NFBHC Honors Two Local Businesses At Pink Pearl Gala

Riverhead – The North Fork Breast Health Coalition will celebrate breast-cancer survivors and thrivers as well as providers and caregivers at the NFBHC Annual Pink Pearl Gala. The cocktail reception, seated dinner, raffles and dancing to music by DJ Phil of Make Some Noise will be held on Friday, April 11, from 6-10 PM. For the second time, the event will be held at the Sea Star Ballroom, Hyatt Place Long Island, 431 East Main Street, Riverhead. 
 
During this year’s gala, the North Fork Breast Health Coalition will honor The Simmons Point Group of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC with the NFBHC Corporate Leadership Award. With an office in Riverhead, the company is an experienced group of financial professionals at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC—one of the nation’s most prestigious investment firms.
 
“In 2018, NFBHC Vice President Bernadette Tuthill introduced us to the organization,” said Gary T. Lukachinski, Executive Vice President/Wealth Management, Simmons Point. “As we learned about all the extraordinary things NFBHC does for those facing daily challenges in their lives because of breast cancer, we felt that we needed to support this cause. Sadly, everyone knows someone that is touched, in one way or another, by this insidious disease. We are honored to be a small part of this wonderful organization that helps so many.”
 
Lisa and Anthony Sannino are also being honored at the gala with the NFBHC Community Spirit Award. They are being recognized for their commitment to supporting the East End breast cancer community, especially for generously hosting the NFBHC Stage IV summer fundraiser for the last three years at Sannino Vineyard, Cutchogue. 
 
The three Pink Pearl Underwriters of this year’s gala will be The Simmons Point Group of 
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, NFBHC Director-at-Large Connie “Losing is Not an Option” Hayes, and the Mattituck Lions Club. This is the fifth consecutive year that Simmons Point has sponsored the gala at the top level. This year, both Hayes and the Mattituck Lions Club moved up to the top level after last year’s second-level Pink Pearl sponsorships. 
 
Seating for the inspiring, wear-pink, -green, and/or -teal event (colors of the tricolor ribbon for metastatic breast cancer) was available for $150 per person and $125 for breast-cancer survivors and thrivers through www.northforkbreasthealth.org. For more information, e-mail nfbreasthealth@gmail.com or leave a message at the coalition office in Riverhead at 631-208-8889. To secure a sponsorship ranging from $250 for “Silver Sponsor” to $15,000 for “Pink Pearl Underwriter,” contact NFBHC President and Gala Chair Melanie McEvoy Zuhoski at the same e-mail address. 
 
As is tradition, the Pink Pearl Gala includes a gift basket raffle, which can be previewed and raffle tickets purchased beforehand at the coalition office, 185 Old Country Road, Riverhead, April 4-6 (Friday, 4-8 PM; Saturday,10AM-4 PM; Sunday, 10 AM-2 PM)
as well as during the gala. Individuals who cannot attend the gala can still participate in the raffle, which benefits the NFBHC Keri Lynn Stromski Stage IV Breast Cancer Research and Support Fund. For information about contributing to a gift basket, e-mail the coalition or call Raffle Chair BeeJay Ferucci at 631-807-3479.             
 
Founded in 2021, the Stage IV Fund provides financial support to oncologists who are treating local patients and are actively doing cutting-edge research on extending and saving lives of Stage IV breast cancer patients. The fund also supports Stage IV thrivers who often have unexpected costs and expenses associated with their treatment.
 
The North Fork Breast Health Coalition is a nonprofit organization that supports local breast-cancer patients with programs such as Helping Hand grants. Proceeds from this event will also allow the group to continue to provide free services such as gentle yoga, reflexology, massage therapy and “Strength for Life” exercise classes to breast-cancer patients and survivors. They can also receive free hats, scarves, wigs and protheses from the Rita Duva Boutique at the organization’s office.
 
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, a past president of the coalition.
 
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