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On December 2, the Prostate Cancer Foundation raised more than $6 million at their annual New York dinner at the Pierre Hotel.
Since their founding in 1993, the non-profit group has expanded into 19 countries and has raised more than $615 million for research. Their goal is to spread awareness about prostate cancer and improve the investment of research funds.
After a quick cocktail reception, Whoopi Goldberg and John O’Hurley introduced the crowd to Michael Milken, the founder of the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
“I remind him that I do not have a prostate,” Goldberg joked.
Milken kicked off the night by talking about the Charles Evans PCF Pro-Am Tour. During this tour, amateurs play with tennis professionals during high seasons. Milken then kept up the sport theme with a quiz on Abbot and Costello’s “Who’s On First” comedy sketch.
And to honor their twenty-season partnership with Major League Baseball, MLB members took to the stage to perform a unique rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” while donning Prostate Cancer Foundation jerseys.
“If you buy a baseball team next year, you could be up here,” Milken said to a round of laughter.
However, their partnership with Major League Baseball has done more than just give the organization entertainment for the night. Over the years, their partnership culminated into the PCF Home Run Challenge, in which baseball fans pledge to donate for every home run hit in a certain time frame. Over $45 million have been raised from this gesture alone.
Next, Prostate Cancer Foundation CEO and president Jonathan Simmons was introduced. Simmons has been contributing to the organization for years by providing promising scientists with grants, leading to better treatments for prostate cancer. In total, the organization has given out grants to one hundred seventy-three scientists. This number was displayed on a mock scoreboard for everyone to see.
Michael Milken told the crowd that he had a new goal in mind: to raise that number to two hundred with an auction. By the end, $75,000 was pledged, enough to fund two hundred two new scientists and exceed Milken’s original goal. Additional auction packages led to another increase in donations.
Executive vice president of Comcast David Cohen was also honored for his continued support for cancer research. Cohen is actually a prostate cancer survivor who describes himself as “one of tens of thousands of men who’ve benefitted from the funds raised by the Prostate Cancer Foundation.”
A number of different musical performances concluded the evening. Special performers included Nathan Gunn, Isabel Leonard, and Forte, a group from America’s Got Talent.
-by Connie Lee