The Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation’s Seventh Annual Partners for Life Gala, held on May 15 at New York’s Grand Hyatt, was a spectacular celebration of our achievements as transplant recipients from all walks of life met their life-saving donors for the very first time! Ron Rifkin, a Tony Award winning actor and star of the ABC hit series, Brothers & Sisters, hosted the event for the fifth consecutive year.

 

The Partners for Life Gala is Gift of Life’s premiere event and the largest gathering of donors and recipients in the nation.  At this unique and exciting event, we paid tribute to our remarkable bone marrow and blood stem cell donors, as well as our financial supporters and network of volunteers who make Gift of Life’s mission a reality.

 

The first pair was introduced by Aldo Parcesepe, a Senior Managing Director of Bear Stearns Co., whose support of Gift of Life began over five years ago when his colleague, Warren Spector, was searching for a match for his sister, Ruthie.  Aldo said, “I was touched by the outpouring of support from the wonderful people at Bear Stearns, who came together to help our friend and colleague during his family’s time of need, and impressed by Gift of Life’s ability to handle such a large scale campaign.”  Mr. Parcesepe invited Dr. Richard Freund, who is the Director of the Center for Judaic Studies and the Maurice Greenberg Professor of Jewish History at the University of Hartford to the stage.  A world renowned archaeologist and historian, Dr. Freund has appeared in several television documentaries, including a Nova series on PBS.   His life was saved when he received a transplant from his donor, Shlomo Hackel, who joined Gift of Life’s registry at the 2002 recruitment drive at the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway.  After meeting his donor onstage, Dr. Freund told the audience, “Last month I stood on top of a mountain in the southern Negev that I think is the true Mount Sinai. I had to think to myself, as I have every day, ‘what would have happened if a donor had not been found?’”.  Shlomo then noted that he believes it was his mitzvah which saved Dr. Freund’s life that merited the quick recovery for his daughter, who experienced a difficult illness this past summer.

 

The second donor-recipient introduction was made by Charles Bronfman, Chairman of The Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies.  Mr. Bronfman is also Co-Chairman of Taglit-birthright israel, an incredible program which provides an educational travel experience to Israel for young Jewish adults, free of charge.  Mr.Bronfman said, “As Co-Chair of Taglit-birthright israel, I was pleased to see Gift of Life provide our kids with the chance to do a mitzvah on their trip by enrolling as potential marrow donors.  It truly is an opportunity for them to give a gift in return.”  He continued, “We have been thrilled by the enthusiastic response, and even more excited that in just three years, over 2,500 young adults have joined the Registry.  Even more exciting is that six transplants have already taken place as a result!”

 

Mr. Bronfman then invited three-year-old Michael Barton, along with the child’s parents and two older sisters to the stage to meet Michael’s donor, Abby Pelcyger, the first birthright israel participant to match a patient and donate bone marrow.  Abby told a harrowing story of a frightening car accident she was in the day she went for her confirmatory blood test.  She said, “My car was totaled and the air bags deployed.  But I walked away without a scratch. The first thought was, ‘G-d saved me so that I could save this little boy.’”

 

The final pair was introduced by Robert Jaffe. He said, “I know I am proud to lend my support, and it means so much to be able to celebrate our amazing achievements together.”  He invited Mira Elias, a senior from Brandeis University to the stage and introduced her donor, Tzivya Rogofsky.  As the two embraced in an emotional and heartfelt hug, it seemed a lifelong friendship had begun.   Mira, who was looking forward to her college graduation just days after the gala said, “It’s been really interesting to hear the other graduating seniors talk about how scared and intimidated they are about graduating.  I can’t be anything but excited about it because I remember the times when I was terrified I wouldn’t make it back to school, let alone graduate.  I would never have achieved this goal without the incredible woman who donated her blood stem cells to me and all the wonderful work that Gift of Life does.”  She continued, “Being given your life back is an overwhelming gift.  It is also a responsibility and a privilege.  I personally feel a real obligation to use my second chance to help others and live in the best way I can.  So even though I’ve finally finished school, I plan to go back and become a physician, an oncologist, and hopefully help others in the same situation that I was once in.”

 

During dinner, all three pairs had the opportunity to get to know one another, and the annual group photo of Gift of Life’s donors and recipients swelled to its largest yet – over 100 people!

 

Following dinner, the Partners for Life Award, Gift of Life’s highest honor, was presented to Evie Goldfine, who following her own transplant has become a strong supporter of Gift of Life’s work and even volunteers her time couriering bone marrow to patients in the United States and abroad. (click here for more about Evie’s story).  Evie explained, “Gift of Life’s registry is a public resource, but it is built with private funds. It is critical that we support Gift of Life's vital work so that many more of the miracles we have witnessed here tonight can take place.  As someone who has been on the receiving end of such a miracle, I can’t think of anything more important to support.”

 

The Community Service Award was presented to the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the success of Gift of Life’s recruitment efforts, following a historic donor drive where over 2,500 donors joined the registry, resulting in 15 life-saving transplants already.  The award was accepted by Dr. Adam Lish, Chairman of the HAFTR Board of Education, and himself a bone marrow donor.  He was accompanied by 12-year-old Brian Veith, whose life was saved by Dr. Lish’s donation three years ago.  (You can read more about Adam and Brian by clicking here.

 

Gift of Life’s Founder and Executive Director, Jay Feinberg, concluded the evening with a special presentation called Spotlight on Heroes.  Jay explained that the ballroom was filled with countless heroes whose individual experiences with Gift of Life have led them down paths they may never have imagined.  One by one, a small sampling of these special individuals rose at their seats to tell their moving stories.

 

In his final remarks, Ron Rifkin announced that an anonymous contributor had generously offered to match, up to $500,000, every dollar raised at the gala.  The room filled with excitement as many in attendance took advantage of the offer and filled out their contribution cards.  If you would like to make a contribution, please visit Gift of Life’s online giving page or call 800-9MARROW. 

 

If you would like to receive information on future Gift of Life events, please send an email to info@giftoflife.org. Please check back soon for the 2007 Partners for Life Photo Gallery!