Flying High at the 2022 Evening With Emily’s Entourage “Flight of the Monarch” Gala

Talk about a night to remember! On Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, Emily’s Entourage (EE) held our annual Evening with Emily’s Entourage gala, “The Flight of the Monarch,” at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia.

This year’s gala theme was inspired by the concept of metamorphosis. There have been profound developments in the therapeutic pipeline for the final 10% of the CF community and at EE. For the first time, multiple therapies are advancing to clinic for those in the final 10%. Finally, transformative change is upon us.

We proclaimed, “Now is the time to emerge from our chrysalis, ready to spread our wings and fly.” And FLY we did, raising a gravity-defying … $975,669!!! That brings us to more than $11 million raised to date to speed lifesaving breakthroughs for people with cystic fibrosis (CF)!

The evening kicked off with an exclusive champagne toast for VIP sponsors, Champions, and honored guests in a covered tent overlooking the Philadelphia skyline. As guests continued to arrive, they were greeted with passed hors d’oeuvres, butterfly-inspired signature cocktails, and big waves from the Kramer-Golinkoff family, who joined from the safety of a secluded tent on-site.

Following the reception, guests gathered in a second tent for the program, which was also streamed live for our supporters around the world. The program began with a video depicting the metamorphosis of Emily’s Entourage, drawing parallels between monarch butterflies and EE.

Coby Kramer-Golinkoff, board member and brother of EE Co-Founder Emily Kramer-Golinkoff, emceed the evening’s events, welcoming both in-person and virtual attendees and setting the stage for the night as he shared EE’s tireless work to ensure that everyone in the CF community experiences lifesaving breakthroughs in their lifetime.

He shared heartfelt gratitude for all of the generous sponsors, supporters, in-kind donors, and EE staff members who made the night possible, including Presenting Sponsor, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Dream Team Sponsor, cystetic Medicines, Inc.; Individual Presenting Sponsors Jill and Mark Fishman, Marcia and Ned Kaplin, and Eli and Pauline Nierman Family Foundation; and in-kind donors Harvest Seasonal, Color Reflections, and so many more. 

Coby then passed the baton to Mark Fishman, EE leadership team member and long-time supporter. Mark shared a few words and introduced the evening’s honorary chairs, Marcia and Ned Kaplin, and Ivy and Matthew Solomon, who spoke about their connection to the Kramer-Golinkoffs and commitment to EE.

Next Julie Wertheimer, a long-time board member, took the stage to recognize EE’s 2022 Champions, philanthropic leaders who have raised money that will help propel EE toward urgent breakthroughs. This year’s group was made up of 21 individuals that raised a collective $36,000 — an all-time record for EE Champions! She then invited Coby on stage to reveal the Champion of the Year, Team Seeking a Cure, who raised $15,400!!

Guests then enjoyed an exclusive, early preview of EE’s 2022 campaign video, which vividly captures the impact our Entourage has on the final 10% who are still waiting for their breakthrough. The video will make its public debut in December!

EE Co-Founder, Emily Kramer-Golinkoff, followed the video with her highly anticipated speech, where she shared what it’s like living with advanced stage CF, with her lung function perched in the mid-to-low 30s, and the effects that living in a perpetual state of “survival mode” has had on her life. While the last 14 years have been marked with loss, her singular focus on survival has also been effective, ultimately spurring the formation of EE. She went on to share the amazing progress we have achieved, sharing her thanks with all of our supporters.

Desperate for hope, we immersed ourselves in the science and started investing in research. We sprinkled lots of seeds, invested in lots of different research projects … Since those early days, the seeds — sprinkled thoughtfully but aspirationally — have been growing underground. Not every seed germinated, but some did, growing deep roots … And, today, those seeds are starting to bear fruit. – Emily Kramer-Golinkoff

Coby returned to the stage with an audacious goal: to raise $50,000 in five minutes! The countdown began and guests pulled out their phones to donate just as a surprise match was announced! An anonymous donor shared they would match up to $25,000. Minutes later, a $10,000 donation came through. The excitement was palpable as the thermometer rose, exceeding the goal and reaching $55,068!!!

The evening ended in a burst of hope and (butterfly-shaped) confetti as a gospel choir took the stage and everyone celebrated the truly transformative change they are helping to drive. Now is our time. This is our moment. We. Are. Doing. This!!! 

View the program in its entirety here and check out all photos from the photo station here.

HELP US FINISH THE JOB FOR THE FINAL 10%

1. Make a tax-deductible donation to Emily’s Entourage. Click here to donate.
2. Tell your friends about us! Encourage them to sign up for our email updates and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter, so they’ll be the first to see the public debut of our 2022 campaign video!!!

Emily’s Entourage would like to thank every single member of the Entourage that made the gala possible. Whether you have been with us since the beginning or you joined us for the first time at this gala, your support fuels us in our tireless quest to speed breakthroughs for the final 10%. Thanks to you, we are one step closer to a future where we can all, 100% of us, finally breathe easier and fly free.