Neiman Marcus is proud to announce an exciting upcoming sweepstakes to benefit Philly Fights Cancer’s 5^th annual fundraiser. One lucky winner will have the chance to win a collection of three prizes once a month for six consecutive months (November 2019 through April 2020).

Prizes include lunch for two at the NM Cafe (Level Three) with champagne, six months of in-store shopping with a style expert, and $1,250 once per month for six consecutive months (experience value at $8,000).

To participate, click the link below and select “I will make a custom donation” from the dropdown menu. Once the transaction is complete, the participant will receive an email with their ticket number(s). The suggested donation for Philly Fights Cancer Sweepstakes is 1 for $200 OR 3 for $500. Tickets for this sweepstakes are still available, so don’t wait and make a donation today. This is one fundraiser that you do not want to miss!

https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/PFCbook2019

Sponsors and supporters of Philly Fights Cancer gathered at Philadelphia’s Fitler Club on Monday, September 23 for the Philly Fights Cancer: Round 5 Patron Party, a fundraiser which took place before the annual Philly Fights Cancer event on Saturday, October 26^th. Guests enjoyed a silent auction inclusive of items from notable Philadelphia restaurants and businesses, including Garces Catering, Scarpetta, Neiman Marcus, Tito’s, Evantine Design, Newuman’s Kitchen, and A. Jacoby & Company. The evening also included light bites from the Fitler Club’s exclusive chef Mark Vetri, as well as hand-crafted cocktails and live entertainment.

The event served as a pre-fundraiser for Philly Fights Cancer: Round 5. All money raised from the Patron Party will go towards clinical trials and translational research at Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center.

Excitement is high as Philly Fights Cancer: Round 5 approaches, which will once again take place at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The 5-year milestone of this event also marks an astounding $26 million raised since 2015. Over 2,000 guests will be in attendance at this year’s event, with entertainment including Hugh Jackman, John Mulaney, Andy Grammer and Lauren Hart.

We are excited to officially announce that singer, songwriter and national recording artist Lauren Hart is joining our lineup for Philly Fights Cancer: Round 5. This Philadelphia Flyers performer is a treasured talent among the Philadelphia community and beyond.

Always known for her introspective lyrics and soaring vocals, Lauren’s songs have been heard on television series and soap operas including “Joan of Arcadia,” “Party of Five,” “All My Children” and “One Life to Live,” and her critically acclaimed National Anthem is featured in the Disney feature film “Miracle”. Lauren sings the National Anthem before every Philadelphia Flyers home game, a tribute to her late father, legendary National Hockey League Hall of Fame announcer Gene Hart, known for 30 years as “The Voice of the Flyers.”

She has performed at the Presidential Inauguration, where she shared the stage with Bill and Hillary Clinton, and on the French Riviera, where she lived for several years, performing with such artists as Stan Getz, the Gipsy Kings, Harry Belafonte and Frank Sinatra.

Lauren returned to the US and began her recording career when she was signed by Columbia Records in 1996 and later RedAnt/BMG.

In the U.S., she has appeared on the CBS Morning Show National, and opened for Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, Train and 10,000 Maniacs.

In addition to her music, Lauren has enjoyed a successful career in broadcast television, serving as co-host of Philadelphia’s NBC 10! Show, and appearing on the Comcast Sports Network covering the Flyers, and most recently hosted her own television show on the WMCN network called ALL HART.

Lauren has ventured into the world of documentary filmmaking by scoring Race to the Bottom of the Earth, chronicling her husband Todd Carmichael’s record-setting solo trek across Antarctica and the film Johnny and Jane come Marching Home, telling the story of our homeless veterans. In 2012 Lauren started work for DANGEROUS GROUNDS, a travelogue show for the Travel Channel. Lauren is the composer and makes on camera appearances as well.

Lauren’s passion for music is matched only by her passion for the charitable organizations she is committed to – MOMS DEMAND ACTION, EVERYTOWN, INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION, and the Gene Hart Memorial Fund where she helps oversee college scholarships and contributes to cancer research and patients.

