The tables...

I put in my application to volunteer at Sloan-Kettering about a month and a half ago, when it occurred to me that part of my road to self-discovery and happiness needed to involve cancer treatment or research. My fingers are still crossed that I get called in for a screening, but with over 700 applicants, I can’t hold my breath (but I have been persistently calling). When I got the invitation to the Cancer Research Center’s Mid-summer Social I called up with my credit card info within seconds; if Sloan’s not going to make use of my time then CRI could, in the least, make use of my money.

The event was held at Tenjune outfitted with it’s usual,well, wanna-be fabulo-sos (inside they even have square tables with the word “fabulous” sprawled across it). I wanted to turn around, but I was there to help cure cancer so I patiently waited on line while clone after clone attached to the end. “Curing Cancer. Curing Cancer,” I mumbled to myself, eager to disappear inside and find a few females friends who are both philanthropic, and GENUINELY fabulous. I got the sense that most people where there because someone who’s involved begged them to be or because it was just another opportunity to hit the social scene. It was probably split 50-50; with half of us wanting to save the world (while rocking Jimmy Choos of course) while the other half just ate Magnolia cupcakes and sipped cocktails until they got their money’s worth.

Being the little goodie-too-shoes that I am, I expressed my concerns to Glenn Tringali (Chief Development Office at CRI) and made it a point to offer my help if it was ever needed. I’ve always been put off by apathy, but it’s so much worse when you’re pushing 30 and realizing some people never grow souls. Glenn (bless his patience with me) brought up the obvious point, “They’re here, so they’ve donated money to a good cause.” Yeeaahhh….buuuut…

He’s actually 100% right, but the idealist in me refuses to accept that. (Foot in my mouth, I just got word that the event raised over $25,000. For a group of about 300 people all under the age of 40 [dare I add, "in this economy"] that’s pretty incredible!)

Even so, I shouldn’t be so unfair; I didn’t speak with everyone that night (when you show up to these things alone it’s pretty daunting to strike up random conversations with people huddled in tightly wound circles) so I can’t confirm my basic instincts about the evening. And I can say, regardless of their interest in cancer research, deep in the pit of the club, I met some refreshingly non-complicated, openly funny, and casual (and by casual I mean they didn’t have to put on airs of fabulousness) people. So…in the end, I made a small dent in cancer research while holding some pretty good conversations. Not a bad way to spend a Thursday night…

(But, if you’re like me and you actually DO want to do something to help cancer research, check out the CRI’s website and donate!)