Holly Ball 2022.
Our 2022 Event Broke Fundraising Records!
Our 49th Annual Holly Ball event was held on December 2, 2022 at Claremont Country Club and was an absolute success! The blacktie event, co-chaired by Brooke Wall and Rebecca Heywood, was attended by over 200 generous supporters who came together to raise over $500,000, a record for our organization! Proceeds from the event will now be used to fund numerous seed-stage grants focused on break-through cancer research and treatments.
“This event is such an important part of our mission,” said Lisa Settlemier, The Cancer League President. “We are blessed and grateful to have so many wonderfully generous supporters, many of whom have donated annually since The Cancer League was founded in 1973.”
Partygoers were greeted by the stirring sounds of bagpipes as they were transported into the ancient sights and sounds of the Scottish Highlands. Tartan wearing women in glamorous evening gowns were escorted by kilt-wearing men into the scotch tasting area where a quartet of fiddlers entertained. After parading behind traditional Highland dancers into the dining room, excellent food and plentiful wine triggered a battle of the bidding paddles that ultimately led to the record level of fundraising for the organization. The evening concluded with joyous dancing among old and new found friends.
“We were so pleased to see the level of enthusiasm attendees had for this year’s theme,” said Heywood and Wall. “Their excitement helped create an atmosphere of energy and determination that resulted in the group’s tremendous generosity.”
During dinner, Dr. Renu Dhanasekaran, a grant recipient from UCSF, gave the audience an update on the work she is doing on immunotherapies for liver cancer. Kate Osler, The Cancer League’s VP of Marketing, also spoke about the impact of cancer on her family, including the loss of both of her parents within the last 4 years. Her, and Dr. Dhanasekaran’s, heartfelt comments on the importance of seed funding new types of cancer research led to a moment of reflection that captured the reverent spirit of The Cancer League.
Holly Ball is our organizations largest fundraiser, providing significant support for accredited non-profit organizations dedicated to the fight against cancer. Proceeds help us fund on seed-level research projects on new cutting-edge cancer treatments. Since our founding in 1973, The Cancer League has raised and donated many millions of dollars to the fight against cancer.
2022 Sponsors.
BENEFACTORS - $10,000
The David & Susan Martin Family Foundation
Gary Kovacs
John & Rebecca Heywood
PATRONS - $5,000
Jenna & Jack Caldwell
Celine & Alastair MacTaggart
Lisa & Weston Settlemier
Tina Skidmore & Scott Sanford
Brooke & Eric Wall
CHAMPIONS - $2,500
Advanced Physical Medicine & Rehab Group, Inc.
First Republic Bank
Teresa Baum / Matt Heafey
CIBC Wealth Management
Erin & George Brayer
Hilary & Graham Cooper
Sara & Bill Cumbelich
MJ & Chris Dodds
Karen & Steve Ellis
Teresa & Nathan Gilliland
Betsy & Chris Lalli
Melissa & Ali Partovi
Diana & Phil Peters
Camilla & Shahan Soghikian
Jenny & Mike Lynn
Jennifer Rego
