Mary Bird Perkins-Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center and Cancer Services’ Joint Event a Success
(Baton Rouge, La.) One thousand Baton Rouge residents grabbed their passports and took flight at L’Auberge Casino & Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 12, raising $465,000 for cancer care at Mary Bird Perkins-Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center and Cancer Services’ joint fundraiser, The Gala Goes Global.
With 100 percent of proceeds devoted to the area’s cancer patients, the funds generated will allow patients to receive complete treatment free of charge – from infusions and medical consultations to wigs and support groups for the whole family.
Guests sampled global cuisine and tasty spirits from more than fifteen local eateries, danced the night away, participated in live and silent auction bidding and made donations in others’ names through the Lee Michaels’ 365 Days of Giving Wall. The “see and be seen” VIP Sky Lounge Experience, presented by GMFS Mortgage in L’Auberge’s elite Club 38 was a highlight of the night, featuring a whiskey tasting experience sponsored by Calandro’s Supermarket.
Ethan Bush, vice president and chief development officer at Mary Bird Perkins-Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center, and Whitney Craig, director of Cancer Services, agreed that the event represents the organizations’ collective efforts to serve thousands of cancer patients and their families.
“The generosity and compassion for cancer patients in our community is always outstanding, and we are so appreciative of the sponsors who make the Gala so successful,” said Bush. “Everything from the unmatched cancer care we provide or the fundraising events that support it would not be possible without the attendees who come together with an inspiring focus on helping cancer patients.”
All proceeds will help transform cancer care by furthering the Cancer Center’s best-practice, comprehensive care for patients through every step of the cancer journey, including disease site-specific multidisciplinary care teams, a robust clinical research program and extensive supportive care services.
Craig said that Cancer Services’ offers key support services to complement medical care and that none of it would be possible without generous community support.
“All dollars raised from this one event allows both organizations to further extend their mission and serve every cancer patient and their families in a much larger and more impactful way,” said Craig. “Cancer Services directly helps the people of this area with cancer, no matter where they’re being treated, along with their families. The vast variety of programs and services benefits both adults and children alike.”
Cancer Services offers support to patients and families through programs ranging from counseling and wigs to exercise programs and kids’ camps. The Gala Goes Global, chaired by volunteers Kim Gilly and Katie Goodson, was held at presenting sponsor L’Auberge Casino & Hotel. The event features a new theme each year. For information on The Gala 2020, call (225) 215-1221.
About Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center
As a premier destination for cancer care, Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center offers the most advanced technology and services provided by a dedicated team of nationally-recognized oncology experts. MBP-OLOL provides best-practice, comprehensive care at every stage of the cancer journey, including disease site-specific multidisciplinary care teams, a robust clinical research program, extensive supportive care services and is the first facility in the Gulf South to offer the revolutionary Leksell Gamma Knife®Icon™. The American College of Surgeons has named MBP-OLOL a recipient of its prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award for three consecutive survey cycles. As a nonprofit organization, donor generosity is essential to sustaining the mission of improving survivorship and lessening the burden of cancer for so many throughout Southeast Louisiana and beyond. For more information on MBP-OLOL, and how you can become involved, please visit marybirdlake.org.
About Cancer Services
Since 1959, Cancer Services has been improving life for those living with cancer by providing critical support to help families and individuals of all ages through the difficulties presented by a cancer diagnosis. Our goal is to provide therapeutic, free-of-charge support through counseling, support groups, exercise programs, adult and children’s programming as well as assistance in the form of nutritional supplements, emergency grants, wigs, medical equipment loans and more. In these ways and many more, we strive to serve the emotional, financial and physical needs of individuals and families living with, through and beyond cancer. Learn more at cancerservices.org.