Pink Pearl Gala Recognizes the Generosity of Lucia’s Angels

Wading River– On Friday, April 5, the North Fork Breast Health Coalition will again celebrate breast-cancer survivors, providers and caregivers at the Fifth Annual Pink Pearl Gala of the non-profit organization. The cocktail reception, seated dinner and dancing to music selected by DJ Phil of Make Some Noise DJs will be held from 6-10 PM at East Wind, 5720 Route 25A, Wading River.

This year’s gala will be a tribute to Lucia’s Angels, which will be represented by President and Co-Founder Stacy Quarty as well as Co-Founder Susie Barry Roden. The foundation is committed to helping women and families on Eastern Long Island with late-stage women’s cancers including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and uterine cancer. Lucia’s Angels was created in loving memory of Lucia Terzi Bagan.

“The needs of our stage-four cancer patients are very unique and continually changing. Advances in treatment and treatment options, changing insurance policies and other patient support services determine how we can best help our patients now,” according to Stacy Quarty. “We continually ask, ‘What would make your life more comfortable today?’ Our goal is to provide the best financial and emotional support we can during a difficult and challenging time.”

“It is our privilege to recognize the work of Lucia’s Angels. We are so grateful to them for supporting the most vulnerable and very bravest of women who are dealing with late-stage cancer,” says Gala Event Chair Melanie McEvoy Zuhowski.

Seating for the inspiring, wear-pink event will be available for $125 per person and $95 for breast-cancer survivors through the NFBHC website, www.northforkbreasthealth.org. To reserve individual seating or reserve tables for a group, please leave a message at the coalition office in Riverhead at 631-208-8889. For information about corporate sponsorship opportunities or contributing to a gift basket, contact Melanie McEvoy Zuhowski at 917-699-5948 or nfbreasthealth@gmail.com.

The North Fork Breast Health Coalition is currently led by President Susan Ruffini. The all-volunteer, nonprofit organization supports local breast-cancer patients with programs such as Helping Hand grants. Funds raised by the gala will also allow the group to continue to provide free services such as gentle yoga, reflexology, meditation class and massage therapy to breast-cancer patients and survivors.

Ann Cotten-DeGrasse and her late husband, Antonio, founded NFBHC in 1998 because they saw a great need for such an organization on the North Fork, where there is an especially high rate of diagnosis of the disease. A retired teacher, Ann has also served as president of the Riverhead School Board. The gala was named for the late Pearl Philindas, past president of the coalition.