A Day for the Books!
Light, buzz, creativity, love, impact, and powerful inspiration, all packed into one beautiful day. Some may call it the “Event of the Year”! Each year, it comes and goes in the blink of an eye, each one somehow topping the last. It’s Table…Set…Go!
For those unfamiliar, Table…Set…Go! is The Morris I. Franco Cancer Center’s annual fundraiser. But it’s not your typical Chinese auction; it’s a stunning celebration of creativity, featuring unique tablescapes tailored to a yearly theme, a heartfelt panel where cancer warriors share their journeys, and much more.
This year’s Table…Set…Go! took place at the magnificent home of Kim and Jon Kushner, who graciously opened their doors and welcomed everyone with warmth. The weather was absolutely perfect, and with such a beautiful crowd, the day was more successful than ever.
This summer’s tablescape theme was Travel Destinations. The many beautiful tables included Celia & Gabby Azizian’s Tuscany tablescape, Rachel Hedaya’s Paris-themed table, Barbara Chehebar & Lori Sutton’s Washington, D.C., tablescape, Vera Derzi’s Moroccan table, Robin Moyal, Simmy Moyal & Alyce Adjmi’s African safari table, Orly Seton’s Peruvian table, and Colette & Esther Chehova’s Costa Rican–themed table. The range of destinations made the Kushner residence feel like an even more deluxe version of Disney’s Epcot!
Celia Azizian, one of the talented annual tablesetters, shared why she keeps coming back:
“For me, Table…Set…Go! is more than a beautiful event. It’s a chance to celebrate artistry, honor tradition, and strengthen the bonds of a community that never stops caring. And as long as my creativity can serve that purpose, I’ll be here, year after year, setting the table with love.”
The most impactful part of the day is always the panel. No brochure or program can match the power of hearing directly from our clients about what the Cancer Center has meant to them. Emceed by the one and only Morris Kassab, the panel blends humor with deeply moving stories of resilience, often leaving the audience in tears.
“When they told me I had sarcoma, I was very confused because I had never heard of it before,” shared Natalie Zadok, a Cancer Center client. “I learned that only 1% of the population has sarcoma. It’s extremely aggressive with very limited treatment, which is why I’m here today with a prosthesis. My doctors had to amputate my leg on March 10.” Four months later, with the help of the Cancer Center and its incredible volunteers, she continued, “I don’t think I would be sitting here without them. At first, I didn’t want to fight. I told myself I’d let Hashem take me; I didn’t want to live without a leg. But with everyone’s support, I’m here, learning to walk again.”
Natalie reminded us that strength isn’t what you hold onto. It’s what you build when you lose everything you thought you had. That is at the heart of the Cancer Center’s mission: turning anxiety into hope, and pain into comfort, with compassion at every step.
“It’s a support system I didn’t even know I needed,” shared Nomi Simhon, who battled breast cancer. Roxanne Maleh added, “To me, part of healing is the balance between the medical journey and personal connection, and the Cancer Center fulfilled that emotional piece for me.”
The panel shed light on all the Cancer Center offers: care packages, therapy for loved ones, art therapy, transportation, meals, reiki, acupuncture, weekly activities, trips, and direct access to doctors. But the most poignant theme echoed by every panelist was the family they found there.
The Cancer Center thrives on empathy rooted in connection, whether to Hashem, to oneself, to volunteers, or to others who truly understand the journey.
Each volunteer is a pillar of the Cancer Center. Beyond bringing Table…Set…Go! to life each summer, they work daily to touch lives in ways both big and small. Volunteers become like sisters, and that’s what makes the Cancer Center so genuine: relationships built on authentic love. “The people at the Cancer Center have really become my family, and I feel so blessed to have them,” says Alaina Dweck. Esteemed volunteer Candy Gabbay encourages others to get involved: “It changed my life for the better, and I’m sure it will do the same for you.”
If there’s one thing Table…Set…Go! 2025 reminded us, it’s that beauty is not only in the tablescapes, the décor, or even the perfect weather. It’s in the hearts of the people who gather for this cause. Every story shared, every table set, every hug exchanged creates ripples of hope far beyond the event itself. And just like the tables we so carefully set, our community continues to set the stage for kindness, resilience, and love, year after year.
