Colin Quinn, comedic star of stage, screen and TV, will highlight the evening’s entertainment at the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), Long Island Chapter’s Mission Critical Event. Dubbed Laugh ’Til It Stops Hurting, the event will take place at the Glen Head Country Club, Glen Head, on May 13 at 7:30 p.m. “Laugh” is the Long Island Chapter’s largest fundraising event.
Each year, the Mission Award is presented to the individual who has helped the organization by their energy, achievement and leadership in pursuing their mission to find a cure for persons with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and to improve their quality of life. This year, the Mission Award is being presented to Edda Ramsdell, the executive director of CCFA’s Long Island Chapter, in recognition of her 25th anniversary of exemplary service and leadership. Ramsdell has overseen the raising of well over $30 million for research, patient and professional education and outreach.
Ramsdell said, “I’m truly humbled by the honor. In the 25 years I’ve been here, it’s not about me, it’s all about the volunteers.”
Ramsdell has lived in Port Washington since 1975 in the same house. “Everyone knows my house because of the flowers and tulips in the front. We raised our children in Port,” said Ramsdell.
Being honored that evening with the CCFA Corporate Champion, Friend and Advocate (CCFA) Award will be FJC Security, which was founded in 1988 by Frank Califano, Sr., chairman of the board. FJC Security is one of the nation’s leading providers of protection services for people and properties from residential complexes, college campuses, government buildings, healthcare facilities, commercial businesses and construction projects to major airports and high-profile individuals. Califano will be accepting this award on behalf of his company, FJC Security, and his family for their years of partnership with CCFA on its Take Steps Walks and support of education and research efforts to find a cure.
“The co-honoree is FJC security’s Frank Califano,” said Ramsdell. “He’s been a super generous donor and volunteer for many years.”
CCFA has made great strides in Crohn’s and colitis treatment.
“For the fifth year in a row, CCFA got a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator,” said Ramsdell. “Only six percent of charities get that rating. We’ve made such incredible progress and the science is moving so fast. We are almost there, compared to where we were 25 years ago. CCFA was founded in 1967 and any major move forward in the science has all involved CCFA.”
Event cochairs are John Procaccino, MD, and Susan and Michael Kerr, along with journal chairs Jake Watral and Howard Fensterman.
CCFA is a volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to finding cures for Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis and improving the quality of life of children and adults affected by these digestive diseases.
An estimated 1.6 million Americans suffer from Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, with 40,000 patients on Long Island. CCFA has more than 50,000 members and over 40 chapters nationwide. It ranks third among leading research related health nonprofits in the percentage of revenue spent supporting medical research.
The event is a fun evening and is open to everyone.
For more information, go to http://online.ccfa.org/Laugh_2016 or call 516-222-5530. Individual tickets, table packages, sponsorships and journal ads are available.
