After months of preparation and huge anticipation The Marrow Match Gala took place at the Liberty Theater in Times Square on Sunday November 18th, 2012 to benefit Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation. The event was chaired by the philanthropic news anchor Jessica Abo of “Your New Jersey News Now” on NY1 News and hosted by Gossip Girl’s Kelly Rutherford. Attended by over 600 guests, the Gala proved to be a success raising more than $250,000 in both monetary and in-kind donations, swabbing a number of people interested in joining the registry, and spreading the word about the need the increase the number of donors in the worldwide registry to help patients in need.
Back in May when Jessica attended the Gift of Life annual gala she was inspired by the donor and recipient meetings she witnessed. In learning that each new donors kits incurs a $60 laboratory fee to process, and that many donors are not able to pay this cost, thus resulting in a waitlist, she decided to do something.
It was emotional night as those who are currently fighting and have fought blood cancers were honored. These Included 6 year old Dylan Rabinovich and 3 year old Ezra Jordan Fineman who were awarded the Ayelet Galena Courage Award by Ayelet’s parents, Seth and Hindy Galena. Seth, Ayelet's father, spoke about her moving story as it embodies the true spirit of heroism and also served as a major catalyst to the event. The Gift of Life Pillar of Strengh award was presented to Jill Holander.
"It was an incredibly special night for our honorees, The Marrow Match Gala committee and all of our guests,” said Jessica. “Kelly Rutherford was the perfect host and we were honored to have Sami Gayle from "Blue Bloods" and Kevin Brown from "30 Rock" walk our red carpet and mingle with everyone. I loved every second I spent working on this gala -- even all the hours I spent writing 600 thank you notes to everyone who came. I can't thank everyone enough for all of their support and generosity over the past six months and The Gift of Life team for welcoming me into their family. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to those around the world who helped us clear so many kits."
Sponsors of the event included The Stella Liniado Rainbow Foundation, Foundation for Medical Evaluation & Early Detection, NY1, The Sam Bernstein Law Firm, Shiboleth, and others. In addition to the night’s festivities, which included a silent auction, dancing, and food and cocktails, guests brought items for a Sandy relief drive to support victims on Staten Island. It was a wonderful night of generosity further advancing the awareness of Gift of Life’s cause.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 7 year old girl battling Severe Aplastic Anemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 2 year old girl battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 45 year old man battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 69 year old man battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 75 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 48 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 68 year old woman battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 10 year old girl battling Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 66 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 69 year old woman battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 44 year old man battling Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 23 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 48 year old woman battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 46 year old woman battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 62 year old woman battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 10 year old girl battling Inherited Erythrocyte Abnormality.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 49 year old man battling Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 32 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 62 year old man battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 24 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 72 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 64 year old woman battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 67 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 76 year old man battling Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 64 year old woman battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 19 year old man battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 66 year old man battling Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 48 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 68 year old man battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 23 year old woman battling Severe Aplastic Anemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 4 month old boy battling Inherited Immune Systems Disorders.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 59 year old man battling Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has transplanted a 68 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 7 year old girl battling Inherited Erythrocyte Abnormality.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 68 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has transplanted a 74 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 37 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 74 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 54 year old man battling Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 67 year old man battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 68 year old woman battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 66 year old woman battling Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 70 year old man battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 64 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has transplanted a 3 year old boy battling Histiocytic Disorders.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 67 year old man battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 69 year old man battling Leukemia.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has transplanted a 64 year old man battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has transplanted a 3 year old boy battling Histiocytic Disorders.
A donor sponsored by Marrow Match Gala has matched a 68 year old man battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.