Lehigh Valley Health Network held its fourth annual Celebration of Champions May 20 at the Renaissance Hotel in Allentown. Benefiting Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute, the event honors cancer survivors, caregivers and community members.

Together, the evening’s 37 sponsors and nearly 250 guests raised almost $300,000 for the Cancer Institute. Proceeds will help advance cancer research and treatment, expand access to clinical trials and provide patient assistance funds. Brian A. Nester, DO, MBA, LVHN President and Chief Executive Officer, thanked everyone for their support, giving special recognition to Haldeman Lincoln as the title sponsor and Joe and Maureen Topper as honorary chairs.

During the awards ceremony, Paul Haldeman was honored as this year’s Community Impact Champion; Amy Eagle Thompson was recognized as the Survivor Champion; and Stella Polit, RN, OCN, was the 2023 Caregiver Champion.

Upon accepting his award, Community Impact Champion and Title Sponsor Paul Haldeman made an announcement that doubled the event’s philanthropic impact. He and his wife, Michele, were committing $250,000 to the melanoma cancer program at Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute. Their gift will support patient education and treatment and research around melanoma, while also increasing access to immunotherapy clinical trials and personalized vaccine trials.

Other top sponsors included: Daiichi-Sankyo, B. Braun Medical Inc., Bracy Construction Inc., Exelixis,

Lutron Electronics, North Star Construction Management Inc., Peron Development, Innovation Sponsors

Allentown Radiation Oncology Associates, AstraZeneca, Steven and Colette Kresge and Suresh and Terri Nair