Singer-activist Sheryl Crow knows all about surviving breast cancer. So when she stepped to the microphone as the headliner for the recent Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults fundraiser at Harbor East?s PAZO restaurant, her message was loud and clear.
“As a cancer survivor, I have no trouble talking about boobies anymore,” she told a appreciative audience of more than 300 guests. “Now, I talk about them all the time.”
The audience applauded heartily, and Crow, 46, dressed in jeans and her trademark black vest, responded with a set that included two of her most famous hits, “If It Makes You Happy” and “All I Wanna Do.” But she saved the most important song ? “Happy Birthday” ? for Baltimorean Suzanne Taylor, a cancer survivor who won tickets to the private party and who was celebrating her 30th birthday. A teary-eyed Taylor, with husband Mike by her side, exclaimed: “A birthday song from Sheryl Crow, it just doesn?t get any better than this.”
For the past 10 years, the Columbia-based Ulman Cancer Fund has been the leading voice in the cancer movement for young adults. Many on the foundation?s board are survivors themselves, including its president, Steve Friedman. Doug Ulman, whose battle with cancer as a 19-year-old Brown University sophomore, kick-started this amazing organization, and Executive Director Brock Yetso welcomed staff, friends and supporters, which included Mayor Sheila Dixon, Kelly Lance, Janice and Ray Hite, Tessa Goldscher, Tamicka Felder (who held down emcee duties), Steffi Paul, Jon Levinson and Shari and Larry Cooper. Diana Ulman, mother of the Fund?s Doug Ulman and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, mingled with the crowd, making sure everyone felt special.
At $400 a ticket, more than $220,000 was raised from this event, which sold out quickly. For information on this extraordinary organization, go to www.ulmanfund.org, or call 410-964-0202.
PSST! YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST
With Opening Day quickly approaching, a little birdie told me that the Orioles? front office is so accommodating that it agreed to change the team?s late-season home games against the Yankees and Red Sox from September to August. Why? To get all those summer-vacationing Yankees and Red Sox fans into Camden Yards ? or should I say, Yankee Stadium South and Fenway Park South. Oh well, it?ll bring revenue to city businesses, but I still cry ?Foul!?
