25 years of the Gala!
Join us for our 25th Annual For Pete’s Sake Gala, an evening dedicated to uniting our FPS Community and envisioning a future where every family battling cancer finds comfort and hope through the power of respite.
Event Details
February 7, 2026
Vie by Cescaphe
600 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA
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6:30 PM - Registration & Cocktail Reception
7:30 PM - Dinner & Program
9:00 PM - Dancing & Celebration
11:30 PM - Event Concludes
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Cocktail Attire
Complimentary Valet Parking
Silent Auction
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If you have a special dietary need, please contact 267.708.0510
Looking to stay the night? A block of rooms has been created, click here for booking. Please make your reservation by January 23, 2026.
Our Auction is Live!
Explore exclusive experiences for every interest including standout sports packages, luxury vacations, nights out on the town, VIP opportunities, priceless memorabilia and more.
New items will be added throughout the week, including fun travel experiences, so be sure to check back often. You can also purchase Respite Raceway Raffle tickets to support your favorite jockey in our horse race.
Respite Raceway
Our Respite Recipient jockies are ready to go for our “Horse Race” inspired by a favorite activity during respite at Woodloch Resort!
The race winners will be entered into a raffle to win the Ultimate Woodloch Package, a $15,000 value! Read our jockey’s stories, and make your bids today!
Our Mission in Action
Dan is a husband, father of four and a For Pete’s Sake Respite Recipient who understands firsthand what families face when cancer becomes part of everyday life.
Diagnosed with colon cancer at 37, Dan and his family spent more than a year moving from treatment to recovery to uncertainty while raising four young children. In May 2025, they experienced a For Pete’s Sake Respite at Woodloch Resort. What they found there was not an escape from cancer but a rare pause from the weight of it.
Respite gave Dan’s family space to be together without schedules, appointments or explanations. His children made memories that still live in their home today. Dan connected with other patients who understood the fear, the hope and the exhaustion without words. For one week, life slowed enough to allow joy back in.
At this year’s Gala, Dan will share his family’s story and why respite matters at the moments families need it most before inviting our community to help make those moments possible for others.
Thank you to our committee!
Elizabeth Bucilla
Kris Burns
Julia Duemler
Frank Fanto
Angela Vicoli
Mike Minghenelli
Bob Keisendahl
Bill Matthews
Chris Selgrath
Kristen Williamson
Our Mission
For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation enables cancer patients and their loved ones to strengthen, deepen and unify their relationships by creating unforgettable and lasting Respite Experiences.
Working with oncology professionals at over 100 hospitals and cancer centers, FPS provides transformative respite experiences to cancer patients (ages 21-55), their caregivers and their children and offers our families emotional support that assists them as their journey with cancer continues. Our respite program helps families recognize it is love, not cancer, that defines them. To learn more, please visit www.takeabreakfromcancer.org
FPS is 1 of 143 nonprofits nationwide to hold PANO’s Standards of Excellence Accreditation, earned a perfect score from Charity Navigator, was awarded Platinum Transparency from GuideStar, and has a 5-star rating on Great NonProfits. Give confidently, knowing your donation with us will have maximum impact and transparency!
