Concern Foundation's Annual Block Party Raises $1.8 Million

Concern Foundation (www.concernfoundation.org) for cancer research successfully produced its 44th Annual Block Party on July 14^th on the iconic back lot of Paramount Studios in Hollywood. Celebrating the foundation’s 50^th anniversary, the party’s theme was Cancer Crusaders. The highly anticipated, sold-out event hosted 4,000 guests, and raised $1.8 million for cancer research through ticket sales, donations and silent auction bids.

Guests had a chance to experience over 70 restaurants, caterers, and beverage vendors, including Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Fogo de Chao, Dulan’s Soul Food, Button Mash, Fresh Brother’s Pizza and Pink’s Famous Hot Dogs. The night was filled with interactive entertainment, including casino-style gaming, a celebrity bar hosting actors Lili Bourdán (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, THE NUN), Gabe Jarret (REAL GENIUS) and Chad Johnson, the original TV Batmobile, and the live Super Hero “streetmosphere.” For the 14th year, The Best of LA® on Los Angeles Magazine’s street featured lounges, photo booths, beauty stations and gift bags sponsored by Infiniti.

As a focal point for the evening’s festivities, the live auction lead by lifestyle expert and entertainment reporter Mar Yvette, presented guests with the option to bid on prizes including VIP tickets to a taping of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and the 2018 American Music Awards, a six-night vacation in Maui and Dodger dugout seats. Following the auction, John Ferdenzi of Town and Country Event Rentals was honored with the Spirit of Concern Award for his dedication and service to the organization for more than 25 years. CBS radio personality Frank Mottek served a master of ceremonies, as he does each and every year.

The foundation honored Dr. Jay & Kris Calvert and family as this year's "Cancer Crusaders" for their participation in helping to conquer cancer through research. The Calvert's 10 year old son Ace was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) at age four and while today he has beaten his cancer, ALL can always return and he is never truly cured. Dr. Calvert himself was a young scientist who could not get funding early in his career as a molecular biologist and he personally knows how important the foundation’s mission is in supporting young researchers. Dr. Calvert has been consecutively named one of Los Angeles Magazine's "Super Doctors" in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and has appeared on CBS's "The Doctors" and OWN's "Dr. Phil.”

Concern Foundation president Derek Alpert stated, “Having the honor to be on stage to welcome and see nearly 4,000 of the true super heroes all gathered together, helping us raise funds to conquer cancer is a very emotional thing for me.”