Celebrating Our Pink Tie Partners

For the 12^th consecutive year, our Annual Pink Tie Ball united hundreds of Komen Orange County advocates and supporters to raise funds toward breast health services and groundbreaking cancer research. Every year, we seize this opportunity to highlight outstanding men and women who work alongside our organization. In 2018, Komen Orange County recognized five ‘Pink Tie Partners’, for their life-changing contributions to our cause. Get to know them better:

Photo credit: Carol Moore
From L to R: Bill Meehan, Dr. Allyson Brooks, Dr. Devon Lawson, Marica Pendjer and Pete Tzavalas

• Bill Meehan, managing partner at Rutan & Tucker, LLP a long-time supporter of Komen OC mission programs. Bill and his company have supported many of our fundraisers, including our Reds, Whites and Greens golf tournament, Pink Tie Ball and Race for the Cure.
• Allyson Brooks, Ginny Ueberroth executive medical director endowed chair of Hoag’s Women’s Health Institute. Hoag has been a great supporter of our mobile mammography and Latina outreach. Recently, we also partnered to host the first Spanish language cancer survivor conference in Orange County.
• Devon Lawson, metastatic breast cancer researcher and professor at the University of California, Irvine. She is co-leader of the UCI Breast Disease Oriented Team, which she helped establish to facilitate collaboration between UCI physicians, scientists, and local breast cancer advocates to promote an integrated environment for breast cancer research and clinical care at UCI. She also has been a speaker at the Komen OC Education Series for several years.
• Marica Pendjer, principal of Creative Collaborations, a boutique Orange County-based marketing and public relations firm. She served as Komen OC Board President from 2005 to 2007, was chair of the Race for the Cure and 2012 Pink Tie Ball Chair. Her work with Komen has earned her a Cameo Award, BMW Ultimate Drive Local Hero Award, Kellogg’s Rise and Shine Award for outstanding volunteerism, and recognition as Volunteer of the Year.
• Pete Tzavalas, senior vice president at Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. He is actively working to bring Komen OC to the attention of businesses and encourage their financial support. His company has sponsored a table at the Pink Tie Ball for several years and brought a new mix of guests to support the cause.

Thanks to the efforts of our Pink Tie Partners and the 450+ guests in attendance, this year’s gala raised $617,000 to help fund our bold goal to reduce the current number of breast cancer deaths by 50 percent in the U.S. by 2026.  Since its inception in 2007, the Komen Orange County Pink Tie Ball has raised nearly $6 million and recognized a total of 84 Orange County businessmen and community leaders as Pink Tie Partners.

Photo credit: Antje Woolum Photography
2018 Pink Tie Ball Committee Members

The Pink Tie Ball is one of several fundraisers we organize each year to help fund breast cancer education and services such as free mammography screenings benefitting women in our community. Join us at our next big event, Race for the Cure, on Sunday, Sept. 23, at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. To take advantage of early-bird registration fee, sign up at www.komenoc.org/race.

Men in Pink

Komen Orange County may not have Agent J, K and Frank the Pug on its side to pursue its mission of saving lives and ending breast cancer forever, but it can certainly count on the support of Orange County finest men, the Pink Tie Guys.

For the past 11 years, Komen Orange County has recognized a new class of seven Pink Tie Guys each year, an exclusive group of male advocates committed to the local fight against breast cancer. The 2017-2018 class was honored at Komen Orange County’s annual Pink Tie Ball, hosted at Huntington Beach’s Paséa on May 13. The celebration themed “On the Edge,” raised more than $635,000 to fund the next generation of research and local initiatives to achieve the organization’s Bold Goal, to reduce the current number of breast cancer deaths by 50 percent in the U.S. by 2026.

Each Pink Tie Guy was presented with a pink tie donated by Macy’s, symbolic of their commitment to raise awareness within the business community in support of Komen’s mission.

From left to right: Ken Paramo, William Sanderson, Mark Rhee, David Moatazedi, Denis Kalscheur, Michael Ricks accepting for Robert Braithwaite, Ray Baird. Photo credit: Antje Woolum

Here is your chance to learn more about these local philanthropists:

• Mark Rhee was the 2017 Pink Tie Ball co-chair, with his wife Dr. Jessica Rhee, Komen OC Board member and oncologist at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and UC Irvine Health. Mark’s mother is a breast cancer survivor, and sadly, his mother-in-law lost her battle against breast cancer several years ago. Mark has spent 20+ years in senior finance business operations and development roles in different industries and now is an entrepreneur who owns and operates businesses in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Nevada, Los Angeles and Hawaii.
• Ray Baird, Founding Partner of Branding Business, has been providing pro bono marketing and communication consulting to Komen Orange County for the past year. Ray’s wife is a two-time breast cancer survivor who has been cancer free for 15+ years. His personal experience brought him a deeper understanding of the struggles a woman faces from the moment of diagnosis, through treatment, to reconstruction and beyond.
• Robert Braithwaite, President & CEO of Hoag Hospital, has been instrumental in providing grants to the Komen Fund providing breast cancer diagnostic procedures for uninsured low-income women. Hoag Hospital’s Community Benefits Program and Hoag Hospital Foundation also have been very supportive of our mobile mammography initiative.
• Denis Kalscheur, Vice Chairman of Aviation Capital Group, earned his title of Pink Tie Guy by being a Pink Tie Ball Co-chair last year. He used every ounce of business leverage that he possessed to bring the worldwide aviation industry on board to support Komen Orange County’s work.
• David Moatazedi, Senior Vice President of US Medical Aesthetics at Allergan, recently attended the funeral for his 37-year-old colleague who lost her battle with breast cancer, leaving behind a husband and a 2-year-old son. This was a wakeup call for David who decided to support Komen in its bold goal.
• Ken Paramo is Brand Manager at Korbel Sparkling Wines for Southern California. Ken and his company, Brown-Forman, have generously donated wine and spirits to KomenOC events, including the past 11 Pink Tie Balls!
• William Sanderson, Corporate Executive Vice President and CFO at Golden State Foods, recently organized a creative corporate fundraiser. For each member of the management team who wore a pink tie to work, the company donated to Susan G. Komen. The event was a great success and raised a total of $2,400.

