Legions of volunteers have made the Wellness Community Valley/Ventura and our free programs of support, education and hope a reality since we first opened our doors 17 years ago.

We are grateful to have the energy and support of Maureen Fahey, our May 30 Celebration of Life gala chair and member of the Wellness Community board of directors, along with gala committee members: Amy Albano, Lilli Cutler, Angela Donald, Cassie Godwin, Anne Imperato, Ginny Kreuzberger, Megan Mercer, Danielle Sinopoli, Nicole Thomas, Harriet Wasserman, Judie Williams, Zita Rahbar, and a cadre of dedicated volunteers.

We extend our warmest appreciation to master of ceremonies, Dr. Terry Paulson and celebrity guest Melissa Manchester.

Special commendation goes to our event sponsors and vendors, whose generosity made this event such a milestone for TWC: Platinum sponsors: Baxter Bioscience; Silver sponsors: Dole Food Company, KPMG LLP, St. John's Regional Medical Center, and Verizon; Bronze sponsors: Bank of America and Macerich/ The Oaks Mall; Copper sponsors: Buena Vista Hospice, City of Thousand Oaks; Galpin Motors; Lippe, Hellie, Hoffer and Allison LLP; BDO Seidman LLP and Radiation Oncology Centers of Ventura County; and Picnic sponsor: California Lutheran University. Vendors: Harry Selvin Big Band, Kiwanis of Thousand Oaks, Soroptomist of Conejo Valley and the National Charity League.

Thanks to our contributors, we can ensure that everyone in our community who has been touched by cancer has access to programs that provide them support, education and hope. Suzanne Drace Thousand Oaks Drace is president of the Wellness Community Valley/ Ventura.