Summer is a time when we gather together to celebrate friendship, surrounded by the bright colors and joyful sounds of the season. We invite you to join us in our virtual community garden for an uplifting and fun summer event. The evening will include inspiring honorees, memorable performances, an exciting silent auction, and more.

2020 Honorees

Marcia Cross is best known for her role as Bree Van de Kamp on the ABC hit series Desperate Housewives, for which she was nominated for three Golden Globes and one Primetime Emmy.  

A graduate of The Juilliard School, she began her career in the theatre at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Hartford Stage Company as well as the The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego where she played Viola in Twelfth Night and Silvia in Two Gentlemen of Verona. Cross also starred in the television series Melrose Place and the critically acclaimed Everwood. Most recently, Cross was seen in This Close on the Sundance Channel and was heard on the New York Times podcast Modern Love, where she reads the beautiful story, “Could We Try Again?”

Cancer Survivors and COVID-19 Responders at Holy Name Medical Center, Teaneck, New Jersey.

In 2019, Airbnb’s Open Homes program partnered with the Cancer Support Community on a ground-breaking effort to provide free housing to patients traveling for treatment.

This innovative collaboration has already helped nearly 2,000 individuals in need and serves as a beacon of how the tech sector can lead the way in making a difference in patients’ lives.

Evening Highlights

Hosted By: 

Emmy and Peabody Award-winning journalist, respected educator, documentary producer, prominent trial attorney, and author, Jack Ford has had a unique and remarkably successful career.

Currently a host of “Metro Focus” on PBS (WNET-New York) and most recently a CBS News Correspondent for “60 Minutes Sports,” he was also the Co-Founder and Chief Anchor of the digital network American Ed TV, and is a consultant for the NCAA. 

Mr. Ford’s television journalism work has been recognized with a number of honors, including two Emmy Awards, a George Foster Peabody Award, three National Cable Television Awards, a MCCJ National Headliner Award, and the March of Dimes FDR Award.  And in a somewhat unusual accolade, he was named People Magazine’s “Sexiest News Anchor” in 1999.

Mr. Ford has been awarded five honorary degrees, recognizing his professional accomplishments and his extensive public service work.  He has served as spokesperson, host and/or board member for a number of charitable causes and organizations, including the Cancer Support Community, the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (North Jersey chapter), the Alzheimer’s Association, the N.J. Special Olympics, and the Jimmy V Foundation.

Performances By:

Auctioneer: Nicholas D. Lowry

Nicholas D. Lowry is President and Principal Auctioneer of Swann Auction Galleries in New York City, and Director of the auction house's Vintage Posters Department. Born into a family of antiquarian book dealers, he was raised and educated in New York, and graduated from Cornell University. As one of the world’s foremost authorities on vintage posters, Lowry has spent over 20 years serving as poster appraiser on the PBS show Antiques Roadshow. He currently sits on the Board of Trustees of the Smithsonian Archives of American Art, and the Board of Governors of The National Arts Club, in New York City, for whom he is also Chairman of the Fine Arts Committee. Lowry is actively involved with many worthy causes, and presides over as many as 20 charity auctions a year.

Mixologist: Joanna Carpenter

Joanna Carpenter is a New York City-based actor, organizer, and 16-year veteran of the hospitality industry. She is a proud daughter of Chinese immigrants and believes that good food and good cocktails are a love language we can all get behind, even if we are stuck behind computer screens.

Appearances By:

*Please note: All participants are subject to change.

Cancer Support Community's HQ Board of Directors

Lauren Barnes, Chair

2020 Virtual Celebration Benefit Committee