Spike Lee, Magic Johnson and Sammy Sosa, at the Harold and Carole Pump Foundation 25th Anniversary Celebrity Dinner

5 months ago

Raquel Laguna/ SUCOPRESS. The Harold and Carole Pump Foundation celebrated their 25th Anniversary Celebrity Dinner honoring Aaron Donald, Barry Bonds, Spike Lee and Wayne Gretzky with the Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as Reggie McKnight and R.J. Melman with the Humanitarian Award. The event took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and the milestone evening raised over $2.8 million in support of the foundation’s mission to advance cancer treatment and fund critical programs. The evening featured a show-stopping performance by GRAMMY-nominated artist and producer Robin Thicke, as well as one-of-a-kind auction items including exclusive sports memorabilia, VIP experiences, and luxury travel packages. On stage, Dana Pump, co-founder of the Harold and Carole Pump Foundation, shared, “Twenty-five years – I’m blessed, I am really, really blessed. I’m so thankful to so many people,” while his brother and co-founder David Pump continued, “Twenty-five years ago, I made a promise to my late father that my brother and I would try to make a difference in our community – not through words, but through actions. Tonight, my heart is full. We've taken so many steps to get here, and both Dana and I, along with our family, are very appreciative of everyone here to support us”

Transcript

00:00I'm grateful. I'm grateful to see my man Barry Bonds down there. I gotta say hello to him.

00:05So I know a lot of these guys and great athletes, you know, and I've always been a big sports fan.

00:13Got that from my father when I was a little kid.

00:15My mother died of liver cancer. She was 41 years old.

00:21I've never been to one of these, so it's new to me. It's all new.

00:2525 years, you know, the foundation work that Dana and David are doing, just amazing.

00:34You know, when you think about cancer research, the care for patients, you know, treatment, you know,

00:41and so it's all, it's a worthwhile organization and something that you want to come out and support

00:52because both of them are so wonderful as people. They support you. They come out. They're going to be there.

00:59And I've been knowing them since they were small young men working my basketball camps.

01:06So when I think about saving people's lives, because that's what they're doing, or allowing people to have quality of life, right?

01:16And so to Dana and David, and their amazing foundation, and then last but not least, and we all should do this, is honor our parents.

01:26So when you can think about, here's two young men who haven't forgotten that they had great parents,

01:35and what probably the greatest way to pay tribute to them is to, you know, honor them this way.

01:43It's awesome. I mean, I've had situations where my father passed away from cancer,

01:48so I think we've all shared that issue with all of us and have a story about it.

01:53So it's good. They've been doing this for so long. I think this is my fourth time or something coming,

01:59but this is nice. It's really nice.

02:03It's amazing what they do. It's hard to explain, you know, the power that the Pump Boys got

02:09and what they're doing for this community and bringing in lots and lots of money to help us with cancer.

02:18So it's a great thing. It's a great cause.

02:20Just seeing old friends. I've been gone for a while, you know.

02:23It's kind of nice to come back and see everyone I haven't seen in years, and they all look great.

02:28So it's awesome.

02:29First of all, I'm just happy to be here. This is the first time for me, and what an incredible job.

02:34I mean, what an incredible opportunity for those, you know, who need it.

02:37And the support that we've given to Heron and Heron Foundation is incredible.

02:40I mean, I'm just glad to be here first year. We'll continue coming every year.

02:45But it's amazing so far.

02:47Well, you know, foundation like that, Heron and Heron Foundation especially, it's an example.

02:54To those who are up there, they have a lot of money.

02:57And they, you know, need to contribute to continue this journey for those who need it.

03:02Because, I mean, there's a lot of people that are in poverty right now.

03:06And with cancer, which is one of the diseases that are killing a lot of people here.

03:10So for us to be here and support that, it's a blessing for the Lord.

03:15Unfortunately, cancer is a big part of the world and a big part of life.

03:20My mom came to cancer.

03:23My wife has two sisters that passed away with breast cancer.

03:26Her dad passed away with cancer.

03:28So, unfortunately, it affects a lot of people.

03:32And for that matter, too many people.

03:34And we're so proud in Canada.

03:37We had a young man, Terry Fox, who ran across the country with one leg.

03:41And he raised so much money and so much hope for so many people over the years.

03:46He's probably, without question, the most heralded Canadian ever.

03:51And what he's accomplished and what he's did for people worldwide, not just in Canada.

03:56It's truly outstanding.

03:58It's an honor of our mother and father.

04:01And it's been 25 years in the making.

04:03And tonight, we're going to celebrate them in a big light.

04:06A very special night, honoring four great accomplished athletes, movie director, and two wonderful humanitarian.

04:17And to fill the room with a bunch of great celebrities and so forth, it's pretty special.

04:22And it's $15 million we've given away.

04:25It's not what we've raised, what we've given.

04:27And we've established three wings in honor of mom and dad.

04:30The Harold and Carol Pump Oncology.

04:32The Pump Family Infusion Center.

04:34And the Carol Pump Women's Center named after my mother.

04:38You know, it doesn't matter whether it's Sammy Sosa, Magic, Shaquille.

04:43They all played moments in people's lives in their childhood.

Spike Lee, Magic Johnson and Sammy Sosa, at the Harold and Carole Pump Foundation 25th Anniversary Celebrity Dinner

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