Addie Tomei
A Face Behind the Foundation:
PBP is pleased to present Addie Tomei , Gala Committee Member of Sarcoma Foundation of America’s annual fundraising gala, Finding the Cure in Our Time.
When Addie and Gary Tomei’s son, Adam, was diagnosed with Sarcoma inearly 2002, they searched for help and support on the web. They weren’t interested in organizations that offered palliative solutions; they wanted an organization that was fighting and working for treatments that offered a cure. The Sarcoma Foundation of America was the one. They spoke with the heads of SFA and ultimately volunteered to organize a gala in New York. They enlisted many of their friends and family and chaired both the first and second galas, ultimately raising thousands of dollars.
Addie has been on the gala committee and Gary has been the Vice President of SFA ever since. Addie’s function on the committee, like all the other members, is to raise money for research. They do this by getting people to come to the gala and working hard to secure auction items, as well as much more behind the scenes action to ensure a wonderful gala. She says that it takes a lot of effort, but loves working with the other committee members and looks forward to seeing them at their meetings. Through their hard work, they have enabled SFA to give dozens of grants to researchers.
Adam, Addie and Gary’s son, has now been cancer free for almost nine years and they are very grateful for the personal relationships they have with many of the Board and Committee members who have always been available to discuss various issues regarding treatment. Addie goes on to say that it is a great feeling to know that you have people in your corner who are helpful and caring.
Addie is a graduate of Brooklyn College, and taught English in middle school for over 30 years. She retired in 1995, and started her own business: Savory Sojourns, a company that offers walking tours of delicious neighborhoods in New York. Every year Addie graciously donates a tour to SFA’s auction.
There are many wonderful memories of working with SFA, but Addie remembers one as the best – the evening of the first gala at Laura Belle Supper Club in the Theater District of Manhattan. She was thrilled to see the expression on the faces of the guests as they walked into the room – “we had indeed pulled it off!” she says. It was spectacularly beautiful and wonderfully entertaining – they were able to have Jessica Molaskey and John Pizzarelli perform at the event! What a night!
Addie says, “We’ve come a long way since then, but it was a stunning start. I plan on continuing to be a part of our gala planning committee; there’s still a lot more work to do.”
If you are interested in volunteering for a good cause, please email Darren Port to get involved.
