American Cancer Society Gala Honors Jockey Victor Espinoza

More than three hundred American Cancer Society friends and supporters gathered at Santa Anita Park Saturday evening for the Society’s Annual Gala. Decked out in their finest, the group gathered on the VIP area, before dining at the track’s luxurious Chandelier Room for dinner and entertainment from Dan Olivo and his band.

This year’s theme was “Hope Wins,” and honored jockey Victor Espinoza as its 2015 Distinguished Community Honoree. Much to the glee of the event organizers. Espinoza came to the event directly from a studio where was taping a segment of “Dancing with the Stars.”

Espinoza is a longtime visitor to the City of Hope in Duarte. As he told the Society, “I started donating because I see kids with cancer, and it just a horrible thing to have to go through. I can’t imagine the parents, how they feel, too. Not just the kids, but the parents, and the entire family.”

The American Cancer Society is the largest non-profit cancer-fighting organization in the world. As their website states, “Nearly three million Society volunteers work to conquer cancer and create a work with more birthdays, by helping provide free programs and services to cancer patients across the nation.”

This year’s event was chaired by Mary Bowser and Naomi Farley.