Mountain View, CA - April 21, 2012 - Four hundred thirty El Camino Hospital and Foundation supporters gathered at The Fairmont San Jose on Saturday evening April 21 for the second annual Sapphire Soirée, a gala benefit for the Cancer Center. The black tie affair raised $920,000. Proceeds will fund a pioneering High Risk Breast Program, which identifies women at elevated risk for breast cancer and helps them develop proactive, personalized follow-up plans, and will also be used to establish a Melanoma Program that provides screening, diagnosis, and treatment for the potentially fatal, increasingly common skin cancer. Sandra and Doug Bergeron and Katie and Greg Morganroth, MD chaired the event and Pamela and Edward Taft served as honorary chairs.
Comedian Bob Sarlatte served as emcee and, with Patrick Meade of Bonhams, presided over a spirited live auction, during which guests dueled over a guitar autographed by Huey Lewis and the News, Las Vegas and Hawaii getaways, expert wine consultation, a top gun fighter pilot experience for a day, and the opportunity to watch the 2013 America’s Cup final from an 11th floor, private, Russian Hill apartment. The fundraising portion of the evening culminated with an appeal from Pamela and Edward Taft to match their $250,000 gift to the Cancer center, which they made this year in memory of Norma Melchor. The audience more than rose to the challenge, contributing an additional $260,000 to the cause. Everyone celebrated on the dance floor as Huey Lewis and the News began their hour-long set. The party continued until midnight in Club Regent, where the cover band Pop Rocks played a variety of rock and roll favorites.