Eating our way through the 12th Annual A Hamptons Happening, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF), and listening to honoree Sandra Lee at the podium, reminded us of the connection between tasty, nutritious food and recovery. An even clearer connection to recovery is the research Waxman’s SWCRF helms and funds.
Waxman’s research career has focused on developing minimally toxic, new cancer therapies, and identifying pathways to deliver the drugs. The success that he’s had and the lives that he’s saved make him the go-to guy for celebrities and socialites. In the past, collaborating with other researchers around the world, he came up with a cure for a rare leukemia. Last year, Waxman and his fellow lab researchers made a major discovery to help treat triple-negative breast cancer. What makes Waxman’s foundation so effective?
 |
|
Honorees Dierdre Quinn, Sandra Lee, and Jayma Cardoso. (Photo: Rob Rich/SocietyAllure.com) |
“When this foundation gives out grants for research,” honoree Sandra Lee told the room, “the requirement is that they share their findings. Unless we share our findings, we will never find a cure for cancer. We must all work together.”
“What we want to do,” Dr. Waxman said, “is understand the cause of cancer at the root level, how this happens. We want to make treatments come about that are scientifically based. This is not a new story for us. That’s been our mission for 40 years. I’d like to say we’ve been ahead of the curve all these years. It’s quite a unique research brain trust that we have.”
The benefit, held at the residence of Maria and Kenneth Fishel, featured 40 of the top chefs and restaurants from New York City and the Hamptons. CBS2 News anchor Chris Wragge hosted. Besides Sandra Lee, philanthropist, Emmy winning television personality, New York Times best-selling author and breast cancer survivor; Jayma Cardoso, Founder of the Surf Lodge in Montauk; and Deirdre Quinn, CEO of the luxury fashion company Lafayette 148 New York, were also honored.
Through the Foundation’s collaborative group of world-class scientists, the Institute Without Walls, investigators share information and tools to speed the pace of cancer research. Since its inception in 1976, the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation has awarded approximately $90 million to support the work of more than 200 researchers across the globe.
 |
|
Honorary Lead Chef Francois Payard. (Photo: Rob Rich/SocietyAllure.com) |
This year’s A Hamptons Happening was chaired by event Co-Founders Marion Waxman and Laurie Schaffran and Co-Chair Karen Amster-Young. Additional chairpersons included Erin Jennifer Woudsma as Auction Chair and Erica Linden-Fineberg as Journal Chair. LDV Hospitality was the featured restaurant group at the event. The Honorary Lead Chef Couple was Fernanda Capobianco, founder of Vegan Divas, journalist and cookbook author; and Francois Payard, pastry chef, restaurateur and author.
Notable attendees included: Dr. Samuel Waxman, Marion N. Waxman, A Hamptons Happening Founding Co-Chair Laurie L. Schaffran, A Hamptons Happening Co-Chair Karen Amster-Young, A Hamptons Happening Journal Chair Erica Fineberg, Event Host Kenneth Fishel, Event Host Maria Fishel, Event Host Bradley Fishel, Chris Wragge, honoree Sandra Lee, honoree Jayma Cardoso, honoree Deirdre Quinn, Honorary Lead Chef Fernanda Capobianco, Honorary Lead Chef Francois Payard, SWCRF Chairman Michael Nierenberg, A Hamptons Happening Benefit Committee Member Chris Arlotta, A Hamptons Happening Benefit Committee Member Jessica Mackin, A Hamptons Happening Benefit Committee Member Pamela Morgan, A Hamptons Happening Benefit Committee Member Sarah Sarpolis, Jill Zarin and Ramona Singer.
For more information about Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation, visit www.waxmancancer.org.
