Lily Safani - CEO Emeritus
On behalf of Red Door Community, formerly Gilda’s Club NYC, we express our deepest gratitude for the remarkable leadership and unwavering dedication of Lily Safani over the last 17 years.
As New York City’s preeminent nonprofit cancer support organization, Red Door Community is committed to fostering a welcoming community of free cancer support, providing knowledge, hope, and empowerment to all those living with cancer and their families. Lily Safani’s visionary guidance has been the driving force behind our organization’s growth the past 17 years, and her steadfast commitment to our mission has been a true inspiration to all.
Under Lily’s leadership, Red Door Community has flourished, continuously evolving to meet the expanding needs of individuals living with cancer across NYC and beyond. Lily’s dedication has propelled us to new heights, ensuring that our doors remain wide open to all those seeking free cancer support.
Lily’s leadership has not only defined the trajectory of our organization but has also left an indelible mark on the lives of countless individuals and families. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Lily Safani for her extraordinary leadership. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors and although she is stepping down as CEO, she is not stepping away from supporting Red Door Community.
To read Lily’s full letter to our Community, please visit here.
Emma Stone
Actress Emma Stone has been an Ambassador for our free cancer support organization and a champion for our mission since 2012. Emma has been an active member of our community and especially our children and teens program. She was honored with the Gilda Radner Award at our 25th Anniversary Benefit Gala in November 2020. The full anniversary gala and her acceptance speech can be viewed HERE.
Mary Elizabeth Williams
Mary Elizabeth Williams is a journalist and the author of the 2016 memoir A Series of Catastrophes & Miracles: A True Story of Love, Science, & Cancer, a starred Kirkus, Library Journal, and Booklist selection. She has written for The New York Times, Time Motto, and The Guardian, and has spoken on cancer and healing for the Parker Institute for Cancer, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and numerous other organizations, including ours. She and her family have been active members of our community since 2011. In 2012, Mary Elizabeth was a proud member of our TCS NYC marathon team.
In an interview on behalf of our free cancer support program, Mary Elizabeth said, “After cancer you never go back to your life. You go forward in a new life. And that life will always be informed by the experience of cancer. Always. Cancer is a part of our lives every single day. So [Red Door Community] is a part of our lives every single day.”
