Down in Palm Beach, the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) hosted their annual Pro-Am Tennis & Golf Tournament. The tournaments were a part of a five-day event that combines the 2024 Milken Institute South Florida Dialogues and annual PCF Pro-Am Tournaments.
The Milken Institute South Florida Dialogues in Palm Beach took place over three days, which included the annual PCF Pro-Am Tennis Tournament; and concluded with three days of events in Miami. The first night in Palm Beach saw a Gala Dinner honoring John and Daria Becker Barry and the Barry Family in recognition of their efforts to accelerate new life-saving treatment options for prostate cancer patients held at the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum with world-renowned mentalist Oz Pearlman and a special musical performance by Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo.
Some notable attendees included: Mike Milken, Bill Koch, John Paulson, Howard Cox, Jenny Johnson, Cliff and Debbie Robbins, Larry Leeds and Ginger Feuer Leeds, Helmy Eltoukhy, Jim Gordon, Joe and Michelle Jacobs, Kneeland Youngblood, Alicia Dahill, Herbie Wertheim, Gina Carithers, Chris and Katia Oberbeck, Ed and Brooke Garden, Monica Seles, Igor Tulchinsky, Kosj Yamoah, Colin McNish, John Hope Bryant and Chaitra Bryant.
Benefactors for the 2024 Palm Beach event included: Ed and Brooke Garden, Mackenzie Price, Ted and Dani Virtue, Bill Acquavella, Dr. Michael and Tricia Berns, Howard and Wendy Cox, Jim and Andrea Gordon, Robert Rosenkranz, Janice Aron, Matt and Marisa Brown, Chuck and Theresa Davidson, Jason and Jeffrey Hirsch, Dominic Hughes, Joe and Michelle Jacobs, Jonathan Klein, Larry and Ginger Leeds, Dean and Marianne Metropoulos, Chris and Katia Oberbeck, Arik and Naomi Ruchim, Kimberly Strauss, Steve and Lisa Tananbaum.
Guests were invited to attend a variety of salons on topics similar to those covered at the Global Conference, but in much smaller, more intimate landmark settings and stunning private homes. Guests were able to attend more than 20 sessions, with over 120 interesting panelists.
All proceeds from the PCF Pro-Am Tennis Tournament and the Golf Tournament funded PCF’s promising and innovative research efforts for the prevention, detection and treatment of prostate cancer, and to help extend and improve the lives of all cancer patients:
• Young Investigators: PCF has launched and supported the careers of many scientists whose work has led to 15 new FDA-approved treatments. Since the creation of the PCF, the organization has funded over $82 million to 410 young investigator in sixteen countries and counting and their work has led to four Nobel prizes in Medicine.
• VA Partnership: providing best-in-care treatments for our U.S. veterans
• Team Science: PCF Challenge Award Teams continue to produce scientific breakthroughs and serve as a role model for other disease-specific foundations.
• The Cutting Edge of Research: By focusing on immunotherapy, the microbiome and nutrition science, discoveries in PCF-funded research have been highly leveraged in diagnosing and treating more than 70 other cancers.
Following the Gala on Friday night, the 2024 PCF Pro-Am finals took place on Saturday afternoon at The Breakers. Players as well as spectators enjoyed some great matches. After a competitive day, this year’s winners included Pat Davidson (Champion – Group 1), Janice Aron (Runner-Up – Group 1), Giselle Asplundh (Champion – Group 2), and Joe Jacobs (Runner-Up – Group 2).
Meanwhile, executive director and award-winning actress Julianne Michelle hosted another successful fundraising dinner at the lovely Palm Beach Penthouse residence of James C. Wheat, III to benefit Mommy’s Heart, a 501(C)3 supporting victims of abuse facing retaliatory lawfare.
Sally Kirkland, Sean Stone, Amy Carlson, Nellie Sciutto, Marysol Patton, Samuel K. Kelley, MD, Myles von Trapp, Florence Anthony, and Alexandra Greenawalt served on the Mommy’s Heart Winter Fête Host Committee. Board member, TV personality, executive, and regular on The Real Housewives of Miami, Marysol Patton, gave a heartwarming speech and was honored with the 2024 Mommy’s Heart Philanthropy Award for her Outstanding Contributions to Protecting the Vulnerable.
Guests included Harry Dubin, Leigh Ann and Martin Sprock, Jane and Tom Reynolds, Veronica Atkins, Ashley Copeland, Julian Stoopler, Aleta St. James, Billy Hupp, E. Allison and Watson Wright, Julia Rosengren, Antoine Ohanessian, Barbera Thornhill, Bernard Markey, Diana Davis, Gale Brophy, Page Corey, Andrea Bartzen, Izabela Ochocka, James Rosenblum, Lisa Sinclair, Steven Lefton Sharp, and board members Linnda Durré, PhD and Justin Alexander. Radio Host Mic McGann served as live auctioneer. The evening included cocktails, dinner, entertainment, and dessert overlooking the ocean. Guests enjoyed a captivating live performance by opera singer, Leah Danielle. DJ Friendly played fun classic tunes into the evening. Guests received gift bags featuring gift cards from The Capital Grille and Noho Nails custom luxury nail kits.
In her speech, Julianne thanked the host committee, board, and all supporters. “Can you imagine how devastating it is for these children to be uprooted from their home and not know where mommy is, when they’ll ever see mommy, or if mommy even cares about them anymore? Thank you for your support of our mission to provide parents with free legal and mental health services to protect the well-being of these children.”
The Mommy’s Heart bill proposal was introduced by NYS Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright to the Judiciary Committee in Albany, NY. Its purpose is to ensure transparency and accountability in the family court and make it more difficult for abusers to weaponize the system against their victims. Mommy’s Heart, Inc. (EIN #87-4833078) provides free legal representation and mental health services to parents and children, who escaped domestic abuse but are now facing legal and financial retaliation by their abusers in the court system. Mommy’s Heart aims to protect and defend the fundamental rights of fit parents to direct the care and custody of their children, so that no parent ever has to fear losing a child for reporting abuse.
High-spirited and intimate … The book-signing for Robin Baker Leacock, author of Mortimer’s: Moments In Time, at the Palm Beach Bookstore brought out a fun group of Palm Beachers to support her inspiring book Radiance: Worth Reimagined; a charming, beautifully designed and stylish coffee-table book full of photographs, thoughts, poems and reflections on our culture, especially our social media values. Radiance is also available on Amazon.
A great time (Palm Beach style) and lots of catching up was had by all.