Lauren is on the Board of Governors of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (Grammy Awards) and is the chapter's Vice President. She also sits on the board of the Philadelphia Orchestra, has been on advisory boards for both Pennsylvania Hospital and The Philadelphia Zoo, and is an honorary Board member of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Southern NJ.  In 2007, Lauren was honored by the Society with its prestigious “Person of the Year” Award. She was named “Humanitarian of the Year” by the Friends of the American Cancer Society in 2010. In 2005 Lauren married Todd Carmichael, the founder of one of the premier coffee roasters in the country, La Colombe.

Todd and Lauren are proud parents of 4 children who were born in Ethiopia.

They have worked tirelessly on behalf of the children and families in Ethiopia and Uganda. Their love of Africa and the people helped shape their family and their entire future. They continue their work in the form of micro loans, family sponsorship, and education and farming.

Thanks to life-saving clinical trials, selinexor (Xpovio) was able to be approved by the FDA. The drug helps with multiple myeloma and was discovered by Dan Vogl, MD, MSCE, an associate professor of Hematology-Oncology in the Perelman School of Medicine. Selinexor works by blocking the protein that transports the tumor suppressants out of the nucleus. Advancements like these wouldn’t be possible without life-changing clinical trials, which Philly Fights Cancer helps to fund through year-round fundraising and awareness building. To donate or learn more about supporting Philly Fights Cancer: Round 5, follow the link here: https://phillyfightscancer.org/events/philly-fights-cancer-round-5/. To read about the full story, visit Penn Medicine at:  https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-blog/2019/july/a-new-cancer-drug-thanks-to-a-new-approach. 

Today, Philly Fights Cancer is proud to announce that the THIRD act for Philly Fights Cancer: Round 5 will be none other than superstar Hugh Jackman!

Hugh Jackman has made an impression on audiences of all ages with his multi-hyphenate career persona, as successful on stage in front of live crowds as he is on film. From his award-winning turn on Broadway as the 1970s singer/songwriter Peter Allen, to his metal claw-wielding Wolverine in the blockbuster X-Men franchise, Jackman has proven to be one of the most versatile actors of our time. Jackman garnered his first Academy Award® nomination, for Best Actor, for his performance in Tom Hooper’s Les Misérables, based on the popular stage show created from Victor Hugo’s famous novel of the same name. Jackman’s standout performance as protagonist Jean Valjean also earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical, as well as Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award® nominations, for both Best Ensemble and Best Male Actor in a Leading Role, and a BAFTA Award nomination. Most recently, he was nominated for his role as P.T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman. Sales for the soundtrack to the film have broken records the world over and reached multi-platinum status in many countries including the UK and America.

On Saturday, October 26^th, Hugh Jackman will join the lineup of incredible talent, which includes comedian John Mulaney and pop sensation Andy Grammer. Philly Fights Cancer: Round 5 will take place at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. For information on becoming a sponsor, see here.

The Philly Fights Cancer Young Friends are an integral part of Philly Fights Cancer. This dedicated group of young individuals supports the work of Abramson Cancer Center physicians and investigators through personal philanthropy and fundraising events. On June 26, 2019, Philly Fights Cancer co-chairs Stephanie Wolfson and Paige Dietz were honored with the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Millennial Corporate Philanthropy Award. The women were recognized for their role in fundraising, friend-raising, in-kind donations and volunteerism.

On Thursday, June 6^th the Young Friends of Philly Fights Cancer raised over $2,000 to benefit Philly Fights Cancer at their benefit Rumble event.

Rumble, Philadelphia’s premier new boxing gym, hosted the young friends for a rigourous one-hour class, that included a mix of high-energy cardio and classic boxing techniques. Check back on the Philly Fights Cancer website and follow the young friends on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest news and events.

We are excited to officially announce TWO of the THREE incredible acts for Philly Fights Cancer: Round 5. Our opening act is none other than Emmy-winning stand-up comedian John Mulaney, and our after-party performer is American singer, songwriter, and record producer Andy Grammer. We can’t wait to laugh, celebrate, and dance the night away alongside these incredible performers. More talent for Philly Fights Cancer: Round 5 to be announced soon! To learn about sponsorship opportunities and how to attend, see here.

