L.A. Beats Cancer has awarded UCLA Santa Monica Breast Center with nearly $100,000 generated at its inaugural fundraiser, Cocktails for a Cure. L.A. Beats Cancer (www.LABeatsCancer.org) was formed to raise funds to support research saving lives otherwise lost to or threatened by the epidemic of breast cancer, to continue the legacy of Liz Smagala Tate.
"We are so thankful to the hundreds who turned out in so many ways to support us," said Phil Tate, president and founder of L.A. Beats Cancer. "These precious funds will support critical research and lab equipment that ultimately save lives... like Liz's."
In honor of his late wife Liz Smagala Tate, in what would have been her 40th birthday month, Tate hosted Cocktails for a Cure at Hyde lounge on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood on Aug. 17. In space generously donated by title sponsor SBE, nearly 250 supporters gathered with donors, corporate partners, officials and families touched by cancer to celebrate life. City Controller Ron Galperin attended along with other Los Angeles officials and representatives of leading companies, including sponsors Kilroy Realty, Liner LLP, and HMS Host.
The crowd watched remarks taped by Mayor Eric Garcetti and L.A. Beats Cancer debuted its own video telling the story of the origin of the organization and what it hopes to achieve.
Through ticket sales, sponsorships and a lively auction, the event brought in nearly $100,000, bringing the total raised by L.A. Beats Cancer in the last year to more than $120,000 - all of which is awarded to UCLA Santa Monica Breast Center, where Smagala Tate was treated. Earlier, in 2013, Phil and his wife Liz raised another $16,000 for cancer research performed at research institutions across Los Angeles, making L.A. Beats Cancer's all-time fundraising total more than $136,000.
