Dr. Nimer, Beverly Berkowitz, Gerald Yass and Susan Dinter
November 21, 2022 – The Pap Corps Champions for Cancer Research celebrated its 70th anniversary with a beautiful luncheon event at the Polo Club in Boca Raton on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. The afternoon gala netted over $100,000 through ticket sales, sponsorships, raffle tickets, and auction items. The event, hosted by Michael Williams of WPTV, paid tribute to the organization’s impressive history and honored two special guests, major donor Gerald Yass and Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., director of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, which benefits from The Pap Corps’ donations.
“Over 500 guests participated in this incredible celebration of our organization’s history and its dynamic partnership with Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center,” said Sally Berenzweig, CEO. “The Pap Corps has made an indelible impact on the lives of countless people during these seven decades. Without funding for cancer research, we wouldn’t have the groundbreaking, life-saving treatments that have allowed so many to make the journey from patient to survivor.”
During the event, The Pap Corps honored two icons of the community, beloved supporter Gerald Yass for his generous contributions towards groundbreaking treatments for melanoma, and Stephen D. Nimer, M.D. for his transformative leadership at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, South Florida’s only NCI-Designated Cancer Center.
The milestone event also featured an emotional champagne toast led by event chairs Beverly Berkowitz, Nancy Levinsohn, and Paula Karp; a sensational ‘dancing through the decades’ routine by Legends Radio host Angela Manfredi and champion ballroom dancer Artur Tarnavsky; and videos highlighting Mary Denaro’s inspiring survivor story, the achievements of the past presidents, and an emotional thank you form the team at Sylvester.
“This event highlighted our amazing history and that for 70 years we have never failed to raise funds for cancer research,” said Chair Susan Dinter. “We are proud of our legacy of being Champions for Cancer Research. Our vision is a ‘world without cancer’ and we will never give up until we have achieved this goal, and we will only achieve this because of the dedication and commitment of our members.”
The Pap Corps is thankful for the many sponsors who are supporting this event including The Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Health System; the Wrobel Family Foundation, L’Oréal Paris; Susan& Ed Dinter, Linda & Joel Moses, Judith Harold; the Wechsler Foundation; Sharon Goodhart Travel Agency; Alan Joyce of Raymond James; Heidi S. Schaeffer, M.D. Charitable Trust; GL Homes; PNC; Bauman Medical; Opal Grand Oceanfront Resort & Spa; Nothing Bundt Cakes; Searcy Law; Daszkal Bolton; AmFund; Hotwire Communications; Madeline Wolfson; Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, and media sponsor Boca Magazine.
About The Pap Corps:
Since its founding in 1952, The Pap Corps, a 501(c)(3), has donated more than $110 million to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, including a historic $50 million pledge in 2016. The Pap Corps derives its name from Dr. George Papanicolaou, a pioneer in cytopathology and early cancer detection, who introduced the world to the revolutionary ‘Pap’ test. A small group of women began the organization to support his efforts, and over the decades it has grown into an organization of over 20,000 men and women, in over 50 chapters, who raise funds to support research for all types of cancers.
