Prevent Cancer Foundation to honor Puerto Rico at Annual Gala
तत्काल रिहाई के लिए
काइरा मेस्टर
703-836-1746
kyra.meister@preventcancer.org
Washington, D.C. – On September 16, the Prevent Cancer Foundation® will celebrate Puerto Rico at its 32nd Annual Gala, with Honorary Co-Chairs, Governor Jenniffer González-Colón and Rep. Pablo José Hernández Rivera (D-P.R.). The theme, La Isla del Encanto (the Island of Enchantment), will highlight Puerto Rico’s progress in cancer prevention and early detection.
The Gala is the Foundation’s premier fundraising event, annually raising upward of $2 million to support the Foundation’s work in research, education, advocacy and community. It is also recognized as one of Washington’s top charity events, attracting nearly 1,000 guests, including members of Congress and the administration; the diplomatic community; and leaders in business, government, medical, sports, media, social and philanthropic communities. All proceeds from the Gala support the Foundation’s vision of a world where cancer is preventable, detectable and beatable for all.
The Foundation also recognizes the substantial gap in cancer screening and early detection; just five cancer types have recommended routine screenings, which means the majority of cancers lack effective early detection tools. To address this urgent need, the Foundation is directing all donations made the night of the Gala to research and innovation for cancers that do not have a guideline-recommended screening or early detection method.
Throughout the evening, the Foundation will welcome an inspiring lineup of speakers and honorees—those personally touched by cancer and committed to stopping cancer and saving lives.
Sara Sidner, Anchor and Senior National Correspondent at CNN, will return as master of ceremonies. Ms. Sidner is a breast cancer survivor who has shared her story widely to inspire action and raise awareness about racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes among Black women in the U.S. Her message urges women to get annual mammograms and pay attention to changes in their bodies.
The Foundation will be honoring House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Representative Richard Neal (D-Mass.) with the Cancer Champion awards for their contributions to expanding access to cancer prevention and early detection services.
Rep. Scalise is a cancer survivor who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, in 2023. His cancer was detected early, and now he shares his story to underscore the difference cancer prevention and early detection can make.
Rep. Neal has long championed cancer prevention and early detection efforts on Capitol Hill. He co-sponsored the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Act, passed into law in early 2026, and continues to work for expanded health care access through his role on the House Ways and Means Committee.
The program will also feature remarks from Esteban Santos, on behalf of presenting sponsor Amgen, on the company’s work in Puerto Rico; and from Dave Mitrani, remembering his late wife and Prevent Cancer Foundation staff member Lorelei Mitrani, who died from cancer earlier this year.
The Foundation is also proud to recognize the 2026 Prevent Cancer Gala Committee co-chairs for their leadership, as well as all of the members of the committee for helping us make the event possible.
Thank you to our Gala committee co-chairs:
- Nickie Currie, Amgen
- Caryn Dyson, Akin Gump
Thank you to our Gala Committee members:
- Bill Behnke
- Kate Belinski
- Matthew Fleisher
- Erwin Gomez
- Shannon Graham
- Lindsay Houff
- Amanda Major
- Michele Oshman
- Anna Pugh
- Julie Eddy Rokala
- Marie Royce
- Brian Smith
- George York
During the event, the Prevent Cancer Foundation will celebrate the work of organizations across Puerto Rico that are expanding access to education, screening and vaccination. Two of these organizations—VOCES Immunization and Health Promotion Coalition in Guaynabo and Migrant Clinicians Network in San Juan—each received $100,000 for two years through the Foundation’s community grant program to support patient navigation work and help ensure all people have the tools they need to access cancer prevention and early detection services.
डीसी मीडिया को इस समारोह में भाग लेने और इसकी रिपोर्ट देने के लिए आमंत्रित किया गया है:
क्या: कैंसर रोकथाम वार्षिक उत्सव
कब: Wednesday, September 16, 6:00 p.m. ET
कहाँ: नेशनल बिल्डिंग म्यूज़ियम, 401 एफ सेंट एनडब्ल्यू, वाशिंगटन, डीसी 20001
पोशाक: Business or formal attire
If you plan to attend, please RSVP to kyra.meister@preventcancer.org by Monday, September 14. Please note that members of the press will not be seated for dinner.
A silent auction will be held the evening of the event. Bids can be placed online beginning Wednesday, September 2. कैंसर रोकथाम वार्षिक उत्सव के बारे में अधिक जानें.
The 2026 Prevent Cancer Gala thanks its top sponsors:
प्रस्तुतकर्ता प्रायोजक:
- ऐम्जेन
Emerald Sponsor:
- ब्रिस्टल मायर्स स्क्विब
- कंघी बनानेवाले की रेती
Diamond Sponsors:
- BeOne Medicines
- गिलियड
- मर्क
- Puerto Rico Statehood Council
- वॉल-मार्ट
Platinum Sponsors:
- Cencora
- FedEx
- नोवार्टिस
- फाइजर
- पीएचआरएमए
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प्रिवेंट कैंसर फाउंडेशन के बारे में®
प्रिवेंट कैंसर फाउंडेशन® is the only U.S.-based nonprofit organization solely dedicated to cancer prevention and early detection. Through research, education, advocacy and community, we have helped countless people avoid a cancer diagnosis or detect their cancer early enough to be successfully treated. We are driven by a vision of a world where cancer is preventable, detectable and beatable for all.
फाउंडेशन 2035 तक कैंसर से होने वाली मौतों को 40% तक कम करने की चुनौती का सामना करने के लिए आगे आ रहा है। इसे प्राप्त करने के लिए, हम कैंसर का शीघ्र पता लगाने और बहु-कैंसर जांच को आगे बढ़ाने के लिए नवीन प्रौद्योगिकियों के लिए $20 मिलियन का निवेश करने, चिकित्सा की दृष्टि से वंचित समुदायों तक कैंसर जांच और टीकाकरण की पहुंच बढ़ाने के लिए $10 मिलियन का निवेश करने, तथा जांच और टीकाकरण विकल्पों के बारे में जनता को शिक्षित करने के लिए $10 मिलियन का निवेश करने के लिए प्रतिबद्ध हैं।
For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.