La Cassa Magica Raises Funds to Support Clinical Trials at Yale Cancer Center
For Immediate Release
Date: 4/21/05
Contact : Renee Gaudette (203) 785-2143
New Haven, Conn. - Yale Cancer Center's sixth annual gala, La Cassa Magica, was held on Saturday, April 16th at the Country Club of Fairfield. Raising over $400,000 to support the development of translational research and the initiation of clinical trials at Yale Cancer Center, the evening celebrated advances made in targeted treatments aimed at eradicating cancer.
The Honorable Rudolph W. and Mrs. Judith Giuliani were the honorary chairs for the evening, which was hosted by CNN television news anchor and Yale Cancer Center Board member Paula Zahn. Kathryn Anderson Adams of Greenwich chaired the event. Dr. and Mrs. Richard Sackler were Vice Chairs and Louis Chenevert, Paul Kelly, Nicholas Makes, and Joseph Perella served as Corporate Chairs. Among the guests were Carol and George Crapple, Blythe Danner, and Lile and John Gibbons.
Yale Cancer Center would like to thank the generous underwriters: Duke Brodsky, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Evans, R.S. Evans Foundation, Morgan Stanley, Amy and Joseph Perella, Pratt & Whitney, Purdue Pharma L.P, Turner Construction Company, and Paula Zahn and Richard Cohen.
Former Mayor Giuliani was welcomed by a surprise performance of his two favorite arias, Puccini's Vissi d'Arte and Un bel di performed by Metropolitan Opera star, Anya Fidelia, accompanied by Carrie Ann Matheson. He spoke movingly about his realization that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and how it has changed his life.
In support of La Cassa Magica and Yale Cancer Center, Fauchon donated favors for each of the guests. Sony Music Entertainment provided CD gift sets and Tiffany & Co. of Greenwich graciously donated special gifts. Yale Cancer Center would also like to thank AMI, Ideas, Inc., O'Neal's, and Two's Company for generously donating gifts for the evening.
The evening concluded with a sparkling performance of Singing Astaire: A Fred Astaire Songbook, a revue of music written for Fred Astaire from Birdland in New York City.
Established in 1974, Yale Cancer Center was one of the first university-based comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. Today, it is one of a select network of only 39 in the United States, and the only one in Southern New England.