

Carly Cushnie And Michelle Ochs

Bettina And Spencer Waxman

Elin And Michael Nierenberg

Marion Waxman And Dr. Samuel Waxman

Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) hosted its ‘Collaborating for a Cure’ Benefit Dinner and Auction, honoring fashion designers Cushnie et Ochs, and featuring a special musical performance by six-time Grammy award winner Ziggy Marley, on Thursday, December 4, 2014 at Cipriani Wall Street. The annual event, now in its seventeenth year, raised $2.5 million to support the Waxman Foundation’s research efforts to produce a cure for cancer.

Robert Kantor And Spencer Waxman

Notable guest attendees included Dr. Samuel Waxman (Founder and CEO of Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation), Michael and Elin Nierenberg (17th Annual Collaborating for a Cure Hosts), Chris Wragge (Co-Anchor of CBS 2 News This Morning), Carly Cushnie (Honoree; Fashion Designer and Co-founder of Cushnie et Ochs), Michelle Ochs (Honoree; Fashion Designer and Co-founder of Cushnie et Ochs), Ziggy Marley (Special Musical Guest), Robert Kantor (President of SWCRF), Hugh Hildesley (Executive Vice President & Auctioneer of Sotheby’s), Spencer Waxman (Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation Board of Directors), Mary Kantor (Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation Honorary Board Member), James Frankel (Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation Board of Directors), and Ruth Finley (Founder of Fashion Calendar).

The event was attended by more than 750 corporate executives, board members, and their guests. The money raised will support the Foundation’s research efforts to produce a cure for cancer by reprogramming cancer cells and to deliver tailored, minimally toxic treatments to patients. The scientists funded by the SWCRF have made significant breakthroughs in cancer research, including identifying pathways to deliver novel therapies to treat cancer.

Sotheby's Hugh Hildesley

SWCRF Collaborating for a Cure host Michael Nierenberg gave his opening remarks, welcoming guests to the Dinner & Auction and thanking the SWCRF’s many supporters for their continued efforts to raise funds for cancer research. The evening’s Master of Ceremonies Chris Wragge then took the stage to introduce Dr. Samuel Waxman whose remarks highlighted the importance of investing in cancer research and developing less toxic therapies for cancer patients of all ages, particularly senior citizens who are unable to tolerate the intensity of chemotherapy. After dinner, Wragge welcomed honorees Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs to the stage. Carly Cushnie said she and Michelle were “thankful to support a cause close to so many hearts.” She described the privilege they had of visiting Dr. Waxman’s laboratory at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and gaining a better understanding of his work, which she described as “mind-blowing.”

Chris Wragge

The evening’s exciting live auction, led by Hugh Hildesley, Executive Vice President of Sotheby’s Auction House, offered guests the opportunity to bid on exclusive items such as two black Labrador puppies which received winning bids of $9,000 and $8,000. Guests were able to bid on an exclusive opportunity to meet Ziggy Marley and receive a guitar autographed by the reggae superstar, which sold to the highest bidder for $23,000. The highest bid of the night, $100,000, went to a luxurious five-night cruise in the Bahamas aboard an M/Y Serque private yacht. Other packages included an Official F1 Opus Champions Grand Prix Experience, which sold for $40,000; an America’s Cup Yacht Race experience captained by former America’s Cup Team Members, sold three times for $11,000 each; a Golf Outing at Hamptons Hills Country Club in Westhampton Beach for 24 People including lunch, 18-holes and a post-golf cocktail party, sold for $13,000; a painting by Peter Lik sold for $15,000; and a one-of-a-kind abstract painting by Harold Garde titled “Drimmed” sold for $20,000. Online auction items – including a 5-night stay in a 3-bedroom residence in Aspen next to The Little Nell and Aspen mountain; a 4-night stay in an ocean view room at Hilton Los Cabos & Golf Resort with airfare for 2; and a 5-night Rome Getaway at St. Regis Grand Hotel with airfare for two – will be available for bidding online at Charitybuzz.com until December 10, 2014. After the auction, guests were treated to an exclusive, live performance by Ziggy Marley.

