Stars Align as Annual Susan G. Komen ® Orange County Pink Tie Ball Raises $600,000+

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - May 23, 2018 - PRLog -- On May 12, 450 guests gathered for Susan G. Komen Orange County's 12^th Annual Pink Tie Ball at the Paséa in Huntington Beach – one of the most popular, moving and eagerly anticipated fundraising events of the local nonprofit calendar.  The elegant soiree themed "Star Light Star Bright, Be the Difference Tonight," which featured numerous poignant moments and speakers, raised $617,000 to help fund the organization's bold goal to reduce the current number of breast cancer deaths by 50 percent in the U.S. by 2026.

"My mom has battled metastatic breast cancer for seven years, and I have personal connections to 10 women who are survivors or who lost their battle to the disease," said Erin Zilis, who chaired the 2018 Pink Tie Ball Chair.  "We have to take action – we might not all be doctors or scientists, but one thing we can do is help raise money, so treatments can be provided to uninsured or underinsured women, and cures can be found to keep metastatic breast cancer patients like my mom alive…longer"

Evolving its annual Pink Tie Guy tradition, which previously recognized prominent local male figures as breast cancer advocates, this year Komen OC included outstanding women leaders as Pink Tie Partners.  The three women and two men were presented with either a pink tie or a pink Komen warrior scarf, symbolic of their steadfast commitment to bring resources to Komen's mission. The 2018 Pink Tie Partners join 84 other Orange County businessmen and community leaders selected over the past decade. This year's Pink Tie Partners are:

·         Dr. Allyson Brooks, the Ginny Ueberroth executive medical director endowed chair of Hoag's Women's Health Institute

·         Dr. Devon Lawson, metastatic breast cancer researcher and professor at the University of California, Irvine

·         Bill Meehan, managing partner at Rutan & Tucker, LLP

·         Marica Pendjer, principal of Creative Collaborations, a boutique Orange County-based marketing and public relations firm and former Komen OC Board Chair

·         Pete Tzavalas, senior vice president at Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

"We are highlighting the outstanding men and women who have worked alongside our organization and made life-changing contributions to our cause," said Lisa Wolter, executive director of Susan G. Komen Orange County.  "We chose to honor five Pink Tie Partners this year because it brings attention to the fact that five women are diagnosed with breast cancer each day in Orange County."

One of the event's most powerful moments was the speech delivered by breast cancer advocate Sandi Spivey, who has been living with metastatic breast cancer since 1998.  Spivey recalled many years ago resolving to be among the small number of women who survive stage 4 breast cancer for more than five years.  She credited the regular discovery of new cancer treatments and the more than 200 chemotherapy infusions she has received over the past two decades as reasons she's outlived her life expectancy prognosis.  She also stressed the urgency to fund and develop new treatments, as she and other patients with metastatic breast cancer run out of options.

The black-tie affair kicked off with a cocktail reception on Paséa's outdoor lawn.  Guests were treated to breathtaking ocean views and a majestic sunset, courtesy of Mother Nature, and hors d'oeuvres donated by Bluewater Grill.  Cocktail-hour fundraising efforts included fabulous silent auction items, wine and Kendra Scott jewelry pulls and an opportunity drawing to win fine jewelry items generously donated by Winston's Crown Jewelers.

Diamond Sponsor is Ingram Micro.  Additional sponsors include; Gold Sponsor: Greenberg Traurig, LLP; Silver Sponsors: Experian, Kaiser Permanente and Pacific Premier Bank; Bronze sponsors: Allergan, Aviation Capital Group, Linda and Don Bailey, BNP Paribas/Bank of the West, The Boeing Company & GE Aviation, US, Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., Chapman University School of Communication, Constellation Brands, Deloitte & Touche LLP, Goldman Sachs, Lisa E. Guerra, MD and Aaron Stapf, Haskell & White LLP, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, Holland & Knight LLP, Chris MacDuff & Aspasia Zouras MacDuff, Mercer, Merrill Lynch, MUFG, Pacific Mercantile Bank, Rockwell Collins, Rolls-Royce, Rutan & Tucker, LLP, RSM US LLP, Karen & Scott Sherman, Carrie & Michael Swanson, VedderPrice, Wells Fargo, Willis Towers Watson, Winston & Strawn; Founding sponsors: The Allergan Foundation, Lee Ann Canaday, The Canaday Group, Harald Herrmann; Media sponsor: Modern Luxury magazine.

Since its inception in 2007, the Komen Orange County Pink Tie Ball has raised nearly $6 million, with 75 percent of the money raised staying in Orange County to benefit organizations committed to serving local breast health needs. The other 25 percent help funds groundbreaking breast cancer research.  In addition to the Pink Tie Ball, Komen Orange County hosts other initiatives, including ongoing breast health outreach in Orange County and major fundraising events such as Race for the Cure^®, to be held Sunday, Sept. 23, at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. To take advantage of early-bird registration fee, sign up at www.komenoc.org/race.

About Susan G. Komen® and Komen Orange County

Susan G. Komen is the world's largest breast cancer organization, funding more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit while providing real-time help to those facing the disease.  Komen has set a Bold Goal to reduce the current number of breast cancer deaths by 50 percent in the U.S. by 2026.  Komen was founded in 1982 by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy's life.  Komen Orange County is working to better the lives of those that face breast cancer in the local community.  Through events like the Komen Orange County Race for the Cure®, Komen Orange County has invested more than $40 million in community breast health programs and has helped contribute to the more than $920 million invested globally in research.  For more information, call 714-957-9157 or visit komenoc.org.