The Bellaggio Cancer Research Unit was launched on October 25, 2003. Margie Ginsberg and Shirley Grodnitzky were the co-founders. Our first membership tea was held at our clubhouse with guest speakers, Gloria Berkowitz, president of The Pap Corps and Elinor Calvin, past president. Claire Serof was our new chapter’s advisor and together they were instrumental in making our first tea so successful. Joanie Wolfe and Jackie Grossmann stepped up to the plate and volunteered to be our co-presidents and we signed up 153 members that afternoon.  

Over the past 19 years, the Bellaggio Chapter has grown to about 800 members and we have all helped to raise millions of dollars for cancer research, have made good friends and enjoyed so many fun events. We look forward to many more years of support for The Pap Corps. 

Our many wonderful events have included Reverse Trick or Treat, Tennis Tournaments, Birthdaygrams, Spring Bling, card parties, boutiques, our beautiful annual ad journal done by Joyce and Joe Marcou and our signature event, Celebration of Life. Our men’s division was headed by Harold Heydt who also ran our golf tournaments for years. 

We have so many people to thank. We have all worked together to make our chapter so successful over the years and look forward to doing more of the same. Sharon Heffes and Dale Robinson are our current co-presidents.