BENEFITTING HDRF

AAudrey Gruss, founding chair of the leading non-profit Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF), hosted a luncheon at Le Bilboquet to gather local HDRF supporters to plan Shop for Hope – a collaboration with Saks Fifth Avenue and the luxury brand Aquazurra -- to benefit the charity.

Shop for Hope will take place at Saks in Palm Beach from Wednesday February 15 through Friday, February 17; the three-day event will be open to the public, and a portion of all sales storewide will go to HDRF’s urgent biomedical research into clinical depression and anxiety.

Bibi Siegel, VP/General Manager of Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Beach, and fashion stylist Katherine Lande were featured guests at the planning luncheon. They confirmed that the highlight of the Shop for Hope event will be a private cocktail reception on Wednesday, February 15 with Edgardo Ossorio, designer and owner of Aquazurra, who will display his latest handbag and shoe creations. Invitation only.

Shop for Hope will lead up to HDRF’s Fifth Annual Race of Hope, a 5K Run/Walk in Palm Beach on Saturday, February 18 at 8 am. To join the Race of Hope, go to: PalmBeach.RaceOfHopeSeries.com.

Audrey Gruss said: “Depression is the Number One cause of disability worldwide, and rates of depression have tripled in the U.S. due to the pandemic. I am moved by the support and leadership of Saks Fifth Avenue in Palm Beach to address one of the most important humanitarian and public health issues of our day.”

“We are honored to support Audrey Gruss and the ongoing mission of Hope [for Depression] to raise funds for scientific research into the origins, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of depression,” said Saks Fifth Avenue VP General Manager Bibi Siegel. “We applaud the significant impact the organization has made in this community and beyond.” along with Audrey Gruss is Co-Grand Marshal of the 2023 Race of Hope; Hollis Pica, Junior Co-Chair of 2023 Race of Hope; Maura Landers and Race of Hope committee members, Kevin Condon, Tom Quick, Nicola Marcus, Heidi McWilliams, Caroline and Omeed Malik, Clelia Zacharias, Sharon Bush and Bob Murray, Luce Churchill, and Bettina Anderson.

For more information on "Shop for Hope" contact Katherine Lande at klande@klstyleinc.com

For more information, please visit: www.hopefordepression.org

About HDRF

HDRF was founded in 2006 by Palm Beach resident and philanthropist Audrey Gruss in memory of her mother Hope, who struggled with clinical depression. Today, HDRF is the leading nonprofit organization focused solely on advanced depression research into new and better treatments for the illness. The World Health Organization has declared depression as the leading cause of disability worldwide, and yet conventional medications today are outdated and do not fully work for 50% of patients. The mission of the HDRF is to spur innovative neuroscience research into the origins, medical diagnosis, new treatments, and prevention of depression and its related mood disordersbipolar disorder, postpartum depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, and suicide. To date, HDRF has provided more than $50 million through over 200 grants for breakthrough depression research that promises to transform the way depression is viewed, diagnosed, treated and prevented. Currently, HDRF has a potential new class of medication in pilot clinical trials at Mount Sinai Medical Center, Columbia University, and Stanford University.

Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation

25th Annual Collaborating for a Cure Gala raises over $6m

By Ann Grenier

TThe 25th Annual Collaborating for a Cure Gala, one of New York City’s favorite charity events celebrated its silver anniversary at Cipriani Wall Street. The “fun-raiser as opposed to fundraiser” as described by Michael Nierenberg raised more than $6 million towards the goal of funding the next five years of crucial SWCRF cancer research programs such as the Partnership for Aging and Cancer Research Program, the SWCRF Institute Without WallsTM, and the Women’s Cancer Research Program.

The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation is an international organization dedicated to curing and preventing cancer. The Foundation is a pioneer in cancer research and its mission is to eradicate cancer by funding cutting-edge research that identifies and corrects abnormal gene function that causes cancer and develops minimally toxic treatments for patients. Through the Foundation’s collaborative group of world-class scientists, the Institute Without Walls, investigators share information and tools to speed the pace of cancer research. Since its inception in 1976, the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation has awarded more than $100 million to support the work of more than 200 researchers across the globe.

Following a cocktail reception across the street, guests made their way to the main dining room where emcee, CBS’s Chris Wragge, welcomed the more than 700 guests, introduced the evening’s honorees, and highlighted many of the Foundation’s groundbreaking achievements over the past 50 years. “Tonight, we have a great program to celebrate two giants in the fight against cancer”, said Wragge.

Upon receiving the Vision and Leadership Award, SWCRF Board Chairman Michael Nierenberg commented, “The real honorees are Dr.

Waxman and the great heroes like him who treat and cure cancer every day.”

