On March 3, International Capital & Management (ICMC) and Cancer Support VI (CSVI) hosted their 12th annual fundraiser. The theme was ‘Great Gatsby and Share the Love.’ It was held at the beautiful ICMC Terrace at 1A Kongens Gade. Wine, champagne and Scotch tasting were provided by Bellows International as a donation to CSVI. Catering was provided by Dean’s Catering with desserts by Suga Mamas.
Louis Taylor performed 1920s piano music, and the guests were entertained by vocalists Melita Etienne and Carla Scott – accompanied by a trio of dancers. DJ’s Steve Lechowicz and Amar Belani had the guests dancing throughout the evening.
Over 200 guests attended, many wearing elegant and glitzy 1920s flapper attire. The scene was reminiscent of a 1920s cabaret.
CSVI Director Charlene Kehoe reports the event raised over $150,000 for the cancer fund, which is managed by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI). Funds are used to help cancer patients and their families in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Kehoe said “With the closing of the Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute and the suspension of services by the American Cancer Society (ACS), the funds are needed now more than ever.” Albeit, ACS has promised a grant to CSVI to provide additional assistance.
In the past 12 years, the ICMC -CFVI Cancer fund has provided financial assistance to over 2,200 cancer patients totaling over $1.7 million. In just the last two years, the fund has provided over $680,000 in patient grants. The event was totally underwritten by ICMC and a donation of $200,000 made by the Stephenson Family. One hundred percent of the funds raised go directly to cancer patients. Kehoe shared the plight of three new uninsured patients the fund is currently helping: a gentleman with advanced skin cancer, a patient with multiple myeloma, and a teen-age girl with ovarian cancer. They are being helped thanks to donors like Pash Daswani and the India Association. The fund will be able to provide more assistance to their famlies.
The event featured many live and silent auction items. Many thanks to the team who worked diligently to make the event successful, and to procure numerous auction items – Barb Michaud, Karen Nelson-Hughes and Elaine Francis. The out pouring of love and generosity from the St. Thomas community was overwhelming.
If anyone reading this is a cancer patient or knows a cancer patient who needs assistance, call Charlene Kehoe at ICMC at 715-5806.