Thanks to the support of these gentlemen, and the 70 Pink tie Guys who’ve preceded them, Komen Orange County’s Pink Tie Ball has raised more than $3.6 million over the past decade, with 75 percent funding local programs focused on the breast health needs within the community and 25 percent given to global breast cancer research. Hats off to our very own Men in Pink!

On Our Quest for the Cure, Pink Tie Ball Raises Record-Breaking Funds

Susan G. Komen Orange County’s seventh annual Pink Tie Ball was a huge success! More than 400 attended the lakeside gala, which was held last Saturday, May 11 at Lake Mission Viejo.

Women in gorgeous flowing gowns and men in sharp suits and tuxes walked along a path of floating candles and entered the gala beneath a pink shooting star archway.  As servers offered hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, guests mingled and placed bids on silent auction items.

More than 200 handmade stars were hung for the “Stars of Hope” opportunity drawing. For a donation of $100, guests could choose a star created by survivors and friends of Komen Orange County, and were given a chance to win one of three prizes from sponsor Black, Starr & Frost, including a grand prize of a set of 18-karat white gold constellation star earrings featuring 0.65 carats of round brilliant white and black diamonds (valued at $6,000).

As the sun began to set, pink lights cast a glow around the edges of the venue. At dinner, Pink Tie Ball co-chair and breast cancer survivor Estela Riela shared her touching story of survival and explained that the event’s theme “Quest,” which promotes the search for a cure, was inspired by the lyrics of “The Impossible Dream” from “Man of La Mancha.”

TV newsman and returning Pink Tie Guy Ed Arnold introduced the 2013 Pink Tie Guys before asking the previous classes to join them in front of the stage. This year’s Pink Tie Guys are:

• Bruno Serato, Chef/Owner, Anaheim White House
• Hector Infante,  Public and Government Affairs Manager, Chevron
• Dennis Parks, COO, WalkStyles, Inc.
• Sam Riela, President, Salstar Enterprises, Inc.
• Scott D. Sherman, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Allergan
• Chris Lawrence, Senior Vice President, Director of Finance, Opus Bank
• Dr. Melvin J. Silverstein, Medical Director, Hoag Breast Care Center

The Pink Tie Ball raised $385,000 through live and silent auctions, sponsorships, ticket sales and revenue opportunities throughout the evening. Seventy five percent of the funds raised will go back into the community for breast health education, services and mammograms for underserved and uninsured men and women. The remaining 25 percent goes towards ground breaking global research.

Thank you to all who attended the 2013 Pink Tie Ball and helped contribute to our mission of serving women and saving lives. Keep an eye out on our Facebook page over the next few days for photos from the event!

Pink Tie Ball

2012 Pink Tie Ball

On April 21, the Orange County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure hosted the sixth annual 2012 Pink Tie Ball at the Festival of Arts grounds in Laguna Beach to raise funds for local breast health services for uninsured and underserved women in Orange County.  Nearly 400 local community and business leaders, breast cancer survivors and breast health advocates joined forces and raised more than $360,000 net—surpassing last year’s fundraising efforts.

Harald Herrmann, President and CEO of Yard House Restaurants, was honored for his many years of ongoing support and dedication to the Affiliate. Herrmann is also a Pink Tie Ball sponsor and founding member of the Pink Tie Guys.

The Pink Tie Ball also introduced a new class of Pink Tie Guys:

• Bob Abbott (artist known as Jerome Gastaldi), Fine Art Communication Technologies and artist creator for The Yard House Art Collection
• Glenn Gray, Sunwest Bank Chief Executive Officer
• Dr. Gary Levine, Hoag Breast Center Director of Radiology
• John Miller, The Page Group Executive VP and Partner
• Kenneth McFarland, Mission Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer
• John E. Stratman, Jr., Kaiser Permanente – Orange County Director of Public Affairs
• Scott Wheeler, Experian North America Chief Financial Officer

These men will act to promote Komen Orange County’s breast health mission in the business world and local community.

Stay tuned for more details from the Pink Tie Ball!

2012 Pink Tie Ball Chairs John Miller and Marica Pendjer

2012 Pink Tie Ball Co-chairs: Michael and Trish Gustafson and Chereen and Lawrence Pasternack

Harald Herrmann, President and CEO of Yard House Restaurants

Sue Parks, Board President for the Orange County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure with the Class of 2011-2012 Pink Tie Guys