The North Fork Breast Health Coalition will celebrate breast cancer survivors and thrivers, as well as providers and caregivers, at the NFBHC Annual Pink Pearl Gala. The cocktail reception, seated dinner, raffles, and dancing will be held on Friday, April 17, from 6 to 10 PM. For the third time, the event will be held at the Sea Star Ballroom at Hyatt Place Long Island in Riverhead.
During this year’s gala, the North Fork Breast Health Coalition will honor Steven “Biggie” Ammirati, owner of The Catered Fork, with the NFBHC Community Spirit Award. The North Fork-based chef, caterer, and restaurateur is being recognized for his support of the East End breast cancer community, especially for generously donating food to the NFBHC Stage IV summer fundraisers at Sannino Vineyard in Cutchogue.
Debbie Hughes, co-founder of “Strength for Life,” is also being honored with the NFBHC Champion Award. The nonprofit organization was formed in 2007 so that anyone with a cancer diagnosis — regardless of socioeconomic status — could experience the benefits of incorporating exercise into their treatment plan. Every Thursday morning, she leads a popular group exercise class designed for breast cancer survivors at the NFBHC office.
The Pink Pearl Underwriter of this year’s gala will be The Simmons Point Group of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC. This is the sixth consecutive year that Simmons Point has sponsored the gala at the top level. With an office in Riverhead, the company is a group of financial professionals at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC.
NFBHC Director-at-Large and Connie “Losing is Not an Option” Hayes has again taken a leadership role as a Pink Pearl Sponsor. Right behind her are four Pearl Sponsors: the Mattituck Lions Club, New York Cancer and Blood Specialists, Northwell Cancer Institute, and the Sparling Law Group/Pay What You Can LLC.
Seating at the don pearls and wear-pink, -teal, and/or -green event (colors of the tricolor ribbon for metastatic breast cancer) is available for $150 per person and $125 for breast cancer survivors and thrivers through www.northforkbreasthealth.org.