Skin Cancer Foundation Looks Back on 30 Years with Annual Gala
The Skin Cancer Foundation marked 30 years in the fight against skin cancer with its annual Skin Sense Award Gala, held last October 6 at The Pierre hotel in New York City.
The star-studded evening was emceed by Good Morning America weatherman Sam Champion and featured a performance by Tony-winner Bernadette Peters. The evening’s honorees were Maybelline New York-Garner president David Greenberg and Rite Aid chairman and CEO Mary Sammons.
“Little did I realize 30 years ago that I would make skin cancer and sunscreen household names,” said Dr. Perry Robins, president and founder of The Skin Cancer Foundation. “So few people were aware of what skin cancer was or what caused it until we told them about the importance of protecting themselves from the sun.”
Currently, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S., with more than one million cases diagnosed annually. One in five American will develop skin cancer in a lifetime, the foundation said. Sun protection is especially important because the risk for skin cancer doubles with five or more incidents of sunburn.
“You’d all be really proud of how I slather my little granddaughter, who’s 2 ½ now, with sunscreen,” Sammons said at the podium, accepting her award. “She doesn’t complain about it anymore—just sticks out her arms when she knows we’re headed outside.”
Sammons added that Rite Aid’s partnership with the foundation dates back to 2006 and comprises: the distribution of skin care pamphlets, a line of sun care products endorsed by the foundation and co-sponsorship of the Road to Healthy Skin Tour—a customized RV staffed with dermatologists giving free full body screenings across the country.
“When things get stressful in the beauty industry—and they occasionally do,” Greenberg said, “we often joke, ‘It’s only lipstick,’ or, ‘It’s only eye cream. It’s not as if we are actually saving lives.’ But the truth is—we are saving lives.” He added that as a result of L’Oréal’s commitment to cutting-edge research, its labs have developed more than 155 UV-filter related patents in the U.S.
Also in attendance at the gala were Law & Order actress and Garnier Nutritioniste spokesmodel Alana de la Garza, Mad Men’s John Slattery, The Sopranos’ Tony Sirico and Gretchen Rossi and Slade Smiley of The Real Housewives of Orange County.
Maybelline New York-Garnier’s David Greenberg, Bernadette Peters and Rite Aid’s Mary Sammons.
David Greenberg, Law and Order’s Alana de la Garza, Bernadette Peters and Good Morning America’s Sam Champion.
David Greenberg and Mary Sammons with the Skin Care Foundation’s Dr. Perry Robbins,
Dr. Rex Amonette (r.) and Johnnie Amonette.David Greenberg with Mad Men’s John Slattery.
DowellGroup’s Jerry Dowell with Mary Sammons.
Shiseido’s Heidi Manheimer and Jadzia Tirsch (r.) with W’s Jane Larkworthy.
Johnson & Johnson’s Monica Neufang, Stefano Curti and Clover Bergmann.
Time Inc.’s Tina Newman with Jill Scalamandre of Chrysallis.
Sephora’s Jessica Stacey, Sharon Rothstein and Nicole Grippo.
Sephora’s Alison Slater, Donna Kirkland and Blakely Vaughn.
Maybelline New York-Garnier’s Lisa Carvalho, Tony Sirico of The Sopranos and Sam Champion.
The Skin Care Foundation’s Dr. Perry Robbins and Dr. Daniel Baker.
Lord & Taylor’s Barbara Zinn Moore with Clinique’s Gail Komst.
CEW’s Carlotta Jacobson with Heidi Manheimer.
Actress Mercedes Ruehl and P&G’s Jim O’Connell with Gayle and Dr. Howard Sobel.
October 8, 2009, 2:30 pm
