North Fork Breast Health Coalition Holds Second Annual Pink Pearl Gala

Riverhead – At the Second Annual Pink Pearl Gala on Friday, March 4, the North Fork Breast Health Coalition will recognize doctors of Eastern Long Island Hematology Oncology, a division of North Shore Hematology Oncology Associates Cancer Center, with the Pink Pearl Spirit Award. The gala was named for the late Pearl Philindas, past president of the coalition. The dinner and award ceremony will be held from 6-9 PM in the elegant ballroom at East Wind, 5720 Route 25A, Wading River.

Doctors Louis J. Avvento, Alexander Zuhoski and Deepali Sharma are being honored for their years of commitment to the health of the East End community and their support to NFBHC. For more than 25 years, ELIHO, a division of NSHOA Cancer Center, has been taking care of patients on the East End in their two medical oncology practices located in Riverhead and Southampton. The physicians of NSHOA Cancer Center work together to provide comprehensive cancer care throughout Suffolk County in community hospitals as well as in their 14 medical offices.

NFBHC will also honor Dr. Frank and Mary Ellen Adipietro by presenting them with the Pink Pearl Community Service Award. The couple is being recognized for their leadership in organizing the Shelter Island Annual 5K Breast Cancer Walk. Mrs. Adipietro founded the event, which has been held every October for the past 16 years. Over $300,000 has been raised and divided between the South Fork and North Fork Breast Health Coalitions.

News 12 Long Island Reporter Shari Einhorn will emcee the Second Annual Pink Pearl Gala. She often covers health-related stories for the regional television station. Last March, she emceed the inaugural gala, which was very successful with about 180 people having attended. Also returning is DJ Phil, who will provide music for dancing after the dinner and awards presentation.

Seating is available for $95 per person. To reserve individual seating, reserve tables for a group or to inquire about corporate sponsorship opportunities, please leave a message at the coalition office in Riverhead at 631-208-8889, contact Event Chair Melanie McEvoy at melanie@mcevoyandassociates.com or visit www.northforkbreasthealth.org.

Currently led by Susan Ruffini, the all-volunteer, nonprofit organization supports local breast-cancer patients with programs such as the Helping Hand grants. Funds raised by the gala will also allow the group to continue to provide free services such as yoga, massage therapy, reflexology and support groups to breast-cancer patients and survivors.

Breast cancer affects millions of lives and kills more than 180,000 women a year in the United States. Ann Cotton-DeGrasse and Antonio DeGrasse founded the North Fork Breast Health Coalition 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.