Hamptons Mega-Gala Draws Moguls, Socials, and Billy Idol

It was one of the last major galas for the Hamptons 2016 gala season and drew some of the biggest names on the East End. Everyone from Billy Idol to Aerin Lauder and David Koch turned out to support the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), dedicated to raising funds to eradicate the disease. The gala, held at the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill on Saturday, August 27th, was in support of the 12th Annual Charles Evans PCF Pro-Am Tennis Tournament, which helps raise monies to fund prostate cancer research programs The event took in over $3.5 million in support of the foundation’s work.

So who was there? Michael and Lori Milken, Dianne Reeves , Billy Idol, The Company Men, Leon and Debra Black, Bonnie Pfeifer Evans, Ken and Maria Fishel, Jeff and Mei Sze Greene, Susan and John Kean, David and Julia Koch, Francine LeFrak, Rick Friedberg, Dr. Richard Merkin, Glenn and Jennifer Myles, Joel Pashcow, Artie and Selma Rabin, Jonathan and Sheryl Sokoloff, Lester Cook, Jonathan Erlich, Murphy Jensen, Scott Lipsky, Andreas Siljestrom, Mitch Modell, Frank Luntz, Dr. Jonathan W. Simons (President andCEO, Prostate Cancer Foundation), Dr. Francis Collins, Eric and Aerin Zinterhofer, Jim Coleman and Cynthia Ott, Dean and Roxanne Palin, Brent and Laura Nicklas, Bill Finneran, Lew and Rita Ranieri, Sally Quinn and Jackie Rogers.

The event featured musical performances by Grammy award-winning singer Dianne Reeves, double platinum recording artist Billy Idol, and pop vocal group The Company Men. There was also a special performance by Francis Collins, Director of National Institutes of Health. One-hundred percent of the funds raised throughout the evening went to supporting new discoveries in cancer research.

Reeves’ performance preceded a short speech by Michael Milken, founder of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, who reported on how far PCF has come since its earliest days, and how much the foundation’s work has contributed to advancing cures for the disease. A video was shown highlighting the foundation’s progress and its goal of making prostate cancer an illness to “find in the history books.” PCF’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Jonathan W. Simons, then spoke and touched on the progress in gene research and how it has made it possible to identify the drivers behind the disease in the fight against not only prostate cancer but all types of cancer. Director of National Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis Collins reported on a current nationwide cancer study being conducted to help better understand how to prevent and identify cancer risk factors at an early stage. Dr. Collins encouraged everyone to join in on this “unprecedented adventure,” before he took out his guitar for a surprise performance of Del Shannon’s “Runaway” in his own version, called “DNA”.

A live auction was also held to support a young scientist. Attendees were asked to donate $75,000 per year to fund the research of a scientist and his or her research in the fight toward prostate cancer. This was followed by an appearance by Mitch Modell, who presented the foundation with a check for $141,000 on behalf of Modell’s Sporting Goods and all of its customers. To top off the evening, superstar Billy Idol came on stage and kicked off his performance with crowd favorite “Cradle of Love”.

Weekend hosts and sponsors of the Charles Evans PCF Pro-Am Tournament included other notable East End names like: Bill and Karen Ackman, Leon and Debra Black, Steven and Alexandra Cohen, Bonnie Pfeifer Evans, Ken and Maria Fishel, Larry Gagosian, Jeff and Mei Sze Greene, Josh and Marjorie Harris, Susan and John Kean, Calvin Klein, David and Julia Koch, Marc Leder, Richard and Karen LeFrak, Michael and Margie Loeb, Dr. Richard Merkin, Michael and Lori Milken, Glenn and Jennifer Myles,  Modell’s Sporting Goods, Joel Pashcow, Artie and Selma Rabin, Danny Rosenblum, Jonathan and Sheryl Sokoloff, and Mort Zuckerman

A silent auction was also held, including select items such as a private villa getaway in Bali, sports memorabilia such as a signed plaque and boxing glove of legend Muhammad Ali, a signed Michael Jordan jersey, original photographs of Coco Chanel with model Jackie Rogers, as well as exclusive photographs of Prince, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Mick Jagger.