About the Event
About the Event
OCTOBER 10, 7PM - 10PM
NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB
Brain tumors are no laughing matter... but sometimes laughter can be the best medicine.
Join us on Thursday, October 10, for our annual comedy night fundraiser in support of pediatric brain tumor research. The event draws 300 attendees from New York City and the surrounding areas to enjoy performances by famous comedians, including Jim Gaffigan in 2018, special Tony-Award winner, Freestyle Love Supreme in 2021, Jordan Klepper and Roy Wood Jr. from The Daily Show in 2022, and many more, while helping support critical research for pediatric brain tumors. The 2024 lineup will be hosted by Brooke Baldwin with performances by young patient Kai Brown Coley on piano, NYC-based stand-up comedians Mike Cannon, Jordan Carlos, Eric D'Alessando, Regina Decicco and patient Anthony Greco, followed by famous mentalist Josh The Foodie Magician!
This unique event is essential in supporting the important research of Dr. Jeffrey Greenfield and Dr. Mark Souweidane. They co-founded the Children’s Brain Tumor Project at Weill Cornell Medicine to enable the scientific discovery of safer, more effective treatment options. This event is critical in funding this groundbreaking research that will improve outcomes for all children diagnosed with brain tumors. It is the support of generous sponsors and ticket holders who bring HOPE to these children and their families facing the heartbreaking diagnosis of a brain tumor.
ADDITIONAL SPONSORSHIP DETAILS
AVAILABLE NOW!! OUR FULL EVENT PROGRAM IS ONLINE HERE
IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND, PLEASE CONSIDER A DONATION
About the Event
About the Event
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 7PM - 10PM
NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB
Brain tumors are no laughing matter... but sometimes laughter is the best medicine.
Join us on Tuesday, October 14, for our annual comedy night fundraiser in support of pediatric brain tumor research. The event draws 300 attendees from New York City and the surrounding areas to enjoy performances by famous comedians, including Jim Gaffigan in 2018, special Tony-Award winner, Freestyle Love Supreme in 2021, Jordan Klepper and Roy Wood Jr. from The Daily Show in 2022, Michael Kosta in 2023, and comedic illusionist Josh Beckerman in 2024, among many others. Brooke Baldwin will return as our emcee, and comedian Chris DiStefano, who just returned from hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live, is first to join the lineup! We will share more information about the performers soon.
This unique event is essential in supporting the important research of Dr. Jeffrey Greenfield and Dr. Mark Souweidane. They co-founded the Children’s Brain Tumor Project at Weill Cornell Medicine to enable the scientific discovery of safer, more effective treatment options. This event is critical in funding this groundbreaking research that will improve outcomes for all children diagnosed with brain tumors. It is the support of generous sponsors and ticket holders who bring HOPE to these children and their families facing the heartbreaking diagnosis of a brain tumor.
ADDITIONAL SPONSORSHIP DETAILS
IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND, PLEASE CONSIDER A DONATION
TREMENDOUS THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
Our Honorees
Our Honorees
BRITTANY AND JONATHAN COGAN, COFOUNDERS, THE ELLIE RUBY FOUNDATION
Honoring Their Unwavering Dedication to Pediatric Cancer Awareness
Brittany and Jonathan Cogan were living the life of ordinary parents until July 18, 2020, when their world was turned upside down. On that day, their 10-month-old daughter, Ellie, was diagnosed with brain cancer. The shock, fear, and disbelief that followed were overwhelming, but instead of letting this devastating news define them, the Cogans turned their personal tragedy into a mission of hope and support for others.
Realizing the prevalence and underfunding of pediatric cancer, Brittany and Jonathan founded The Ellie Ruby Foundation in honor of their daughter. Their goal is to raise awareness about pediatric cancer, secure funding for rare pediatric brain tumors, and offer much-needed support to families facing similar challenges. Through their foundation, they have become a beacon of strength and compassion, channeling their experience into a powerful vision that has touched countless lives.
One of the first investments they made was in support of Dr. Jeffrey Greenfield’s research at the Children’s Brain Tumor Project, Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Greenfield has been part of Ellie’s care team since day one, when he skillfully resected her tumor and cultured her tumor tissue in his lab for further analysis. His team continues to study her tumor tissue today, providing fuel for research into a range of pediatric brain tumors that may improve outcomes for children diagnosed in the future.
The Cogans’ dedication to this cause serves as a testament to their resilience and love, proving that even in the face of life-altering adversity, hope and determination can shine through. As they continue to fight for a cure and provide essential support to families in need, Brittany and Jonathan are not only honoring their daughter’s journey but also inspiring others to join them in this vital cause.
We are proud to honor Brittany and Jonathan Cogan at this year’s No Laughing Matter fundraiser, celebrating their extraordinary commitment to making a difference in the lives of children and families affected by pediatric cancer.
