RECAP: The 2018 Evening with Emily’s Entourage

On December 1, 2018 we held our 7th Annual Evening with Emily’s Entourage in East Falls and words cannot express the joy brought on by the remarkable community in attendance.

The newly renovated Moulin at Sherman Mills space was transformed yet again by the phenomenally creative Boston sisters, who took their inspiration from our ultra violet invitation exquisitely designed by the incomparable Brownstein Group. Upon arrival, guests were greeted by an atmosphere mimicking the brightness of ultra violet rays shooting beyond the visible spectrum of the naked eye, masterfully achieved by using clear plastic draping, string lights and art installations.

People perused the awesome line-up of exclusive, highly curated silent auction items and made their bids on their phones throughout the night, often playfully exclaiming when they were outbid. Brulee Catering provided a delicious spread of first and second courses, which paired well with two custom cocktails “Ultra-Lit” and “Beyond Fresh” arranged by Tito’s Vodka.

Tables were decorated with beakers, graduated cylinders, and safety glasses borrowed from Emily’s Entourage (EE) Scientific Advisory Board Chair Kevin Foskett’s laboratory, displaying the extraordinary work EE continues to accomplish toward fast breakthroughs for nonsense mutations of Cystic Fibrosis (CF).

Philly Photo Booth Co. gave our guests a chance to shine ultra-fabulous throughout the night by taking their own photos and gifs. The backdrop was a design staple of the evening and showcased large purple glasses, made by the incredibly talented Storti Design, to represent how EE sees beyond barriers and the status quo to a healthy future for 100% of the CF community.

As the clock neared 9 pm, guests were ushered into the program room and it was time for the show to begin!

Philadelphia’s own ArcheDream for HUMANKIND dazzled the audience with their radiant custom performance that started the program. Coby Kramer-Golinkoff, Emily’s brother, acted as the evening’s emcee and charmingly read passages from Dr. Seuss’ “On Beyond Zebra” as an analogy to how collectively, as an Entourage, we need to push boundaries, be creative, and see beyond possibilities to finally find fast breakthroughs and a cure. He then went on to thank our corporate sponsors, including Dream Team sponsor Gilead Sciences and Violet sponsors Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, as well as our community sponsors and in kind donors, including The Brownstein Group, Brulee Catering at Moulin, Anro printing, Color Reflections, Storti Design, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and more.

Paula Barg, 2017 EE Champion of the Year and 2018 EE Champion, took the stage to introduce this year’s amazing 2018 EE Champions who collectively raised an astounding $37,619! These individuals and teams of young professionals took matters into their own hands and utilized their personal networks to raise $1,500 each leading up to December 1. The 2018 EE Champion of the Year Award went to Erin Shanahan, a CF parent of a son with nonsense mutations of CF.

Next up was Julia Kramer-Golinkoff, Emily’s younger sister, who powerfully recounted the 2011 day she first heard that game changing breakthroughs were in the pipeline for 90% of the CF population with common mutations. She shared her gut-wrenching realization that Emily would be on the outside, part of the outlying 10% with nothing.

The 2019 campaign video premiered on the big screen, showing the pressure of time and urgency to find a cure for the final 10%. As the screen faded to black, over 500 people watched as Emily took the stage. She spoke of two separate trajectories happening simultaneously; EE’s progress and her own CF progression. “Can the ultra violet light of hope that is EE beat the darkness of terror that is CF? That’s up to you, this Entourage,” she said directly to the crowd.

Filled with inspiration, Coby returned to the stage to start the 5-minute countdown and asked the audience to donate through the texted link send out. He expressed how their support would be critical in funding more research to generate fast breakthroughs and a cure for nonsense mutations of CF. The room watched in excitement as the donation thermometer rose and rose, surpassing the original fundraising goal before reaching an astonishing and historic $614,502 raised to successfully launch our 2019 campaign!

To say the night was a success would be a vast understatement. Thanks to YOU, the 7th Annual Evening with Emily’s Entourage gala shined brighter than anyone could have dreamed of and reached a spectrum beyond our wildest imagination.

Those who have been with us since the beginning—thank you for your passion, your vision, and your most generous support. To those who joined for the first time on December 1—we welcome you with open arms.

WATCH our 2019 Campaign Video here

SHARE our video to spread the EE word on social media here

DONATE to EE’s cause and help save the final 10% here

EXPERIENCE the 7th Annual Evening with Emily’s Entourage online. Watch the program on Facebook, check out our Instagram stories, meet the 2018 EE Champs, and view the photographs from the night in our Facebook album

JOIN us next year! Sign up to get updates and invitations for our 8th Annual Evening with Emily’s Entourage in 2019 here