Celebrating a Night of Generosity and Unity at the 2023 Red Door Community Gala!
November 9, 2023
Over $850,000 was raised to fuel our mission of providing FREE support for anyone and everyone living with cancer. Thank you to the incredible attendees, sponsors, partners, and our dedicated Board of Directors for making this milestone possible.
A special shoutout to our remarkable CEO, Lily Safani, for 17 years of unwavering dedication, and congratulations to the distinguished honorees, Scott D. Hayworth, MD, FACOG, and Angela Hwang, for receiving the prestigious Red Door Award for Leadership. Your commitment to the cause inspires us all!
With more than 1.9M new cancer diagnoses across the country each year, Red Door Community is determined to make a lasting impact on the lives of cancer patients and their loved ones. And with your support, we can continue to reach more people, in more places, and in more ways than ever before. At Red Door Community, no one faces cancer alone. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.
To view all photos from this event please visit: https://bit.ly/RDCGALA2023RRPhotos
Our Outstanding 2023 Celebrating Women Working & Living With Cancer Luncheon
May 17, 2023
Red Door Community hosted our annual Celebrating Women Working & Living with Cancer Benefit Luncheon on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at the Metropolitan Club in NYC! We were thrilled to honor Jo Natauri, Partner, Global Head of Healthcare Investing, Goldman Sachs and Debbie Salas-Lopez, MD, MPH, Senior Vice President, Community and Population Health, Northwell Health with the Red Door Award for Leadership for their outstanding achievements in the healthcare industry. Thank you to our honorees, host, auctioneer, member speaker, generous sponsors & supporters who helped make this event the most successful Benefit Luncheon in Red Door Community’s history!
To view photos from the event, please visit here!
2022 Red Door Gala – Our Red Door Is Always Open
November 11, 2022
Thank you to all those who attended or supported our Red Door Gala on November 11th! We are delighted to share that the event was a resounding success, raising nearly $800,000 to help fund our free cancer support program for anyone and everyone impacted by cancer. Congratulations to our distinguished Honorees, CEO, New York Cancer & Blood Specialists, Dr. Jeff Vacirca, presented with the Red Door Award for Leadership and Cancer Advocacy; AstraZeneca, presented with the Red Door Award for Advances in Cancer Research; and Cherry Grove Cares, presented with the Red Door Heart of Gold Award! We are especially grateful to Red Door Community Member, Samantha, for sharing her moving story.
Thank you to our Host, Anchor, Eyewitness News, WABC – TV, NY Ch 7, Bill Ritter, Auctioneer, Harry Santa-Olalla, Entertainment, Broadway Artists, Ginna Clare Mason & Corey Mach, our Gala Co-Chairs, and Gala Committee for making it a memorable and successful event! We hope to see you next year! Click here to view photos from the event.
The First Red Tie Benefit
June 16, 2022
Thank you to all those who attended or supported our Red Tie Benefit on June 16th! All proceeds raised at the event will provide critical funding that helps us sustain our FREE cancer support program. We are especially grateful to Red Door Community member, Krista, for sharing her moving story. Thank you also to our Associate board, Hello Brooklyn, our sponsors, and supporters for making our Red Tie Benefit a wonderful event! We hope to see you next year! Click here to view photos from the event!
2022 Celebrating Women Working & Living With Cancer Luncheon
May 18, 2022
We are delighted to announce that the event was a resounding success, raising over $300,000, to help fund our free cancer support program for anyone and everyone impacted by cancer. The luncheon was attended by nearly 200 guests who generously helped us meet our fundraising goal! Congratulations to our distinguished Red Door Award for Leadership Honorees, Laura Shawver, Ph.D. and Lt. General (ret) Nadja West!
We are especially grateful to Red Door Community Member, Katie Smith, for sharing her moving story. Thank you to our Host, Gerri Willis, Anchor & Correspondent, Fox Business News, Keynote Speaker, Oxiris Barbot, M.D., Senior Fellow for Public Health & Justice & Former Commissioner of Health, NYC, and Auctioneer, Sebastian Clarke, Appraiser, PBS Television’s “Antiques Roadshow” for making it a memorable and successful event!
