Founder of The Prostate Cancer Foundation, Michael Milken put together an important gala benefit last weekend to bring in funds for the non-profit close to his heart.
Diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer back in 1993 with doctors giving the mega-businessman 18 months to live, Milken fought back, and never looked back.
Along with the 11th Annual Charles Evans PCF Pro-Am Tennis Tournament, the foundation brought together some big names with big pockets for contributions and a Hamptons night of dinner, dancing and terrific music.
Pharmaceutical company billionaire and philanthropist Stewart Rahr was one of many who listened to Milken talk about his passion.
Milken discussed the young investigators program and the funding the Prostate Cancer Foundation is doing on their behalf.
As he defines them, these young investigators are young scientists in their 30s who have received all of the advanced degrees and research experience to run their own labs, however they lack the funding.
It is these investigators, he said, that are leading to groundbreaking advancements in cancer research. Currently, PCF works with 153 of these young investigators who are currently researching 22 candidate molecules for cancer research, and these investigators have impacted the creation of six different FDA- Approved Prostate Cancer drugs.
Following the presentation and quiz questions discussing these young investigators, Milken asked gala attendees to pledge $75,000 over the course of three years, then $75,000 for one year and then $25,000 for one year.
At the conclusion of the fundraising portion, he said, “next year we will tell you how each of our young investigators changed the world.”