Known affectionately by New Yorkers as “The Waxman,” the yearly fête is considered to be among the top fundraising events in New York City. In recent years, “The Waxman” has raised several million dollars to support the Waxman Foundation’s research efforts to produce a cure for cancer. Past celebrity supporters have included the Warren Hayes Band, Kid Rock, Chevy Chase, Steely Dan, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Sheryl Crow, John Fogerty, and Counting Crows.

The Event Chairs were: Dale and Peter Claman, Lynn and Wes Edens, Katie and Scott Eichel, Kristen and Johan Eveland, Maria and Kenneth Fishel, Alyssa and Clifford Greenberg, Mary Henry and Howard Rubin, Gary Jacob, Diane and Adam Katz, Nancy and Howard Kurz, Randal Nardone, Elin and Michael Nierenberg, Nancy and Craig Overlander, Mara and Baron Silverstein, Linda Taub and Amy and Jeff Verschleiser.

The Dinner Committee included: Eve and Brant Brooks, Sarah and Brian Chin, Tracy and Frank Collins, Stephanie and Sergio Esposito, Staci and Andrew Friedwald, Phyllis and Gary Gladstein, Erin and Jim Keller, Mildred Levine, Thomas Marano, Melissa and Matthew McQueen, Julie and Martin Migliara, Dana and Michael Miller, Sue and Perry Porricelli, Sal Puliafico, Tammy and Mike Reisman, Samantha Santiago and Steve Jones, Laurie and Charles Schaffran, Erin and Andrew Sloves, Nicholas Smith, Laurie and Joseph Steffa, Alison and Charles Sorrentino, Bettina and Spencer Waxman, Marion and Samuel Waxman, M.D., Dena K. Weiner and David Rozenholc, Amy and Matt Zisette, Laura Zwak and James DeMare.

The Auction Committee included: Nancy Loving and David Hinkelman, Katie Song and Mike Joo, Deborah and Howard Shlafmitz, and Sandy and Marc Taub.

Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation Board:

CHAIRMAN: Michael Nierenberg

PRESIDENT: Robert Kantor

VICE PRESIDENTS: Spencer Waxman, Dena K. Weiner

TREASURER: Thomas A. Conway

SECRETARY: Laurie L. Schaffran

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Dale Claman, James E. Frankel, Gary Gladstein, Clifford Greenberg, Dennis A. Herman, Linda Herman.

David Hinkelman, Alissa Jacob, Gary Jacob, Howard Kurz, Matthew Lyons, Riva Ariella Ritvo-Slifka, Howard Shlafmitz, Tony M. Shogren, David S. Taub**, Samuel Waxman, M.D.

HONORARY BOARD: Maureen Cogan, Martin L. Coyne, Mary Kantor, Abner Levine**, Mildred Levine, Susan W. Rose, Alan P. Safir *, Joan A. Safir *, Edwin C. Scheurer**, Alfred J. Seaman**, Zena Wiener

CHAIRMAN’S COUNCIL: Lawrence Altman, Peter Claman, Ruth Finley, Arminio Fraga, Costas Kondylis, Thomas Marano, Tadashi Shoji, Bernard Sillins

ABOUT THE SAMUEL WAXMAN CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION

The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation is an international organization dedicated to curing and preventing cancer. The Foundation is a pioneer in cancer research and its mission is to eradicate cancer by funding cutting-edge research that identifies and corrects abnormal gene function that causes cancer and develops minimally toxic treatments for patients. Through the Foundation’s collaborative group of world-class scientists, the Institute without Walls, investigators share information and tools to speed the pace of cancer research. Since its inception in 1976, the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation has awarded more than $85 million to support the work of more than 200 researchers across the globe.