By Debbie Colalillo
The Manhasset Women’s Coalition Against Breast Cancer (MWCABC) hosted its 19th Annual Ladies Night Out on Oct. 21. Over 500 women gathered at Leonard’s Palazzo to support the coalition and celebrate their ongoing work in the fight against breast cancer. Ladies Night Out is the coalition’s principal fundraising event of the year and a legion of volunteers generously gave of their time and talents to make the night a success. Their hard work was evident throughout the warmly elegant room where guests shopped the vendor boutique, bid at the silent auction tables and purchased raffles for prizes big and small.
Cochairs Brenda Donnelly and Jeannie Kim opened the evening’s program with a warm welcome to the capacity crowd who came out to support MWCABC that evening. They thanked their committee for their endless enthusiasm over the weeks and months it took to organize LNO and expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to lead an event that has such a positive impact on the community.
MWCABC President Marybeth Accurso then took the podium to thank all involved with making the evening a success. She acknowledged the supporters, donors, underwriters and honored guests who all make it possible for the coalition to continue the work of battling breast cancer through education, outreach and research.
The highlight of the evening was guest speaker Geralyn Lucas, who was introduced by board member Lynn Minutillo. Diagnosed with breast cancer at age 27, Lucas chronicled her journey in her brash and brazen memoir, Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy. In a presentation that was at times sassy and at times poignant, Lucas took the audience on a journey through her battle with breast cancer and her upbeat attitude infused the room as she spoke of her decision to fight with courage, strength and hope. The conclusion of her talk was met with a rousing standing ovation.
Ladies Night Out 2015 raised over $200,000 for the Manhasset Women’s Coalition Against Breast Cancer. Those funds will be used to continue the coalition’s three-pronged mission of funding research, increasing awareness through education and providing outreach services to those with breast cancer and related diseases.
To date, the MWCABC has raised and donated over $3.3 million to cancer research and community outreach.
