On Thursday, March 4, about 400 guests joined the American Cancer Society at its fifth annual Key Gala at Boston’s newest entertainment venue, the House of Blues. This year’s event themed “Hope is in the House” raised more than $340,000, with all proceeds benefiting the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge Center in Boston, a program of the Society. The Lodge provides free, temporary lodging for cancer patients and their caregiver needing to travel to Boston for treatment.
New this year was the addition of the Late Night Party beginning at 9 p.m., allowing attendees interested in supporting the cause to attend the event later and enjoy food and live entertainment featuring the Marsels. Arts and entertainment critic, three-time cancer survivor and cancer patient advocate Joyce Kulhawik served as the event’s emcee.
Special guests included 2010 Key Gala honorees Dr. David and Mrs. Judy Rosenthal of Dedham who were recognized for their years of volunteer service to the American Cancer Society. For more than four decades, they distinguished themselves through their professional achievements in medicine and education, and through their voluntarism. The Rosenthal’s have worked over the past five years to open the doors to the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge Center in Boston and have brought hope to so many; he as the co-chair of the Society’s Boston Campaign Cabinet, and she as the chair of the Hope Lodge Cultivation and Awareness Committee.
Proud sponsors of the 2010 Key Gala included: premier sponsor Adage Capital, and gold sponsors Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation, and Hologic.
The Lodge, located at 125 South Huntington Avenue in Jamaica Plain, opened in November 2008 and has since provided free temporary residence to more than 700 cancer patients and family members who have traveled to Boston from 35 states and five countries for cancer treatments not available at home. Thanks to generous financial contributions from donors, organizations, foundations, and events such as the Key Gala, guests and caregivers have received 14,500 nights of free lodging and 4,000 rides to and from treatment appointments, saving them more than $1.6 million in hotel and travel expenses.
For more information about the American Cancer Society’s Key Gala, contact Caitlin Bell at 508-897-4323 or Caitlin.Bell@cancer.org or visit www.cancer.org/bostonkeygala. For cancer information, visit www.cancer.org or call the Society 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-ACS-2345.