View photos from the event on our Facebook page here.
26th Anniversary Benefit Gala
November 11, 2021
Our 26th Anniversary Benefit Gala raised more than $1 Million dollars to help fund our free cancer support program for anyone and everyone living with cancer. The event was attended by 370 guests who generously helped us exceed our fundraising goal! Congratulations again to our distinguished Red Door Award Honorees Stephen M. McLean, Senior Partner & Chairman, Healthcare Group, Arsenal Capital Partners, Dr. Angelos M. Stergiou, President & Chief Executive Officer, SELLAS Life Sciences Group and Paul Buccieri, President & Chairman, A + E Networks Group.
The event took place at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 11, 2021 and featured special guest appearances by our Host, Bill Ritter, Anchor, WABC-TV, and our musical performers, presenters, and special appearances by The Workshop, Tyler Hardwick, Megan Kane, Maria Eberline, Michelle Federer, Jake Smith, Shannen Doherty, and Mandy Gonzalez.
We are especially grateful to Red Door Community Member Madeline Chun, for sharing her moving story. Re-watch her moving speech here.
Special thanks to our Red Door Benefactor Aimee & Steven McLean and lead sponsors: A&E Networks, Argot Partners, Arsenal Capital Partners, Bristol Myers Squibb, Joan & Bob Easton, Eisai, Sidley, and Slattery Family Foundation.
View photos from the event on our Facebook page here.
“It’s Always Something” Benefit Concert
May 19, 2020
Our first-ever virtual “It’s Always Something” benefit concert for Gilda’s Club NYC was streamed live via YouTube on Wednesday, May 19th at 8pm.
As Gilda Radner famously said, “it’s always something.” Our first 25 years were full of “somethings” and 2020 was no exception. Through every “something” our commitment to supporting, educating, and empowering cancer patients and their families has been unwavering.
Exclusive musical performances included Jon Batiste, Rosanne Cash, Sting, David Sanborn, plus Bernie Williams and Gil Pariss. Special guests joined throughout the evening included Susie Essman, Jon Hamm, Brooke Shields, Emma Stone, and Robin Roberts.
25th Anniversary Virtual Benefit Gala
November 12, 2020
Our 25th Anniversary Virtual Benefit Gala raised more than $1 Million dollars for our free cancer support program. The virtual event took place on November 12, 2020 and featured special guest appearances by Chevy Chase, Billy Crystal, Susie Essman, Laraine Newman, Ego Nwodim, Ben Platt, Martin Short, Nicole Van Giesen, The Workshop NYC A Cappella and Alan & Robin Zweibel.
Congratulations again to our honorees Giovanni Caforio, M.D., Chairman & CEO, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Emma Stone, Actress & Red Door Community Ambassador.
Special thanks again to all of our Gala Sponsors, Gala Co-Chairs Jami Rubin & William Slattery, our Gala Committee including Tracey Doolin, Robert Easton, Renee Emery, Dara Feder, Shubh Goel, Ellen Lubman, Eric Neuner, Ann Russo, Barbara Ryan, Nicole Staple – and all who supported this milestone event.
Watch the full Gala HERE.
24th Annual Benefit Gala
November 7, 2019
The Pierre Hotel
More than $850,000 was raised at our 24th Annual Benefit Gala held on November 7, 2019 at The Pierre Hotel to help fund our free cancer support program and support our growing community of cancer patients and their families.
Congratulations to our distinguished honorees, Red Door Award recipients Donald A. Deieso, Ph.D., Executive Chairman and CEO, WCG (WIRB-Copernicus Group); and Lewis C. Cantley, Ph.D., Meyer Director, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center Weill Cornell Medicine & New York-Presbyterian Hospital; and Gilda Radner Award honoree, Vanessa Bayer, Actress, Writer, and Comedian.
