Wednesday, September 11, 2024. Sunny but a little cooler yesterday in New York (perfect temp in the Sun) and temp dropping to the upper 50s.
Today we’re still filling in the calendar just past Out There by the beaches. This was the Prostate Cancer Foundation hosting its 24th annual gala. The number surprised me; I recall when Michael Milken started it. He had had a hugely successful Wall Street career (our friend Nikki Haskell became one of the first female brokers in Milken’s firm, Drexel Burnham).
A prostate cancer survivor, Milken founded the Prostate Cancer Foundation for prostate cancer research over 30 years ago. I believe it’s the largest philanthropic source of funds for research and eradication of prostate cancer. An idea inspired by his own experience which he overcame. An experience which affects one out of every eight men — making it the most common cancer among men.
What was also most interesting is Mr. Milken is doing something constructive for society with all that knowledge and know-how that he acquired in his Wall Street career for the benefit of all. This Gala at the Parrish Art Museum. He was hands on; there was passion in that creation.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation’s (PCF) 24th Annual Gala in the Hamptons summer benefit supported the Annual PCF Pro-Am Tennis Tournament and celebrated the millions raised, and the achievements it made possible over many years through PCF.
Michael Milken and The Gala in the Hamptons weekend hosts and sponsors welcomed guests to enjoy, engage and be entertained while helping to fund groundbreaking discoveries in cancer research. The weekend coincides with the Milken Institute annual Hamptons Dialogues series, where household names in their Hamptons homes host other household names in finance, CEOs and top government officials. Bill Ackman, Ken Griffin and Julia Koch were among those hosting panels at their East End estates where topics ranged from the state of higher education to mental health to the future of warfare. If you know about these dialogues, you know.
The gala itself began with a lively cocktail reception as distinguished guests and athletes entered the breathtaking Parrish Art Museum terrace. Total Sponsorships, ticket sales and a live auction raised more than $3 Million for the Foundation’s work.
The lavish dinner party gave way to a wide ranging, one-on-one interview between PCF Founder Michael Milken and Elon Musk. A special musical performance from cast members of “TINA” The Tina Turner Musical closed out the evening. The celebration set the tone for the weekend leading up to the finals of the PCF Pro-Am Tennis Tournament.
Among the notable attendees were: Maye Musk, Julia Koch, Mary Julia Koch, David Koch Jr., Christina and Stephen Schwarzman, Neri Oxman, Bill Ackman, Senator Michael McCaul, Gina Carithers, Linda Yaccarino, Jeff Greene, Mei Sze Greene, Igor Tulchinsky, Bonnie Pfeifer Evans, Larry and Ginger Leeds, and Jim Coleman.
This year’s participating tennis professionals included Tommy Haas, Marcelo Demoliner, John Lloyd, JC Cerretani, Guillermo Canas, Matwe Middelkoop, Daniel Nestor, Cyril Saulnier, David Macpherson, Rick Leach, JP Smith, Alex Bogomolov, Stefano Lanni, Ashley Fisher, Hicham Arazi, Robert Kendrick, Diego Hidalgo, Amer Delic, Jason Pinsky, and David Marrero.
Proceeds from the weekend will support the Prostate Cancer Foundation’s funding of the world’s most promising cancer research, including PCF’s Young Investigator program which has transformed how medical research is conducted over the past three decades. Discoveries by hundreds of PCF investigators at more than 220 institutions have driven breakthrough treatments in prostate and more than 70 other cancers.
PCF is committed to investing in the most promising research on prevention, detection, and treatment and to bring innovative solutions to market quickly — with the goal of improving the lives of patients and their families.
Its vision is to end all deaths from prostate cancer by raising awareness and funding urgent, cutting-edge research. PCF’s unique research model for prostate cancer already has overlap in 70 other cancers and is playing a role in helping unlock the mystery of curing all cancer.
