ACS Bash

After hosting annual evening events, the Santa Barbara branch of the American Cancer Society threw a lunch this year in the Hilton’s Reagan Room for nearly 100 guests, which raised around $100,000 for the popular organization, which helps more than 100,000 people in the western region annually.

Chairwoman Denise Sanford emceed the fete which honored Tamir Keshen, a pediatric oncologist at a number of local hospitals, including Cottage, while Joseph Campanale, a researcher at UCSB and recipient of an ACS cancer research grant, spoke of his vital work.

But star of the show was 10-year-old Eliana Georges, the childhood survivor honoree, who has been battling brain cancer since she was just four months old. Other than “a bit of scar tissue,” the Santa Barbara youngster is a student at Canalino School, Carpinteria has now been given the all clear.

Deb Jeffers, a senior manager at the society, was the auctioneer.