The Rema Hort Mann Fund celebrated its 30th anniversary with a star-studded gala in New York City, raising $1.5 million to support emerging artists and individuals affected by cancer.
Held October 28 at Tribeca Rooftop, the event brought together more than 300 artists, philanthropists, collectors and cultural figures to recognize the organization’s legacy and introduce its newest initiative, the Artists Living with Cancer Grant.
Since its founding in 1995, the nonprofit has provided $9.5 million in financial assistance to more than 650 emerging artists and 2,400 cancer patients and their families.
The evening honored founder Susan Hort, philanthropists George Wells and Manfred Rantner, and interdisciplinary artist Jacolby Satterwhite, whose personal experience with cancer helped inspire the organization’s latest expansion.
Satterwhite, a two-time cancer survivor diagnosed with bone cancer at age 11, was named the inaugural recipient of the Artists Living with Cancer Grant, receiving $25,000 through a partnership with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation.
The new program will provide at least $10,000 in unrestricted funding to 10 artists living with cancer in the New York City metropolitan area.
“Jacolby’s very brave and public battle with cancer really opened our eyes to the plight of artists facing a cancer diagnosis in a world where healthcare costs are just so high,” said board chair Carole Server Frankel.
The celebration also featured an art auction in partnership with Phillips, with works donated by notable contemporary artists including Mickalene Thomas, Kehinde Wiley, Dana Schutz and Njideka Akunyili Crosby.
Founded in memory of Rema Hort Mann, who died of cancer at age 30, the organization has spent three decades providing financial assistance to artists at pivotal moments in their careers and supporting cancer patients and their families.
With the introduction of its newest grant, the fund is bringing those two missions together, expanding its support to artists navigating both their creative careers and cancer treatment.
