Wistar Institute Opens Robert and Penny Fox Tower

Russel E. Kaufman greets the guests at the grand opening gala for the Robert and Penny Fox Tower at The Wistar Institute. Background, from left: State Sen. Anthony H. Williams, Robert and Penny Fox, and Rep. James R. Roebuck, Jr. 188th Legislative District Philadelphia County listen attentively before cutting the ribbon on the state-of-the-art cancer research building.

Cocktails were served to the guests before they entered the building for the cocktail hour.

Cocktails were served to the guests before they entered the building for the cocktail hour.

From left: R.J. Pasco, Amanda Glazik, Mary Ellen Piree and John Piree.

From left: Jack Stievelman, Doris Taxin, and Meenhard Herlyn, D.V.M., D.Sc., who heads the Melanoma Research Center at Wistar. Herlyn recently contributed to a major study that creates an "atlas" of all the different cells in the human body.

From left: Janet Kardon, Harvey Hewitt, and Harold Schaeffer.

From left: Robert Fox with Heather and Rob Reilly. “We are pleased to be part of this seminal moment for Wistar,” said Fox. “To us, there is no greater investment than saving lives through science.”

From left: Irina and Pat Gage with Dom Rossi enjoyed catching up in one of the nooks in the laboratory.

From left: Jeffrey and Biana Panarey with Dan Cooperman of Ballet X. During the dinner dancers from Ballet X entertained the guests.

Annette and Vince Price are joined by Adele K. Schaeffer (center), gala chair and recipient of the 2011 Wistar Award given to an individual who reflects the qualities of compassion, integrity, generosity, commitment and vision that the Institute’s founding members demonstrated.

From left: Bruce and Judi Goodman, with Greg Webster. The Goodmans are advocates for using life insurance policies as a means of planned giving, and have one where Wistar is the beneficiary.

From left: Joyce Kean and Elaine Levitt. The Jewish Film Festival Pre-Fest is being held September 27th to 29th at the Elaine C. Levitt Auditorium at Gershman Hall, Broad and Pine Streets. The building is named in honor of Elaine’s husband, who passed away in 2011.

From left: Josie Burri, Wistar's director of major gifts, Julie Fargnoli and Michelle Mayer of Eli Lilly, and Jen Fox.

From left: Russel E. Kaufman, M.D., president and CEO of the Wistar Institute, and Jane Kaufman.

From left: Lynsie Solomon, chair of the Wistar Ambassadors (Young Friends of Wistar organizaion), with Wistar Ambassadors Michael Magnatta, Alexa Lustig, and Evan Solomon.

From left: Emily Ominsky and her father, Andrew Ominsky, whose mother, Elaine Ominsky, was honored with the first Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation Humanitarian Award in 1997.

From left: Former Eagles coach and master of ceremonies Dick Vermeil pays tribute to his friends Robert and Penny Fox, sharing stories of their humility, generous giving, and pure desire to help those less fortunate, as well as find a cure for cancer.

The tower’s atrium is a central space that connects the facility’s original buildings. After the cocktail party, guests enjoyed dinner by Stephen STARR Events and a show by Ballet X dancers.

Before I ran off to my next event I congratulated Tony Schaeffer and Katie Adams on their engagement, which happened the night before in the garden at his parents home.