HPD Chancellor to be Honored by American Cancer Society

Fred Lippman, Ed.D., will be honored by the organization at its 8^th Annual Gala on May 12.

FT. LAUDERDALE-DAVIE Fla. —- The Broward Unit of the American Cancer Society will hold its 8th Annual Gala — the 2012 Birthday Ball – on May 12 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Gulfstream Park’s Sport of Kings Theater in Hallandale Beach. The goal is to raise money for the nonprofit’s many local programs, including Reaching Out to Cancer Kids (R.O.C.K.) Programs that help Broward children who are either battling the cancer or who have survived it.

Fred Lippman, R.Ph., Ed.D., chancellor of Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) Health Professions Division

Several individuals will be honored at the Gala.  One of them is Fred Lippman, R.Ph., Ed.D., chancellor of Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) Health Professions Division and former member of the Florida House of Representatives. Lippman is being honored for his work as a state lawmaker, where he fought for legislation to protect children and senior citizens, and to improve Florida’s health care system.

Another honoree, Alligator Ron Bergeron, President/CEO Bergeron Land Development Inc, is being honored for his commitment to community. He is a champion for children’s causes in Broward County and personally responsible for raising millions of dollars for numerous organizations.

This year’s recipient of the Lainie Schultz Survivor of the Year Award is Ross Sabath, accounting information systems manager at Ultimate Software.  A dedicated volunteer who has demonstrated true leadership in furthering the mission of the American Cancer Society, Sabath has been a cancer survivor since 2003.  He has been involved with Relay For Life of Weston and has chaired the event the last two years.  In 2011, the Weston Relay was the number one charitable event in Broward and 7th in the State of Florida.

The R.O.C.K. Programs are made up of three programs for children with cancer and those who survived childhood cancers:  R.O.C.K. Scholarship Program, R.O.C.K. Family Weekend, and R.O.C.K. Camp.

Established in 1976, R.O.C.K. Camp is the first camp for children with cancer in the U.S.  Held at Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis, Fla., it provides kids ages 7 to 16 who are being treated for cancer or who have survived the disease the opportunity to enjoy summer camp without having to feel different from other children.  R.O.C.K. Camp features traditional summer camp activities such as swimming, music, arts and crafts, fishing, horseback riding, and camp fires.

One of the beneficiaries of the R.O.C.K. Programs is a young Hollywood girl named Hailey Plunkett.

Just before she turned three, Hailey received terrible news: She was diagnosed with leukemia.

It seemed like her bright little world was suddenly turned dark by this life-threatening disease. Her life would now be a series of intense anti-cancer treatments that killed bad cells, but ravaged her body in the meantime.

Realizing what cancer can do to children and their families, The American Cancer Society’s Broward Unit enrolled Hailey in a Central Florida summer camp sponsored by its R.O.C.K. Programs. The effects were dramatic. She made friends with other children going through similar battles with cancer; enjoyed life like a normal child; and most importantly, she felt hope that her cancer would be beaten and her life would soon be as enjoyable as the carefree Camp Boggy Creek.

Now 8-years-old, Hailey is cancer free and thanks to the American Cancer Society, she is living the life she had envisioned for herself at the camp. “It was a miracle and a dream,” Hailey said of her camp experience.

Guests at the May 12 Gala will enjoy a night of dining, dancing, and the opportunity to bid on a show case of hundreds of items themed “Birthday Wishes Can Come True”.  These items include the use of a catered suite at the new Miami Marlins stadium, Marlins Park, a ride on the Goodyear Blimp, a weekend of fishing in the Florida Keys, an aerial tour of the east coast of Florida, designer handbags, jewelry, and dancing, art, and scuba lessons.

“It is free to the kids due to the generosity of those who attend our Annual Gala,” said Gala Chair Irv Rosenbaum DPA, Ed.D., MPA, NSU Health Professions Division provost and executive dean for administration.  “Thanks to those who supported last year’s event, 19 children from Broward County were able to attend camp, 34 teens received scholarships, and 12 families attended R.O.C.K. Family Weekend.”

In addition to funding R.O.C.K. Programs, money raised at the Gala also helps to provide services and programs for cancer patients and survivors in Broward County.  These include rides to cancer treatment, support groups, free wigs and prosthesis, and other services.

As the “Official Sponsor of Birthdays”, the American Cancer Society saves lives and creates a world with less cancer by helping people stay well, get well, finding cures, and fighting back.  The American Cancer Society donates more money to cancer research that any other private, not-for-profit, non-government funder of cancer research in the U.S.  It has funded 46 Nobel Prize winners.

For more information about the event, contact the American Cancer Society’s Broward Unit at (954) 200-7516.

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About Nova Southeastern University: Situated on 300 beautiful acres in Davie, Florida, Nova Southeastern University is a dynamic fully accredited research institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs at all levels.  NSU is the eighth largest not-for-profit independent institution nationally with more than 28,000 students. NSU awards associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, doctoral and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields. Classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, NSU is one of only 37 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification.  www.nova.edu

Media Contact:
Ken Ma, MBA, NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5408 (office), 954-621-7961 (cell), ken.ma@nova.edu