About John Mulaney:

John Mulaney is an Emmy Award winning writer and comedian. He recently toured the United States with, Kid Gorgeous, which was also released as a Netflix Special in May 2018 and won the Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Variety Special. Additionally, he has hosted SNL twice, in April 2018 and March 2019. Previously, John starred in the Broadway hit, Oh, Hello on Broadway alongside Nick Kroll. He can most recently be heard in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse which won the Golden Globe for best Animated Feature Film.

In 2015 Mulaney released his 3rd hour stand up special a Netflix Original titled The Comeback Kid which the AV Club called “his best hour of his career.” He began his career in New York’s East Village and has since toured around the world.

In 2008, he began writing at Saturday Night Live where he appeared as a “Weekend Update” correspondent and co-created characters such as “Stefon” with Bill Hader. He currently writes for IFC’s Documentary Now and for Netflix’s Big Mouth on which he voices the character of Andrew. Mulaney’s first comedy album, The Top Part, was released in 2009. He released his second Comedy Central special and album New In Town in 2012, and upon review Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly hailed Mulaney as “one of the best stand-up comics alive.

About Andy Grammer:

Multi-platinum selling pop artist Andy Grammer is all about inspiring and empowering the world by communicating his truths through his music. The first male pop star in a decade since John Mayer to reach the Top 10 at Adult Pop Radio on his first two singles, Grammer has taken the music world by storm with a succession of anthemic pop hits, 6 of which are certified gold or better. His debut album featured the platinum singles "Keep Your Head Up" and "Fine By Me." Andy's second album, Magazines or Novels, featured the triple platinum infectious smash hit "Honey, I'm Good," which was one of the best-selling songs of 2015, and the certified gold anthem "Good To Be Alive (Hallelujah)." Andy’s third full length album, The Good Parts, was released December 1, 2017.  The record includes his global smash hit single “Fresh Eyes,” which has become a streaming phenomenon with over 300 million total streams, the catchy summer jam featuring Lunch Money Lewis, “Give Love,” as well as his NEW hit single “Smoke Clears.”

On Wednesday, June 5th, the Philly Fights Cancer Young Friends will be hosting a charity workout class at Rumble, Philadelphia’s coolest new boxing gym located in the heart of Center City. Proceeds generated from class sales will be donated to Philly Fights Cancer, whose mission is to raise funds and awareness for the life-saving clinical trials at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center. Class will take place on Wednesday, June 5th at 7:30pm. The boxing session is pay-what-you-wish, with a suggested donation of $50.

Rumble

1520 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Tickets can be purchased here: givingpages.upenn.edu/phillyfightscancer

In 2016, Philly Fights Cancer: Round 4 honoree Sean Parker — the founder of Napster and an early investor in Facebook — pledged $250 million to bring together researchers from academic cancer centers across the country with the goal of accelerating the development of new treatments that harness the immune system to attack cancer.

According to a new article from Stat News, the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy is presenting clinical trial results for the first time. And those results, which come just a year and a half after the first patient was enrolled in the study, show tumor shrinkage from the multi-drug regimen administered to patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

The new findings from the Phase 1 clinical trial were unveiled at the American Association of Cancer Research annual meeting underway in Atlanta.

“I don’t want to look too far down the road, but these results are impressive,” Dr. Robert Vonderheide, the Parker Institute investigator in charge of the trial and director of the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, said in an interview with STAT.

In 2016, Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center joined the Parker Institute for Immunotherapy, a collaborative research partnership that allows a group of international teams to further work towards the goal of fighting and curing cancer together. Philly Fights Cancer benefits the life-saving clinical trials and translational research taking place at the Abramson Cancer Center.

To read more about the findings of the clinical trials and what this means for the future of pancreatic cancer, see the full article below.

https://www.statnews.com/2019/03/31/the-parker-institute-touts-early-results-in-pancreatic-cancer-trial-and-a-new-model-to-accelerate-drug-development/