The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation will host its annual gala on Feb. 7 at the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead, with a fundraising goal of $850,000.
The 35th Annual Torch Gala will feature a cocktail reception, seated dinner, a silent and live auction, along with live music and dancing. Proceeds from the event will support efforts to better diagnose and ultimately cure inflammatory bowel diseases, which include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, a statement said.
The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation estimates that 1 in 100 Americans lives with inflammatory bowel disease, including approximately 100,000 Georgians. In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that annual national health care costs associated with IBD totaled about $8.5 million.
Each year, individuals who have made a significant impact on the IBD community are honored at the Torch Gala. This year’s honorees include Nitin Gupta, who will receive the Premier Adult Healthcare Professional of the Year award for educating practitioners nationwide on treatment related to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Dr. Olga Sherrod will be honored as the Premier Pediatric Healthcare Professional of the Year.
Diane Benatar will be named Citizen of the Year in recognition of her longtime support of the foundation. Her late husband died of Crohn’s disease in 2016, and her daughter is currently in remission, the foundation’s statement said.
“Dr. Gupta, Dr. Sherrod, and Diane Benatar all embody what it means to be true community champions,” said Kimberly Brammer, a regional executive director of the foundation.
Tickets and tables for the event can be purchased through the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation website.
