The North Fork Breast Health Coalition will again celebrate breast-cancer survivors, providers and caregivers at the Sixth Annual Pink Pearl Gala of the non-profit organization. The cocktail reception, seated dinner and dancing will be held in the Northampton Ballroom at East Wind Long Island.
During this year’s gala, the North Fork Breast Health Coalition will honor the Peconic River Sportsman’s Club, located in Manorville, with the Community Spirit Award. The private club has held several public events, which have raised tens of thousands of dollars for Long Island breast cancer coalitions. In addition, Stage 4 breast-cancer survivor/thriver Keri Lynn Stromski of Mattituck will receive the inaugural Medal of Honor Award.
The Pink Pearl Sponsor of this year’s gala will be the Simmons Point Group of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC. With an office in Riverhead, the Simmons Point Group is an experienced group of financial professionals at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC—one of the nation’s most prestigious investment firms.
Seating for the inspiring, wear-pink event will be available for $125 per person and $95 for breast-cancer survivors through www.northforkbreasthealth.org. To reserve individual seating or reserve tables for a group, please leave a message at the coalition office in Riverhead at 631-208-8889. For information about corporate sponsorship opportunities or contributing to a gift basket, contact the event chair, Melanie McEvoy Zuhoski, at 917-699-5948 or nfbreasthealth@gmail.com.
The North Fork Breast Health Coalition is currently led by President Susan Ruffini. The all-volunteer, nonprofit organization supports local breast-cancer patients with programs such as Helping Hand grants. Funds raised by the gala will also allow the group to continue to provide free services such as gentle yoga, reflexology, meditation class and massage therapy to breast-cancer patients and survivors.
Ann Cotten-DeGrasse and her late husband, Antonio, founded NFBHC in 1998 because they saw a great need for such an organization on the North Fork, where there is an especially high rate of diagnosis of the disease. A retired teacher, Ann has also served as president of the Riverhead School Board. The gala was named for the late Pearl Philindas, past president of the coalition.
