An Evening to Remember
15th Annual Joan Hisaoka "Make A Difference" Gala
Date: Saturday, September 17, 2022
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 1330 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
Letter from the Gala Chairman:
Dear Friends:
My sister, Joan Hisaoka, founder of Hisaoka Public Relations, was 48 when she lost her battle with cancer on May 14, 2008.
To honor her memory and her dream of assisting those living with cancer, the first annual Joan Hisaoka "Make A Difference" Gala was held in October 2008. Thanks to the generous support of people like you, we have raised about $17,500,000 inception to date. Last year's Gala raised approximately $1,500,000, netting 92.5%.
In an effort to continue to fulfill Joan's desire to help others living with cancer and to raise money to support organizations that bring hope and healing to those faced with serious illness, we will host the 15th Anniversary Joan Hisaoka "Make A Difference" Gala on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 6:00 pm at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. As of September 8th, the Mandarin hotel will be operating under a new name. The gala will still be taking place at the address above.
Our main beneficiary will be Life with Cancer, the educational and emotional support program of the Inova Schar Cancer Institute. The mission of Life with Cancer is to enhance the quality of life of those affected by cancer by providing education, information and support. Life with Cancer programs are provided at no cost to the cancer patients of all ages and their loved ones regardless of where treatment is received, thanks to the generous support of the community.
In addition, the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts will receive a portion of the proceeds from the gala. Located in Washington, D.C., the Smith Center provides creative and wellness resources for people living with cancer as well as the local community at large.
Those of you whose lives have been touched in some way by cancer know people living with cancer cannot wait to receive support. The need for your help is greater than ever, and your contribution has the power to "make a difference" to those living with cancer today.
The sponsorship opportunities for this year's gala are located on the Tickets & Sponsorship page. We hope you will help to provide hope and healing to those living with cancer by becoming a sponsor.
For further information, please feel free to contact me or Susan Hubert at Joan Hisaoka Gala.
Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those living with cancer. Thank you for your consideration, and I hope to see you on September 17, 2022.
Best regards,
Robert G. Hisaoka
Gala Chairman
2022 JHG Executive Committee
Jim Abdo
David Blair
Mikel Blair
Tom Blair
Katherine Bradley
Patrice Brickman
Ashley Dabbiere
Alan Dabbiere
Jack Davies
Ronald D. Herman
Sachiko Kuno
Ted Leonsis
Mark Lowham
Roger Mody
Tony Nader
John P. Oswald
Richard Patterson
Lauren Peterson
Steve Schram
Earl W. Stafford
Jeffrey E. Veatch
Eric Ziebold
About the Beneficiaries:
The main beneficiary of this year’s gala is Life with Cancer®, the educational and emotional support program of the Inova Schar Cancer Institute, which will receive 65% of the net proceeds. The mission of Life with Cancer is to enhance the quality of life of those affected by cancer by providing education, information, and support. Life with Cancer programs are provided at no cost to cancer patients of all ages and their loved ones regardless of where treatment is received, thanks to the generous support of the community.
Smith Center for Healing and the Arts is the only independent cancer support center based in Washington, D.C. that serves the entire community. For 26 years, Smith Center programs have been based on the belief that everyone harbors enormous potential for healing. Programs are designed to address healing for the whole person – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, so that participants can find meaning and maintain hope in the face of life’s greatest challenges. Smith Center will receive 35% of the net proceeds.
Gala & Sponsorship Information Contact:
Susan Hubert: (202) 689-1917 or hubert@slslaw.com
COVID-19:
Attendees are required to be fully vaccinated (2 doses of Pfizer or Moderna or 1 dose of Johnson & Johnson, plus a booster). An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public space where people gather. Although the gala will institute reasonable practices to lessen or reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Gala cannot guarantee that guests will not be exposed to the virus, which could result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, and death. By attending the Gala, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure of COVID-19 and you may be required to sign a COVID-19 Notice and Waiver as a condition to attending the event.
Please make checks payable to Life with Cancer®, a 501(c)(3) healthcare system in Northern Virginia. FEIN number 54-1071867.
For more information, contact Susan Hubert Tel: 202.689.1917