Founder and CEO Dr. Samuel Waxman, who received the well-deserved and long-overdue Lifetime Achievement Award, spoke to his vision (goal) for a future in which cancer does not have to be a disease associated with aging. “The incidence of cancer is increasing, in part, as a by-product of improvements we are making in human longevity,” said Dr. Waxman. “But through our collaborative research programs, we can flatten this curve. I am thrilled to be a part of many amazing breakthroughs that have occurred in cancer research – with more to come.”

Special guest, author and breast cancer survivor, Musa Mayer, shared why she has been a longtime supporter of SWCRF and very generously offered a $1 million match for all donations made during the gala. “I will be celebrating my 80th birthday soon thanks to the work of this foundation and Dr. Samuel Waxman,” said Mayer.

As in previous years, the Collaborating for a Cure Gala included a live auction during the night’s festivities, including a meet and greet with MT. JOY, culinary experiences at the Cipriani Vault, il Buco Vita, and New York Vintners, and a Palm Bay Italian Winery experience (in Tuscany) to name a few. There was also a raffle for a private 7-day Bahamas cruise aboard an 82-foot, hybrid-powered, luxury yacht.

Notable attendees include SWCRF Board Chairman Michael Nierenberg, Founder and CEO Dr. Samuel Waxman, Gala Event Chairs, Spencer Waxman, Nicholas Santoro, Baron Silverstein, Marc Taub and Gala MC, Chris Wragge, Elin Nierenberg, Marion Waxman, Sandra Dugoff, Julie Waxman, Eliz Waxman, Jack Waxman,

Known for its history of top-notch live performances, this year’s gala featured a live concert by MT.

For more information, visit waxmancancer.org.

Samuel Waxman Cancer Foundation Leads Effort To Expand International Network To Combat Cancer Linked To Aging

By Peter Elston

The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF), a leading organization dedicated to eradicating cancer, is growing its International Network on Aging and Cancer. Launched in 2018, this network brings together government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, philanthropists, research labs and universities, and other foundations to work together to address the rising incidence of cancer associated with aging and discover innovative preventions and treatments.

Aging is a leading risk factor for developing cancer. Around the world, the median age of a cancer diagnosis is 65 years old, with the highest rates in people between 85-89. According to the World Health Organization, people over age 60 will number over 2 billion by 2050, drastically increasing the global burden of cancer.

“Despite these alarming statistics, research focused on the complex interplay of aging and cancer is underfunded, limiting our ability to both prevent and treat it,” said Dr. Samuel Waxman, SWCRF CEO and Founder. “By focusing on aging as a risk factor and forming this international network, SWCRF is one of the few international foundations committed to meeting this crucial clinical need.”

The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation is an international organization dedicated to curing and preventing cancer. The Foundation is a pioneer in cancer research and its mission is to eradicate cancer by funding cutting-edge research that identifies and corrects abnormal gene function that causes cancer and develops minimally toxic treatments for patients. Through the Foundation’s collaborative group of world-class scientists, the Institute Without Walls, investigators share information and tools to speed the pace of cancer research. Since its inception in 1976, the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation has awarded more than $100 million to support the work of more than 200 researchers across the globe.

At a recent workshop organized by SWCRF, leading experts outlined four vital research goals to understand and prevent the rise in cancer in older populations: 1) Identify specific targets for healthy longevity. 2)

Understand the impact of the aged microenvironment on our immune system. 3) Discover biomarkers to evaluate both aging and cancer risk. 4) Develop new treatments to limit therapy-associated cancer in older individuals and establish why aging, in and of itself, impacts cancer treatment.

This year, SWCRF formed two new partnerships – one with the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research and the other with the Israel Cancer Research Fund – which will expand this network and fund projects to specifically examine these four objectives. Together these partnerships will invest nearly $2 million over the next two years and connect scientists who study cancer with those who research aging. Funding will start in fall 2023.

The International Network on Aging and Cancer inaugural initiative joined SWCRF with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institute on Aging (NIA) creating the Partnership for Aging and Cancer Research Program. The goal of this collaboration was to link investigators within the NCI/NIA with scientists at outside institutions. Due to the success, this program was recently extended to fund additional investigators through 2024.

In 2020, SWCRF co-founded the International Center for Aging and Cancer in Hainan China with the Hainan Medical University, and Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. The center recently completed construction of new laboratories and is actively recruiting faculty. Additionally, SWCRF partnered with Wiley Publishing to release a new peer-reviewed journal called Aging AND Cancer.

“To eradicate cancer once and for all, we must understand why getting older greatly increases our chances of getting cancer, why some cancers exacerbate aging, and why many current treatments are either too toxic for older patients or simply not effective. Funding innovative, collaborative research is vital,” said Dr. Waxman.

For more information, visit www.waxmancancer.org