The 26th Annual Leukemia Ball raised $2.75 million for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), Saturday March 23rd at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The proceeds will benefit LLS and its mission cure blood cancer and improve the quality of life for those suffering from blood cancers. The ball was presented by Bio in partnership with Genentech in support of the LLS National Capital Area Chapter.
About 2,000 business leaders, blood cancer survivors and advocates attended the event, with guests bidding on 400 silent auction items and packages. The ball was emceed by local media personalities and included performances by comedian Dana Carvey and music by Jim Belushi & the Sacred Heart Band.
Tamara Darvish, VP of DARCARS Automotive Group, was recognized for her commitment the last decade in raising more than $5 million for LLS through the Bobby Mitchell Hall of Fame Golf Classic. For her efforts, she received the James L. Eichberg Achievement Award.
“The Leukemia Ball continues to be an amazing event, and has raised $47.5 million for LLS’s mission due to the dedicated business leaders and volunteers who help to make it the largest and most successful non-political fundraiser in Washington, DC,” said Gabrielle Urquhart, executive director of LLS’s National Capital Area Chapter. “Their generosity makes our work possible—from funding life-saving blood cancer research to providing educational programs and helping to improve the lives of patients and their families.”
Exactly 78 percent of the funds spent by LLS go to research, patient and community services, as well as advocacy and education. Consistent funding to research and science to fight blood cancers, has resulted in a dramatic rise in survival rates. In the last 40 years, the five-year survival rate for people with leukemia has nearly quadrupled.
“Treatments for blood cancers have come a long way thanks to increased funding for research,” said Jim Davis, Senior co-chair and former executive vice president, general counsel and secretary of Human Genome Sciences. “As a blood cancer survivor myself, I am living proof of how the dollars raised can help those diagnosed with blood cancer, and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved over the past two Leukemia Balls. However, every day another 145 people die of blood cancer. Although much has been accomplished, we cannot rest until the cures for all blood cancers are found.”
Candace (Candy) Duncan, Leukemia Ball co-chair and Managing Partner of KPMG’s Washington Metro Area, said she was honored to work with Jim Davis on this year’s Leukemia Ball and that KPMG looks forward to working on next year’s event. She added, “The opportunity to help the 19,000 local residents living with blood cancer and help ensure that we find the cures today, is one I, and everyone at KPMG, takes great pride in.”
WashingtonExec was among the event’s proud media sponsors.
