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This Weekend: Party With a Purpose Gala Honors Penn Researchers, Former CEO of Please Touch Museum

October 20, 2025

The annual fundraising event will support the Philadelphia-based American Association for Cancer Research and melanoma research

WHAT

On Sunday, October 26, the Friends of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Foundation will host the 22nd annual Party with a Purpose gala in Philadelphia to raise lifesaving funds for cancer research. This year’s event, dedicated to melanoma research, has raised more than $225,000.

WHEN

Sunday, October 26
5-9 p.m.

WHERE

Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing
201 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19106

WHO

The gala will honor the following individuals and groups:

  • Lynn M. Schuchter, MD, will receive the Scientific Achievement Award. Schuchter is the director of the Tara Miller Melanoma Center at the University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center. 
  • Alexander Huang, MD, will receive the Early Career Investigator Award. Huang is an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.  
  • Patricia D. Wellenbach will receive the Humanitarian Award. Wellenbach is the immediate past president and chief executive officer of the Please Touch Museum. She is also the immediate past chair of the board of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health. Wellenbach is a cancer survivor.  
  • The Tara Miller Melanoma Foundation will receive the inaugural Community Impact Award. Founded in 2014 by attorney Tara Miller after she received a melanoma diagnosis, the foundation has since partnered with Schuchter to fund innovative melanoma research. Miller passed away that same year at 29 years old, but the foundation that bears her name continues its work.

Cancer Research Catalyst, the official blog of the AACR, has published a Q&A with this year’s honorees:

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES

Media interested in attending the event, speaking with the awardees, or learning more about Party with a Purpose can contact Kathleen Medora at [email protected] or 215-290-5408.