On Wednesday, October 5, a group of young men and women dedicated to raising awareness about cancer-causing genetic mutations and raising money to advance cutting-edge research will come together at New York City’s Hudson Terrace to share an unforgettable evening filled with humorous and touching stories of lives forever changed by BRCA mutations, told by survivors themselves, and their loved ones. Guest storytellers include comedienne Caitlin Brodnick, television writer and author Jessica Queller, and New York business mogul Jon Steinberg.
The evening serve as the inaugural event for the hosts, The Young Leadership Council (YLC) of the Basser Center for BRCA, a group of men and women who serve as the next generation of leadership volunteers and supporters of the Center. All proceeds will benefit the Basser Center for BRCA, part of Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, which is the first and only comprehensive center solely devoted to funding research across the globe, educating providers and patients, and advancing care for individuals living with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations.
The YLC provides an opportunity to be involved in a community of those affected by BRCA mutations who are passionate about changing the options that currently exist for generations to come, as well as a forum for young adults to become more engaged with the mission of the Center and stay informed about the latest advances in BRCA-related cancer research and care. Members are dedicated to advocating on behalf of the Center, raising awareness of the importance of philanthropic support to fuel cancer research and patient care initiatives, as well as available to provide advice, counsel, and other support to the Basser Center by offering resources within their area of expertise.
Founded in 2012 by Penn alumni, Mindy and Jon Gray, the Basser Center is a beacon of hope and comfort for those affected by BRCA mutations. It is a global hub, a place for families to become educated and receive genetic counseling, and simultaneously a center for breakthroughs and discoveries.
WHAT:
In Our Genes: An Evening of Storytelling
WHEN:
Date: Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
WHERE:
Hudson Terrace | 621 West 46th Street
New York, NY 10036
*Press passes available. Please contact Katie Delach, 215-776-6063 | Katie.delach@uphs.upenn.edu
WHO:
- Caitlin Brodnick is a women's health advocate, public speaker, and comedian living in New York City. She is a writer for Glamour.com, and performer with Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. At 28 Caitlin had a preventative double mastectomy after discovering she was BRCA1 positive. Caitlin shared her experience in the docu-series "Screw You Cancer," which she created with Glamour.com.
- Jessica Queller is the author of the acclaimed memoir Pretty is What Changes, which chronicles her journey of inheriting the BRCA1 mutation from her mother. Jessica is the recipient of the 2008 Val Skinner Foundation's Hero Award, the 2007 Lynne Cohen Spirit Award, and the 2015 Get in Touch Foundation's Woman of Strength Award. Jessica's day job is writing primetime television dramas. She has written for many shows including Felicity, Gilmore Girls, Ed, Gossip Girl, Vegas, The Carrie Diaries, and currently, Supergirl.
- Jon Steinberg is the founder and CEO of Cheddar, a new video media company sitting at the intersection of business news and culture. He was most recently the Chief Executive Officer of DailyMail.com North America, and was president & chief operating officer at Buzzfeed before that. Through a chance 23andme home genetic testing, Jon’s wife, Jill, discovered she was positive for the BRCA1 mutation. When their children were just 20 months and 5 months old, and after counseling and retesting, Jill had a prophylactic double mastectomy and subsequently a salpingectomy.
- Susan Domchek, MD, executive director of the Basser Center for BRCA at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania.
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