Medical Discoveries and Beyond was the space-age theme of this year’s Bring It! fundraising event held on April 19th at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. More than 300 Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) supporters and guests donned Star Trek uniforms, Star Wars’ costumes, Conehead and cosmic Athena warrior outfits—all to raise money for biomedical research.
Co-chairs Juli Oh, Matt Browne, Sarah and David Szekeres were pleased that the event attracted so many people. “This event makes raising money fun and helps SBP reach a broad group of prospective supporters,” said Sarah.
In keeping with the cosmic theme, guests were served liquid nitrogen space popcorn, spuds in space and moon pies by waiters wearing lab coats.
SBP Board Chairman Hank Nordhoff enthusiastically welcomed “the next-generation of philanthropists” and reinforced SBP’s position as global leader in science. Nordhoff attended with his wife, Robin. Board member Alan Gleicher and his wife, Marleigh, also attended the event.
The uniquely SBP event had four rounds of space-themed trivia and six out-of-this-world stage challenges, including spooning Reese’s Pieces into an empty bowl without hands while wearing an E.T. headband; throwing cheese curls onto a team member’s shower-capped head covered in shaving cream; and launching space shuttle gliders into luminescent hula hoops.
There was also a raffle for an Honorary Padres for a Day package courtesy of SBP Board member and Padres co-owner Peter Seidler; a wine toss with exclusive wines donated by award-winning HALL Wines in Napa Valley; and the Fund-A-Need paddle raising.
Sponsors for the event included Alexandria Realty, Karen and Jeremy Anderson, BDO, CBRE, Cooley, Creative Fusion, Cushman & Wakefield, Danaher, Marleigh and Alan Gleicher, Jeanne Herberger, PhD, Heron Therapeutics, KPMG, Moon Valley Nurseries, Murfey Company, Josie and Jim Myers, Neurocrine Biosciences, NuVasive, Oxford Finance, San Diego Padres, Charles Patton, Pegasus Building Services, Reflow Medical, Retrophin, Square 1 Bank, Jonell and Gregory Tibbitts, Julie and Court Turner, Wells Fargo, and Willis Towers Watson.
John Weisbarth, host of Tiny House Nation, emceed the event for the second year in a row.