Bill Slattery presented Donald A. Deieso, Ph.D. with the Red Door Award for Leadership; and John DiGiovanni presented Lewis C. Cantley Ph.D., with the Red Door Award for Advances in Cancer Research. Vanessa Bayer, was presented with The Gilda Radner Award, by her friend and fellow SNL cast member Kenan Thompson.
The evening, hosted by Bill Ritter, Anchor WABC-TV, also featured a live auction lead by Harry Santa-Olalla and a comedy set by Phil Hanley. We are especially grateful to Gilda’s Club member Kawanna King, for sharing her cancer story.
Emma Stone, Red Door Community Ambassador since 2015, surprised guests with a video to open the program. Watch the full video here.
“Red Door Community is all about the power of community,” said Lily Safani, CEO, Red Door Community. “We would not be here if it were not for our community of supporters who believe that Red Door Community plays a very important role in the lives of New Yorkers living with cancer. It is their support that has not only sustained us but helped us reach more cancer patients and families each year.”
Specials thanks to our Gold Benefactor sponsor, WCG (WIRB-Copernicus Group) and to our lead sponsors: Slattery Family Foundation, Argot Partners, Arsenal Capital Partners, and Eisai.
The Gildie’s, Hosted by the Associate Board
June 13, 2019
The Loft at City Winery
The Red Door Community New York City Associate Board (AB) held their annual fundraising event, The Gildie’s, on Thursday, June 13th at The Loft at City Winery in New York City. The AB is a group of dedicated New Yorkers who serve as ambassadors of Red Door Community and promote our mission through philanthropic initiatives and volunteer work. We are proud to announce that this year the event raised nearly $80,000.
Over 250 guests enjoyed live music by the Pat Roddy Band and listened to our member speaker, Ashley Loesch, tell her moving story. We would like to thank the Event Co-Chairs, Katherine Griffith and Emily Sanchez, as well as Neil Heckman and Meghan Finlayson, our Associate Board Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, for their hard work and support in making this event a success! We look forward to next year!
Celebrating Women Luncheon
May 8, 2019
The Metropolitan Club NYC
We are delighted to announce that this year’s 12th Annual Celebrating Women Luncheon event raised over $340,000 for our free cancer support program for cancer patients and their families. We were thrilled to once again have Gerri Willis, Fox Business Network return as our Host and recognize two deserving honorees, Lori H. Bush, New Avon and Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, Merck & Co., Inc.
Over 270 guests enjoyed hearing from our inspiring speakers; our prestigious keynote speaker Titia de Lange, Ph.D., Rockefeller University and Kawanna King, Red Door Community grateful member. We are thankful to our Event Co-Chairs Jami Rubin and Barbara Ryan and our luncheon committee Laura Bartlett, Jennifer Boucher, Jennifer Buell, Faith Charles, Jennifer Gottlieb, Sofija Jovic, Ellen Lubman, Andrea Rabney, Ann Russo and Ingrid Yin for their incredible leadership and support in making this event such a success.
View the photo album on our Facebook Page.
View the video journal.
23rd Annual Benefit Gala
November 8, 2018
Gotham Hall
Nearly $1 million was raised at our 23rd Annual Benefit Gala held on November 8, 2018 at Gotham Hall to support our special community of cancer patients and their families.
Congratulations to our distinguished honorees, Andrew Plump, M.D., Ph.D, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited; and CVS Health for their outstanding commitment to the cancer community.
The event was hosted by Bill Ritter, Anchor, Eyewitness News, WABC-TV, Correspondent, ABC News 20/20 with Lydia Fenet, Managing Director & Global Head of Strategic Partnerships at CHRISTIE’S and author of soon to be released, The Most Powerful Woman in the Room Is You, leading the live auction.
We are especially grateful to Gilda’s Club member Cynthia Vega, for sharing her cancer story. Re-watch her moving speech here.
Specials thanks to our Diamond Benefactor Celgene and lead sponsors: Slattery Family Foundation, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, CVS Health and Eisai.
The 7th Annual Gildie Awards
June 6, 2018
City Winery
The Associate Board of Gilda’s Club NYC hosted a remarkable night on June 6th at City Winery with The 7th Annual Gildie Awards which raised over $58,000 for Gilda’s Club NYC.
