About the Event

OCTOBER 12, 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 12, 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 2023 lineup is still being finalized, but we are proud to announce that The Improvised Shakespeare Company will be joining us, among other hilarious stand-up comedians.

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.

IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND, PLEASE CONSIDER A DONATION

Our Honoree

Meryl Witmer

This year, the Children’s Brain Tumor Project is proud to honor Meryl Witmer, mom to brain tumor survivor, Andrew and his twin brother Ian. Ms. Witmer exemplifies the meaning of a patient advocate. She has shown generous support for many clinical trials and research advancements including Dr. Mark Souweidane’s novel work using convection-enhanced delivery in children with deadly brain tumors. Her door is always open to families who face this frightening diagnosis, and she demonstrates unwavering commitment to this important cause. Meryl and her husband Chuck run Eagle Capital Partners and are grateful for all the great care Andrew received and are thankful to all of the doctors, nurses and friends who were so important to his great outcome. Andrew graduated from Princeton University in 2020 with a degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering and works in the Washington D.C. area.

The Team

Dinner Chair Tara Lipton

Event Committee

Louis & Cindy Campbell  •  Rachele Dubin  •  Shirah Dunphy  •  Kyle Fisher  •  Dr. Caitlin Hoffman  •  Dr. Carrie Long  •  Dana & Robert MacNaughton  •  Anne McBride  •  Mike & Emma Hill Minter  •  Tessa Naso  •  Kathleen O’Connell  •  Tina Peloquin  •  Anthony Trimarchi  •  Pete & Mary Zappulla.

About the Beneficiary

The Children's Brain Tumor Project is a research initiative founded in 2012 by Dr. Jeffrey Greenfield and Dr. Mark Souweidane at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine. 

The mission of the Children's Brain Tumor Project is to improve the outcome 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.