Jason Rosenthal wins the 2019 Ovarcome Excellence Award at Teal Amour: Soirée à Paris!
“I am so impressed/moved/encouraged by Runsi, the Houston community and the many survivors and supporters that make Ovarcome the organization it is. I met accomplished physicians, brave survivors and generous Houstonians.I am proud to have been recognized as Ovarcome’s 2019 Excellence Award Winner. Thank you for letting me be a part of this evening!” Advocate, Artist, TED Speaker, Caregiver Jason Rosenthal, said after receiving the 2019 Ovarcome Excellence Award.
It was a night of charm and Parisian magic at the Westin Houston, Memorial City with over 325 people in attendance at Ovarcome’s Annual Gala, Teal Amour: Soirée à Paris. The annual fundraiser was hosted in honor and celebration ovarian cancer survivors. The record breaking sold-out event raised over $190,000.
In a very touching display of solidarity, the Singer for the evening, Mezzo-soprano, Opera & Concert singer and Recitalist Sonja Bruzauskas accompanied in the piano by Anita Kruse, sang an original song called OVARCOME, that they created especially for the Survivors & OVARCOMERS.
Sonja invited all survivors, caregivers, and supporters in the room to join her in rhythm as she sang her song:
We’ll ovarcome
We’ll rise above
We’ll win the fight
With grace and love
We need the strength of everyone
Mother, daughter, father, son
We’ll ovarcome
We’ll rise above
And we will win with grace and love.
Sonja and the Survivors received a standing ovation from the audience, ever so inspired and moved by this strong and emotional moment.
Jason Rosenthal in his keynote speech, shared his moving story with the audience. “I was married to the most amazing woman for half of my life. We raised 3 incredible children in Chicago, a culturally vibrant and livable city with people of good mid-western values. When my bride died of ovarian cancer after 26 years of marriage I got in touch with real pain. I immediately reevaluated my life’s work. I had talked for years about whether my chosen career path gave me real fulfillment. I am now the board chair of a non-profit organization created in Amy’s name, the Amy Krouse Rosenthal Foundation. I am fueled by its mission to provide programs that encourage child literacy and funding for early detection of ovarian cancer. My future is a blank space waiting to be filled.”
On Father’s Day in June 2018, Jason Rosenthal, the subject of Krouse Rosenthal’s poetic tribute, publicly responded with his own “Modern Love” column, titled “My Wife Said You May Want to Marry Me.” Since his wife’s passing, Jason has become a strong advocate for ovarian cancer.
“It has been our absolute honor to host Jason Rosenthal at our 6th Annual Gala and to recognize him with the Ovarcome Excellence Award,” Ovarcome President, CEO and Founder Runsi Sen said. “Jason’s rousing speech that shined the light on the role of the Care Partner in the cancer journey, stole many hearts in the room that night. As a Caregiver to my Mom, I deeply appreciated his commitment and his sincerity to our cause. Jason made TEAL AMOUR, memorable.”
Awards and honorees include:
Dr. Lorenzo Cohen of MD Anderson Cancer Center, Carolyn Allsen, RN, from Memorial Hermann Cancer Center and Buck Dodson, LCSW, SPB Foundation, received the 2019 Ovarcome Heroes Awards for their extraordinary contributions and exemplary commitment to the ovarian cancer community.
Young Investigator Research Awards were given to Dr. Heidi Chang from Cedars- Sinai and Dr. Mary Mullen from University of Washington Saint Louis.
The Survivor Honorees of the evening, Rachel Bradbury, Debbie Bisbano, Mandi Chambless, Elayne Adams, and Jean Nichols (posthumously) were showered with love and recognition for their strength, beauty, and conviction in conquering the disease. Together, hand in hand, arms linked together in pride, each survivor celebrated their lives and what it meant to have one another. Sharron Melton from CW39 emceed the event.
TEAL AMOUR was attended by a few unexpected Guests that raised a TEAL STORM in avenging Ovarian Cancer! The Gala Host Champions comprising of Doctors, Caregivers, Survivors, Supporters by day and SUPERHEROES by night staged a wonderful skit production of Cancer Avengers!
The funds raised from the gala will go toward Ovarcome’s core programs of awareness work, research funding, as well as the OvarCare financial assistance program for ovarian cancer patients in need.
“We are working to launch a few new initiatives in the next few months, which will help enhance the lives of women and families impacted by ovarian cancer further, by helping them through the life cycle of diagnosis. We plan to expand our national and international grassroots awareness efforts and also hope to provide larger research funding through increased collaborations and new partnerships.”
Ovarcome provides a foundation of support for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Ovarcome strives to diffuse boundaries and unite hearts in their mission to raise global awareness, fund research in search of a cure, and provide financial support to ovarian cancer patients in need. Ovarcome is inspired by the simple philosophy of support, love, and celebration of life. To find out more on how you can support Ovarcome, visit ovarcome.org.