Broadway and television star Krysta Rodriguez received The Red Door Award for Advocacy. Ms. Rodriguez was diagnosed with cancer in 2014, and has been vocal about her illness and raising awareness through her blog, ChemoCouture.
The event was hosted by Ellyn Marsh and featured music by Alex Simon, DJ Vida and DJ Stef Nava. Gilda’s Club member Brandi Larsen, shared her inspiring story.
Celebrating Women Luncheon
May 9, 2018
The Metropolitan Club NYC
This year’s Celebrating Women benefit luncheon raised more than $320,000 for our comprehensive cancer program which provides free support to women like Eileen Moran, our Red Door Community member speaker who shared her touching story about her cancer experience.
We were honored to present the Red Door Award for Leadership to Michelle Freyre, President US Beauty, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. and the Red Door Award for Advances in Cancer Research to Alise Reicin, MD, Senior Vice President, Head of Global Clinical Development, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Special thanks to Lisa D’Apolito, Filmmaker, Director/Producer of Documentary Film Love, Gilda for delivering an inspiring keynote speech, and to Gerri Willis, Anchor and Correspondent, Fox Business Network for graciously hosting the event.
View the photo album on our Facebook page
View the Video Journal
22nd Anniversary Benefit Gala
November 9, 2017
The Pierre Hotel
Over $1.2 million was raised at our 22nd Anniversary Benefit Gala held on November 9, 2017. More than 400 guests from the biopharmaceutical, investment banking, legal and advertising industries, among others attended. Honorary Chairs included, Joanna Bull, Mandy Patinkin, Emma Stone, Karen Wilder and Robin & Alan Zweibel. Gala Co-Chairs were Laura Bartlett, Chairman, Board of Directors, GCNYC and Mark J. Alles, CEO, Celgene Corporation.
This year’s distinguished honorees were presented awards based on their impact on the cancer community: Robert J. Hariri, MD, PhD, Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Celularity, Inc., Corporate Vision Award; Troy Cox, Chief Executive Officer, Foundation Medicine, Inc., Advances in Cancer Research Award; and NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, Red Door Community Community Partner Award.
Red Door Community member Ashley Landay spoke passionately about her cancer experience and the support she has received at GCNYC.
View the 22nd Anniversary Benefit Gala Journal
View the photo album on our Facebook page (After Party Photos here)
Celebrating Women Working & Living with Cancer
May 10, 2017
The Metropolitan Club NYC
Over $313,000 was raised on May 10, 2017 as we celebrated women with more than 200 guests at the Metropolitan Club during our 10th Anniversary Benefit Luncheon, Celebrating Women Working and Living with Cancer. Jami Rubin, Board of Directors, GCNYC, chaired the event once again.
We are proud to have honored Dr. Vicki Goodman, VP & Developmental Lead for Opdivo/Yervoy, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Beth Meagher, Principal & Leader, Federal Strategy, Translational Medicine and Health Non-Profit Practices, Deloitte Consulting LLP, for their outstanding work in the cancer community.
We welcomed Keynote Speaker Gerri Willis, Fox Business Network Anchor and Personal Finance Reporter, and cancer survivor, who inspired the room with her speech, and Host Denise Albert, Co-Founder TheMOMS.com and Mamarazzi, Award-Winning Journalist & Television Producer, who shared her own cancer story.
View the photo album on our Facebook page
View the Video Journal
The 6th Annual Gildie Awards
March 30, 2017
Webster Hall
The Gilda’s Club NYC Associate Board hosted another incredible night with The 6th Annual Gildie Awards which raised over $37,000. The event honored Mailet Lopez, CEO and Founder of IHadCancer.com, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Squeaky with The Red Door Award for Advocacy, and Sharon Jones, the iconic lead singer of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings with the Heart of Gold Award. Sadly, we lost Miss Jones to pancreatic cancer in November 2016. Accepting the award on her behalf was Binky Griptite, Guitar player and MC for Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.
