Marrow Registry COLLECTION CENTER Cell Therapy Lab Gift of Life Biologics
Dashboard Change Password Logout
About Us
Who We Are Leadership Credentials Partners Transplant Centers Awards History Financials Donate Careers Contact Us
Donors
Diversity Donation Process Donor Eligibility Am I in the Registry? Donating for Research
Patients
Family Resources Finding a Match Donor Search
Programs
Get Involved Donor Circles Volunteer Network Young Professionals Heroes Society Corporate Partner Program Campus Ambassador Program
Events
Upcoming Events Donor Recruitment Events Steps for Life 5K Cocktails & Conversation Gala Celebrating Life
Newsroom
Stories Media Coverage Press Releases Media Photo Gallery Video Gallery
FAQ
Join Registry Give Now
Join Registry Give Now
STORIES

A Sunday to Remember

May 03, 2011 by Gift of Life News

On Sunday, April 10th, the rolling green hills of Hollywood, California stood out a little brighter as Nora Grossman prepared her  “Cocktails for a Cause” fundraiser event.

The event was to raise funds for Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation- to help process donor swab kits. Currently there are approximately 12,000 medically screened donors that are on hold because there are not enough funds available.

To process the test kits. This was all in honor of  her brother Max, who was recently diagnosed with Idiopathic Aplastic Anemia, a condition of unknown cause in which the bone marrow fails to properly make blood cells, including white cells, red cells, and platelets. Max is currently undergoing treatment but may ultimately require a bone marrow transplant.
 
The Grossman family, FremantleMedia, Manilow Wines, SlantShack Jerky, and International Creative Management hosted the fundraiser at the Palihouse, located in the heart of West Hollywood. The boutique urban lodge; has been host to numerous benefits and events, including Cocktails for a Cause, which took place in the famous lobby lounge.

Attendees walking into the room of this special event found information about Gift of Life, brochures with information on joining the bone marrow registry, and uniquely wrapped clear cellophane with clouds of fluffy pink and blue cotton candy lying on the tables scattered throughout the room. These sweet treats were the representation of cotton swabs. Not the kind used for cosmetics, but the very swabs that a bone marrow registry like  Gift of Life uses to swab a potential bone marrow donors cheeks. This is the first step to save the life of another. Packages of trendy SlantShack Jerky also adorned the room. The warm and cheerful California sun gracefully embellished the event as people from all over Southern California enjoyed creatively named drinks such as: BE generous BEllinis, Maxmosas and Blood Donor  Marys .

Daniel Bral, an attendee of Cocktails for a Cause said, “As a cancer survivor, I was an honor for me to attend the Cocktails for a Cause event. It was so nice to see so many people come in support of an amazing cause. I am so glad that I was able to help the Grossman Family raise such a great amount of money to help with registering new people and saving lives.”

Overall, the event was able to raise over $15000 which will be used to help test new potential donors, any, of who could be the miracle match that a patient in need has been waiting for.