Our Honoree
Our Honoree
NANCY GOODMAN, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KIDS V CANCER
Honoring Her Unwavering Advocacy in Memory of Jacob
We are honored to present Nancy Goodman with an award for her advocacy at the 2025 “No Laughing Matter” gala, recognizing her unwavering commitment to ensuring that children with cancer receive the treatments and hope they so richly deserve.
Nancy Goodman is a lawyer and legislative advocate. She founded Kids v Cancer to change the rules of the road and create new models to incentivize biotechs and pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs for kids.
Kids v Cancer authored and championed the Creating Hope Act Rare Pediatric Priority Review Voucher Program, first passed into U.S. law in 2012 (21 U.S.C. 360ff) and reauthorized in 2016 and 2020. The voucher program establishes a market-based incentive (a voucher) for companies to develop drugs expressly for children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Over $6 billion in vouchers have been traded since the establishment of the program. Vouchers trade at about $100 million.
Kids v Cancer also authored and championed the RACE for Children Act, passed into U.S. law in 2017 (21 U.S.C. 355c). The RACE for Children Act authorizes the FDA to direct companies developing adult cancer therapies to undertake pediatric studies of those therapies when their molecular targets are substantially relevant to pediatric cancers.
In 2020, Nancy cofounded CARGO Therapeutics.
Kids v Cancer and the pediatric cancer community are now asking the U.S. Congress to pass the Give Kids a Chance Act, to extend the RACE for Children Act, and to authorize the FDA to direct companies developing adult cancer therapies to undertake pediatric studies of those therapies in combination with a second drug when the second drug is owned by the same company or is a generic.
Nancy received her JD from the University of Chicago Law School and her MPP from Harvard Kennedy School. Her son, Jacob, died of medulloblastoma.
The Team
The Team
Event Committee
Tara Lipton • Meryl Witmer • Anthony Trimarchi • Louis and Cindy Campbell • Dr. Jeffrey P. Greenfield and Dr. Caroline Baker Long • Kathleen O'Connell • Dr. Mark Souweidane and Dr. Caitlin Hoffman • Jordana Finkelstein • Shirah Dunphy • Tina Peloquin • Michael Minter and Emma Hill • Audrey McBride • Kyle Fisher • Robert and Dana MacNaughton • Tessa Naso • Amelia Whitmire • Pete and Mary Zappulla
The Team
The Team
Event Committee
Tara Lipton • Anthony Trimarchi • Ivan and Ana Tornos • Louis and Cindy Campbell • Dr. Jeffrey P. Greenfield and Dr. Caroline Baker Long • Kathleen O'Connell • Dr. Mark Souweidane and Dr. Caitlin Hoffman • Shirah Dunphy • Tina Peloquin • Michael Minter and Emma Hill • Kyle Fisher • Robert and Dana MacNaughton • Tessa Naso • Amelia Whitmire • Pete and Mary Zappulla
About the Beneficiary
About the Beneficiary
The Children's Brain Tumor Project (CBTP) is a research initiative founded in 2012 by Dr. Jeffrey Greenfield and Dr. Mark Souweidane at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine. The CBTP Foundation is the only certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is 100% committed to funding this initiative.
The mission of the Children's Brain Tumor Project is to improve outcomes for children with brain tumors by advancing scientific discovery and clinical research that focuses on targeted therapy, effective drug delivery, and low treatment-related toxicity. The Children’s Brain Tumor Project has a single goal: to bring hope to children and their families who are confronted with the diagnosis of a rare and often incurable brain tumor.
Rare pediatric brain tumors have been grossly neglected in the research landscape for years, and the Children’s Brain Tumor Project at Weill Cornell Medicine has emerged as the go-to research entity that has established a niche in developing new protocols for treating these children. We believe children from all over the world should have access to innovative options beginning with world-class, minimally invasive surgery, and extending into targeted treatment options centered on precision medicine and drug delivery approaches that would not otherwise be available to them.
About the Beneficiary
About the Beneficiary
The Children's Brain Tumor Project (CBTP) is a research initiative founded in 2012 by Dr. Jeffrey Greenfield and Dr. Mark Souweidane at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine. The CBTP Foundation is the only certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is 100% committed to funding this initiative.
The mission of the Children's Brain Tumor Project is to improve outcomes for children with brain tumors by advancing scientific discovery and clinical research that focuses on targeted therapy, effective drug delivery, and low treatment-related toxicity. The Children’s Brain Tumor Project has a single goal: to bring hope to children and their families who are confronted with the diagnosis of a rare and often incurable brain tumor.
Rare pediatric brain tumors have been grossly neglected in the research landscape for years, and the Children’s Brain Tumor Project at Weill Cornell Medicine has emerged as the go-to research entity that has established a niche in developing new protocols for treating these children. We believe children from all over the world should have access to innovative options beginning with world-class, minimally invasive surgery, and extending into targeted treatment options centered on precision medicine and drug delivery approaches that would not otherwise be available to them.