The Phyllis and Mark Leppert Foundation for Fertility Research, a public non-profit organization, doing business as The Campion Fund, celebrated its tenth anniversary on May 26, 2023 at a Gala Dinner Dance in Durham, North Carolina. Individuals from preschoolers to retirees, scientists, and persons without a background in science, old friends, and supporters, and those learning about the Campion Fund for the first time attended the dinner at the Croasdaile Country Club. The Catalinas, one of the original North Carolina Beach Bands played dance music throughout the night. Literally everyone danced and then danced again. James H. Segars, MD, Johns Hopkins Professor, the Honorary Co-Chair, greeted the attendees and Phyllis Leppert, MD PhD, President of the Campion Fund introduced a short video in which she presented why The Campion Fund was founded and the hopes for the future of reproductive biology and science.
Monetary prices and photographs of the campion flower were given to the winners of the Raffle. All proceeds from the Gala support the mission to support fundamental reproductive science by providing awards for junior investigators, scientific programs and educational events and material for the public to raise awareness of the facts of reproductive processes. The focus of the work in 2023-2024 is pregnancy and birth.
Kudos to Kathryn Daily for all her great organizational skill as the local chair of the event. Her efforts ensured the very smooth functioning Gala. Thanks to Friederike Jayes and Liping Feng for their help in publicity for the event. All three have been great supporters of the Campion Fund for ten years. Thanks also to all the attendees whose contribution helps The Campion mission and kudos to those who made contributions even though they were unable to attend.
Please view the photo album to see just how much fun the Gala was.
{gallery}Gala 2023{/gallery}