American Cancer Society Taps Jay Thomas as MC for Starry Night Gala

Jay Thomas has brightened up the small screen with his recurring roles on “Cheers,” “Murphy Brown,” and “Mork and Mindy;” and has shown his talents in motion pictures including “The Gig,” and “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” A fixture on Letterman and the Howard Stern Show, Thomas currently sounds off on his own irreverent daily radio program on SiriusXM radio. Now the Texas-born funnyman can add two new talents to his tool kit – that of MC and auctioneer.

On the evening on Saturday, May 12, Thomas will take center stage as he presides over the American Cancer Society Starry Night Gala at the Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone, New Jersey. Now in its fifth year, the annual black tie event has become one of the most highly-anticipated social events in Morris County.

Broadway’s Jeremiah James, and New Jersey’s favorite oldies group The Cameos, will provide the musical entertainment for the evening.

Dr. Leah S. Gendler, a board certified surgeon specializing in benign and malignant breast disease, and Dr. Brian S. Glatt, a board certified plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction surgery, are this year’s honorees. The two doctors frequently work as a team at Morristown Medical Center, and are being recognized for their expertise, compassion and commitment to patient care.

Sponsors for this year’s Gala are: Atlantic Health System, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Avis Budget Charitable Foundation, Frank P. Diassi, Chairman, Unicorn HRO, Hal and Kathy Kamine, Creative Color Lithographers, Jack Daniels Motors and The Daily Record newspaper, the media sponsor for the Starry Night Gala event.

To purchase tickets to the Starry Night Gala and view the live and silent auction items online visit: http://gala.acsevents.org/starrynightgalaNJ. For additional information contact: Nancy Marino, Director of Distinguished Events, American Cancer Society T. (973) 285-8039, nancy.marino@cancer.org.

About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

Media Contact:
Karen Sperling
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ksperling@sperlingreene.com