End Allergies Together Gala In Greenwich Raises Nearly $500K

GREENWICH, CT - From End Allergies Together: End Allergies Together (E.A.T.), the only non-profit organization that solely funds research for the growing food allergy epidemic, raised nearly $500,000 at its third annual fundraising event, “An Evening to EAT,” on Thursday, April 19 at l’escale restaurant in the Delamar Hotel in Greenwich, Conn. Best-selling author and food allergy activist Robyn O’Brien was honored with the Courage Award for her steadfast dedication to advocating for a healthier food system and greater collaboration among those trying to protect the health of our families. Described as “food’s Erin Brockovich” by Bloomberg and The New York Times, she is one of the country’s foremost advocates for food and health care reform. For more than a decade, she has led a food awakening among consumers, corporations, and political leaders. “An Evening to Eat” included cocktails, dinner, and a live auction.

Co-founder and board member Greg Bates kicked off the evening, delivering remarks to the crowd of 340 guests, followed by president and co-founder Elise Bates. Greg Bates spoke to the fact that not only are the number of those affected by food allergies increasing, but also the number of allergic foods is expanding and the reactions to those foods are becoming more and more severe.

“It’s critical that the many facets of the food allergy community collaborate to make real change,” said Greg Bates.

Since launching in 2015, E.A.T. has committed more than $1.5 million to fund seven promising research
efforts by scientists seeking food allergy treatments and cures, including Imperial College of London,
Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy Research at Stanford University, University of Chicago, Children's
Hospital of Philadelphia, Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Cincinnati Children’s, the Food Allergy Science
Initiative at the Broad Institute.

As a best-selling author, public speaker, strategist and mother of four children, Robyn O’Brien has been
shining a spotlight on the food industry throughout her career. While working as a successful financial
analyst, her life took an abrupt turn when her fourth child experienced a life-threatening allergic
reaction. This scare led her to become a vocal advocate founding the AllergyKids Foundation and
MomVoices. O’Brien was a leading voice during the “#epigate” movement for skyrocketing prices of Epi-
pens in 2016.

Food allergies barely existed 40 years ago, yet today there are two kids in every classroom affected. The Journal of Asthma and Allergy found that more than 17 million people in the United States have food allergies, and one in 12 children are diagnosed with food allergies, according to a study in Pediatrics, a journal published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. There are 90,000 cases of anaphylaxis each year, and every three minutes someone goes to the emergency room with a food allergic reaction.

The 2018 host committee for “An Evening to EAT” included residents from Westchester and Fairfield
Counties: Bonnie Ackerman, Elise Bates, Wendy Block, Tara Blais, Tamara Brolin, Hillary Carter Kimberley Cooper, Bridgett di Bonaventura, Sarah Dolder, Rachel Farscht, Lisa Gershon, Lauren Goldberg, Carey Halio, Kim Hall, Sandi Kornblum, Abbe Large, Kristin Lemkau, Ashley McGrail, Ellen-Jane Moss, Leslie Noland, Jackie Ourman, Michele Posner, Georgine Ragsdale, Dara Rosenberg, Adele Saunders, Jessica Stone, Wendy Tannenbaum, Nikki Thompson, and Bonnie Weinbach.

Photo courtesy of End Allergies Together