Josh Lucas & Donna Karan Headline Solving Kids’ Cancer Fifth Annual Spring Celebration

Solving Kids’ Cancer is a nonprofit charity created by two fathers, Scott Kennedy and John London, both who lost children to pediatric cancers. One hundred percent of all donations are used to find, fund, and manage clinical trials and scientific programs to rapidly develop the most effective treatments and cures.

On May 8, several notable New Yorkers came together for the organization’s fifth annual dinner, which raised $700,000 to fund treatments options for kids. The speeches were extremely touching. Actor Josh Lucas opened up about his wife’s experience with cancer before reading an emotional journal entry from a parent whose child had undergone treatment. 

Jessica Melore, a two-time cancer survivor and heart transplant recipient, was also honored with the “Wings of Hope.” Her talk was incredibly captivating, almost a bit disturbing at times, as she detailed the challenging road to recovery. Maya Manley co-founder of the Making Headway Foundation, dedicated to providing care and comfort to children as well as funding medical research, received the “Unsung Hero” award.

Guests enjoyed music played by 10-year-old DJ Fulano and a violin performance by sixth grader James London. Additional attendees included Ronni Anderson, Garo Armen, Khalil Barrage, Dr. Fredric Brandt, Tim Cahill, Liliana Cavendish, Helena Christensen, Jackie Cruz, Drena DeNiro, Bonnie Pfeifer Evans, Larry Feinberg, Seth Herzog, Bill & Jessica Koenigsberg, Mark & Laura Jean Mallon, Morris Moinian, MaryGail Parr, David Simon, Hunt Slonem, Ari & Susan Spar, Latham Thomas, Jeffrey Tweedy, LonDell Wright, and Anatol Yusef.

Photo credit: PMC