More than 850 supporters recently turned out for the 22nd Annual Sparkle of Hope Gala to honor Thomas Kendris, U.S. Country President, U.S. Country Head Legal and President, Novartis Corporation, and Mike Kaufmann, Chief Executive Officer of Cardinal Health.
The gala set a record this year in supporting Community Hope’s mission with more than $1.5 million raised. Highlights of the evening included the award presentations to Kaufmann and Kendris and the testimonial of Sergeant Gregory Cross, speaking of his recovery and overcoming homelessness within Community Hope’s Hope for Veterans Programs.
Leading this year’s record-breaking event were Brent Saunders, Chairman, President and CEO of Allergan plc; Fred Hassan, Chairman of the Caret Group and Director of Warburg Pincus; and Honorary Co-Chairs Mark Alles, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Celgene Corporation, and Kenneth Frazier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Merck, together with a prestigious list of pharmaceutical leaders serving as Event Co-Chairs. The Sparkle of Hope gala was founded in 1997 by pharmaceutical icon Fred Hassan and has since raised more than $14 million to benefit Community Hope’s mission.
The New Jersey-based nonprofit has rescued more than 6,000 veterans and their family members from homelessness and helped hundreds of individuals to advance their recovery from mental illness since its founding in 1985.
