The Ellen Hermanson Foundation Held Its 27th Annual Ellen’s Run; Summer Gala Benefit To Be Held This Weekend

The Ellen Hermanson Foundation held its 27th Annual Ellen’s Run, a 5K race on Sunday, August 21, at the Southampton Intermediate School. The 5K (3.1 mile) was held in-person, as well as virtually. This time-honored summer tradition is named in memory of Ellen Hermanson – who passed away in 1995 after battling breast cancer – a journalist, activist, mother, wife, and sister of foundation co-founders Julie Ratner and the late Emily Levin. The event raises both money and awareness to ensure access to state-of-the art quality breast health care and support services right here on the East End.

Proceeds from the race benefit the Ellen Hermanson Breast Center at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and the Community Partnership Program to reach underserved women with The Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center, OLA (Organización Latino-Americana of Eastern Long Island), The Retreat, and The Shinnecock Indian Health Center.

Summer Gala Benefit

The Ellen Hermanson Foundation will host its annual Summer Gala Benefit on Saturday, August 27, from 6:30 to 10 PM under the stars at Hampton Racquet in East Hampton. The foundation will honor Ingrid Arneberg, and recognize in memoriam the late Emily Levin, co-founder of The Ellen Hermanson Foundation, for their extraordinary commitment to the East End. The event will feature entertainment and dancing with Winston Irie and the Selective Security Band, and cuisine prepared by Lan Cao, the owner and executive chef of V Cafe in New York City. Jean Shafiroff, noted philanthropist, is the Gala Chair, along with the Host Committee which includes The Ellen Hermanson Foundation board of directors, executive director, and friends of the foundation.

Funds raised at the event provide for direct breast health services in the community, including free breast cancer screenings for uninsured women; a full-time oncological social worker to provide group and individual therapy through Ellen’s Well, a free support and wellness program; funding for a bilingual, bicultural outreach worker; transportation assistance to medical appointments; emergency grants for diagnostic breast healthcare expenses; and funding for breast health programs in partnership with The Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center, OLA of Eastern Long Island, The Retreat—All Against Abuse, and The Shinnecock Indian Health Center.

The host committee includes Mercedes Barré-Williams, Stanley Baumblatt and Chaz Austin, Robert Chaloner and Oscar Mandes, Constance Chen, MD and Stephen Warren, MD, Ann Ciardullo and Keith Green, Melissa Cohn and Bill Harts, Iris and Jay Dankner, Jennifer Finkelstein and Robert Fafalak, MD, Amanda Star Frazer, Esq. and Brian McDermott, Lee Fryd, Elena Gibbs, Anne Tschida Gomberg and Michael Gomberg, John Graham, Monica Graham, Patti Kenner, Jane Krieger and Neil Bersin, Hope Klein Langer and Lawrence Langer, Bridget LeRoy and Eric Johnson, James Levin, Jackie Lowey and David Kuperschmid, Jessica Mackin-Cipro and Joe Cipro, Yubal Márquez Fleites, Demetra Mattone, JJ McKay, Hugo Moreno, Thuyen Nguyen, Eileen Rappaport, Jill Rappaport, Julie Ratner, Ed.D and Sam Eskenazi, Dee Rivera, Victoria Schneps, Iris Shokoff, Cathy Tweedy, Jodi and Jack Wasserman, Christine and Jim Weinberg, Cathy and Norman Yohay.

Advanced registration is required. Visit ellenhermanson.org.