2023 Celebration of Hope Garden Party

Cancer Support Community’s Celebration of Hope Garden Party & Awards Dinner a heartfelt success for supportive cancer care

~ See the event photo gallery below ~

Colleagues, friends, and loved ones who have been impacted by cancer gathered Sunday evening, September 17, 2023, to connect, share stories and to honor 2023 Oncology Heroes – Meghan Cleary, RN of Los Robles Regional Medical Center, Heather Kellis-Young, RN of Dignity Health Infusion Centers, Shauna A. Lotz, RN of Radiation Oncology Centers of Ventura County, and Kayo Matsumoto MS, LMFT of Cancer Support Community VVSB.

“We were fortunate to have such an amazing show of support with our largest guest attendance ever,” said Monica Merryman, Executive Director of Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara. “Events like this remind us that Community is something you do, something to actively participate in, and most importantly something that we can all share and feel, and this is a great community.” This year’s fundraising event featured a successful silent auction, exciting live auction, and the ever-popular wine pull, along with a new “Mystery Boxes” game where guests eagerly attempted to win boxes filled with swag from national brands including Nike and the Los Angeles Rams.


Meet our 2023 Oncology Heroes

Meghan Cleary, RN, Heather Kellis-Young, RN, Kayo Matsumoto MS, LMFT, and Shauna A. Lotz, RN

An evening of celebration became a night of community as each of the Oncology Heroes shared moments from their own experiences and challenges in a live sit-down conversation from the stage led by Cancer Support Community VVSB Board Co-Chair, Deane Wolcott, MD. The conversation served as a reminder of the kindness and resilience required to support cancer patients. Prior to the Garden Party, each honoree was gifted a luxurious “Glam Day” graciously hosted by the beautiful Salon Nuuvo in Calabasas with styling from NIX Collection to pamper the oncology nurses and supportive care professionals with a day of relaxation.

Please enjoy this behind the scenes video from Glam Day


“Tonight was very special for me,” commented Mona Hoss, the 2023 Celebration of Hope Event Chair. “As I undergo my own cancer journey, I am thankful for nurses like our honorees. Oncology nurses have helped me through some of my darkest hours and with the support of Cancer Support Community, I see how important being surrounded by community and empowered by knowledge truly is.” Mona has been undergoing treatment for Multiple Myeloma since 2020 and understands the importance of the strong support system that Cancer Support Community provides to anyone touched by cancer.

Event Chair Mona Hoss and Monica Merryman, Executive Director of Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara

Enjoy our 2023 Celebration of Hope Garden Party photo gallery


Thank you to our 2023 Celebration of Hope Sponsors

PRESENTING SPONSOR
PLATINUM SPONSORS

Become a Platinum Sponsor!

BRONZE SPONSORS

A2 Biotherapeutics

Los Robles Health System

Montecito Bank & Trust

ONCOLOGY HEROES SPONSORS
GOLD & SILVER SPONSORS

Cassar Family Foundation

INKIND SPONSORS
Julie Freedman
Event Photography