Nearly 900 supporters turned out for the 21st Annual Sparkle of Hope Gala in New Jersey this October to honor Robert J. Hugin, Executive Chairman of Celgene Corporation. Leading this year’s record-breaking event was Brent Saunders, Chairman, President, and CEO of Allergan plc and Honorary Co-Chairs Kenneth C. Frazier, Chairman and CEO of Merck, as well as the Honorable Kim Guadagno, New Jersey Lieutenant Governor. In addition, a prestigious list of pharmaceutical leaders demonstrated their commitment to veterans, turning out in force.
The Sparkle of Hope gala was founded in 1997 by pharmaceutical icon Fred Hassan and has since raised $12.5 million to benefit Community Hope’s mission to find housing for homeless veterans and veteran families and provide residential recovery for individuals with mental illness.
The gala set a record this year with $1.5 million raised, including $250,000 donated at the event to support our charity’s veterans’ mental health campaign. With more than 20 former military members a day taking their own lives in the U.S., Community Hope is expanding mental health counseling and therapy at its largest veterans facility, the 95-bed Hope for Veterans transitional housing program.