The event was hosted by Cristina Cote, Performer, Writer & Producer, and featured music by Temporary Grace and DJ Vida. Gilda’s Club member Ashley Landay, shared her inspiring story.
21st Anniversary Benefit Gala
November 10, 2016
The Pierre Hotel
Over $1.2 million was raised for our free cancer support program at our 21st Anniversary Benefit Gala held at the Pierre Hotel on November 10th. More than 400 guests attended the annual event which honored Ivan Cheung, Chairman and CEO of Eisai Inc., Jerome B. Zeldis, MD, PhD, CMO & President of Clinical Operations of Sorrento Therapeutics, Former CMO of Celgene Corporation & CEO of Celgene Global Health, and Robert J. Easton, Immediate Past GCNYC Board Chair and Co-Chairman, BIONEST Partners. Laura Bartlett, Chairman, Board of Directors, GCNYC and Mark J. Alles, CEO, Celgene Corporation, Board of Directors, GCNYC co-chaired the event.
Bill Ritter, Anchor, Eyewitness News, WABC-TV, Correspondent, ABC News 20/20 returned as host, Sebastian Clarke, Appraiser, “Antiques Roadshow” expertly lead the live auction, and member speakers Lilliana Aponte Yap, spoke fondly of her experience at Gilda’s Club, and her 9 year-old daughter Catalina, fearlessly recited a beautiful poem she had written about her father.
View the 21st Anniversary Benefit Gala Journal
View the photo album on our Facebook page
Celebrating Women Working & Living with Cancer
May 11, 2016
The Metropolitan Club NYC
More than 200 guests attended our 9th Annual Benefit Luncheon at the Metropolitan Club in New York City and raised over $325,000 for women like Ashley Landay, our Red Door Community member speaker who shared her touching and inspiring story about her cancer experience.
Honorees Amy Abernethy, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer & Senior VP Oncology, Flatiron Health and Bahija Jallal, PhD, Executive Vice President, AstraZeneca and Head of MedImmune accepted The Gilda Award and The Red Door Award respectively, for making an impact in research and have advocated for cancer awareness, research, and education.
Amy Robach, News Anchor for ABC’s Good Morning America, hosted the event for the third year and emphasized the importance of support when diagnosed with cancer. Jami Rubin, Board of Directors, GCNYC chaired the event.
View the Video Journal
View the photo album on our Facebook page
Gildafest’16
July 12, 2016
Carolines on Broadway
Gildafest’16: A Night of Comedy and Laughter honored Actress Melissa McCarthy with the Gilda Radner Award for Innovation in Comedy, and featured stand-up performances by Michelle Wolf, Emma Willmann, Matteo Lane, Marina Franklin, Michael Che, Carmen Lynch and Lynne Koplitz.
Hosted by actress Sarah Baker, the evening was full of laughs and special guests including Kristen Wiig, Alan Zweibel, who shared his memories of Gilda Radner, and Red Door Community member Jill Fernandez, who humorously shared her cancer experience.
The event was held at Carolines on Broadway and raised more than $145,000 for our comprehensive cancer program.
View the photo album on our Facebook page
Gildafest was launched in 2015 to bring comedy back to Red Door Community New York City, and as a tribute to the talented comedian and original cast member of Saturday Night Live, Gilda Radner.
The Gildie Awards
April 14, 2016
Webster Hall
The 2016 Gildie Awards honored Alex Brody of RED, a SONY Music Entertainment Company with the Heart of Gold Award for his efforts with the Ten Bands One Cause initiative which has raised over $65,000 in two years for Red Door Community, and Suleika Jaouad, NY Times Well Columnist & Cancer Survivor received the Red Door Award for Advocacy for her fierce advocacy for those living with cancer and other chronic illnesses through her writing, wellness workshops and public speaking. Entertainment for the evening was provided by DJ Stev Nava and Temporary Grace.
For more information about any Red Door Community events, please contact
Kacey Koeppel, Vice President of Philanthropy, kkoeppel@reddoorcommunity.org or (646) 644-5833.
