The ballroom at the Bacara Resort & Spa was decked out in gold for the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) annual Riviera Ball, while many of the guests opted for classic black gowns and tuxes for this elegant affair. The December 3 event honored Dr. Frederic Kass, medical director at the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara, with the Physician of the Year Award and honored cancer patient Amaia Laskin. A preliminary tally indicated that the event raised $100,000.
After the cocktail reception, guests were greeted over dinner by co-chairs Denise Sanford and Chuck Bischof and entertained by a stunning flamenco performance by dancers from the Linda Vega Dance Studio. ACS CEO Gary Reedy addressed the guests via video, noting the remarkable 22 percent decline in cancer death rates in the United States in the past two decades.
Emcee Janet Garufis introduced Kass, who humbly accepted the award on behalf of his staff and patients. He shared that the key is to “work in a place with really great staff, and then you find really extraordinary patients with whom to partner, and then just sit back, do your work, and have them make you look good.”