The eighth annual Hope Gala was held on Saturday, August 23 at the Shops at Canal Place, benefiting the American Cancer Society.
More than 20 of the city’s finest restaurants provided cuisine for partygoers to sample as they bid on items from live and silent auctions and sipped on beverages provided by Glazer’s.
Vacation packages, fine jewelry, sports memorabilia, artwork and more proved to be hot items. Guests also danced to the tunes of ELS, a Motown revue band.
Honorary Chairman was Mark Peters, MD, CPE of East Jefferson General Hospital, while Carla Adams and Lorrie Lee served as the committee chairmen.
During the gala, 10 individuals received the Spirit Award for their significant contributions in the fight against cancer: Dr. Vivien Chen, Elizabeth Dannewald, Dr. Richard Kline, Dr. Eugene Kukuy, Dr. Juan Labadie, Denis McDonald, Dr. Paul Monsour, Dr. Eboni Price, Dr. Dana Smetherman and Dr. Maria Velez.
Roop Raj of WDSU served as the celebrity chair and councilmember Cynthia Hedge Morrell was the Hope Gala honoree. East Jefferson General Hospital was a presenting sponsor; dozens of other local businesses, restaurants and individuals also made the event a grand success. The American Cancer Society is a community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from the disease through research, education, advocacy and services.
Committee chairmen Carla Adams and Lorrie Lee
Mimi Heebe, Clark Castle, Nicole Labadot and Larry Hand
Celebrity chair Roop Raj, honoree Dr. Maria Velez, Dr. Terry Fontham, and honoree Dr. Vivien Chen
Sharon Carter Sheridan, honoree Dr. Eugene Kukuy, and Michelle Leckert
Terry Birkhoff, Susan Hudlow, Lynn Dufrechou, and Jewel Bush