Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Vicki and Tom Williams.
The Stacey Allison Band entertained guests for the evening.
Cancer survivors Michelle Rossi and Vicki Williams shared their story with the gala guests.
The Popoff Family: From left: Nicky, Nikki, Sasha, Rick, Lisa, Krista, Jarrett.
Cancer survivor Vicki Williams had the help and support of her family.
Michelle Rossi talks about how her son and husband were her backbone.
Michelle Rossi rings the bell, signifying she is cancer free.
Guests could purchase a glowing star to honor or memorialize someone touched by cancer.
Gala emcee Gracie Fusco.
Lindsey Langley-Liboreiro, the American Cancer Society Senior Executive Director of Southwest Florida.
Auctioneer and fundraising host Magen McRoberts engages the crowd.
Descending the steps into the Palm’s Ballroom at the JW Marriott on Marco Island was similar to going back in time. A time of refined radiance and a sparkle of intrigue. The American Cancer Society (ACS) 2026 Imagination Ball exuded a luxurious and tranquil aura with a theme of ‘Timeless Elegance, Lifesaving Impact’ on Friday, February 6.
The Stacey Allison Band set the mood for the evening with a shimmering blend of familiar tunes combined with their own unique sound.
In addition to beautiful floral arrangements, cascading lights, and accents of gold and silver throughout the room, there was an undeniable sense of hope.
“Everyone has done so much to help make this night happen. We are here for the mission. When you hear the word cancer, you automatically think of someone affected by this disease. So, we are here tonight to raise money, so no one hears the words, ‘you have cancer.’ For us, it is personal,” said Sue Olzszak, American Cancer Society Senior Development Manager II, who went into detail on the evening and her personal connection to the mission, “All of the funds raised tonight go to the American Cancer Society general cancer research fund. Without research, you can’t find a cure.”
The black-tie-optional affair had Marco Island’s finest dressed to reflect the theme with elegance, adorning each person who attended and a photo booth kept a steady line of people waiting to make their memories of this unforgettable evening.
There were two large art pieces painted to resemble the night sky, and patrons could purchase a glowing star to honor or memorialize someone touched by cancer. A message could be written on the tail of the star – a whisper of love, a memory shared, or a wish for healing. The star would then take its place on the night sky panels, illuminating the evening with stories of strength. Illuminate it did, as these stars could be seen from every seat in the large ballroom.
Over 30 silent auction items were donated to the cause from local businesses and supporters.
There was a Mystery Dining Pull, giving patrons a chance to win up to four $25 restaurant gift cards by the Phelan Group and these five live auction items were on the block:
Lisa and Rick Popoff, 2026 co-chairs, were glowing with their family beside them. “We have been on the Volunteer Board since 2017. This means a lot to us,” said Rick. “We have been coming since ’86.”
“We actually started coming because friends encouraged us to, and now we are the friends who are encouraging everyone else to come,” said Lisa.
The Imagination Ball is a family affair for the Popoffs.
“One of the survivor stories tonight is my sister,” said Rick. “It’s a family thing. My kids are here; they love it. We have been bringing them since they were teenagers, and now their teenagers are asking to come.”
As the music fell silent and the lights dimmed, a short presentation from the American Cancer Society played across the screens. With the somber statistic that every 15 seconds someone is diagnosed with cancer, came a positive fact that over 150 million lives are touched annually through ACS.
Emcee for the evening, Gracie Fusco, welcomed everyone and took some time to share a few personal stories on how cancer has affected her family.
As a little girl, Gracie and her mom would make personalized bottle cap magnets with different sayings for different types of cancers. She would take these and set up outside of local shops to raise money to help with medical bills for someone battling cancer.
“Every single year there was always someone in need, and it always made me feel really good to help out, even if it was just in that tiny little way.”
She shared that she lost her Grandma to pancreatic cancer four years ago, adding that her Grandma was the one who had said she would be on TV someday, though Gracie thought that ‘news is for old people’ at the time. Her Grandma had been so proud when Gracie started going to college to pursue her dream.
When she heard the news about her Grandma’s diagnosis, “I flew home to spend as much time as I could with her.” Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates. Two weeks after her diagnosis, Gracie’s Grandma went to heaven. “It was one of the hardest times for my family. It was a big loss.”
“A month later, I had the strength to put on my Grandma’s necklace for the first time. And that very same day, I had my very first opportunity to go live on TV for the first time. I remember just knowing that she was with me, and I know deep in my heart that was her way of her saying, ‘I told you to go.’ And that was the start of my career.”
Fusco thanked those in the room with similar stories of loved ones facing their own fight and making their person’s journey just a little bit easier.
Lindsey Langley-Liboreiro, ACS Senior Executive Director of Southwest Florida, thanked the leadership of the Gala co-chairs, Deborah Shanahan and Rick and Lisa Popoff. Deepest gratitude was expressed to Presenting Sponsor Robert Fluger, whose unwavering commitment and generosity over the years and contributions of more than $150K to ACS have made a profound impact on the mission and the lives touched.
“Mr. Fluger, your dedication inspires all of us, and we're truly honored to have you as a cornerstone of this community effort and all that you do,” said Langley-Liboreiro. “So, thank you for standing with us in the fight against cancer.”
“Every day, the American Cancer Society is fighting in our local communities and across the country to end cancer as we know it for everyone,” Langley-Liboreiro said. “For more than 10 decades, ACS has been dedicated to pursuing better outcomes for everyone that's facing cancer. So today, more people are surviving cancer than any before. Just in February this year, we released our cancer facts and figures. And one of those facts is that now 70% of people that are diagnosed with cancer are living longer than five years.”
Stories from the featured cancer survivors, Vicki Williams and Michelle Rossi, touched home for many in the room.
Williams was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer and stressed the importance of funding and financial assistance for those undergoing treatments. “I had to get a grant for Keytruda because it was $23,000 every three weeks,” said Williams. Though expensive, the immunotherapy worked and she has been cancer-free since April. “I come from a really close-knit family and when I was going through all this, they were with me the whole way,” Williams said. “My husband, he's amazing. He doesn't let me do anything without him. And he's always supportive. To be able to call my sister, my brothers, anytime, I am blessed. I'm sitting back now with a smile on my face and feeling so grateful and so blessed.”
“If there wasn't the research, ongoing research, and the chemo wasn't working, and they didn't know about immunotherapy, I might not be here,” Williams said. “I probably wouldn't be here. Research is like air to your lungs, and the people that fund research are heroes.”
Michelle Rossi’s story struck an emotional cord as she shared the importance of family and friends when undergoing cancer treatments and throughout the process. At just 40 years old, she developed breast cancer. Securing a mammogram earlier than most, she ended up going to Moffitt and doing chemo in Naples. “Luckily, I didn't have any side effects, but it was a struggle losing your hair,” Rossi said. “Coming home and having your son see you with no hair. That was probably the toughest part.”
“I had an amazing support system with family and friends. We relied on our friends to be there to help us with either taking care of my son or taking me to appointments,” said Rossi. “You don't realize how much your family and friends mean to you. Going through this journey was hard.”
The critical need for cancer funding was another support for Rossi, “Cancer funding is important because it can help guide people in the right direction,” Rossi said. “The American Cancer Society guided me to what I needed to do and where to start because I had no idea what to do. This was all new to me, new to anyone, and having them as the backbone of your journey has helped.”
After taking in two incredible survivor stories, Magen McRoberts, the new fundraising host of the Imagination Ball, corralled the crowd to not just raise their paddles, but raise up hope and determination along with the funds that go to general cancer research.
“Together, with your help, we can create a world where cancer does not stand a chance.”
To learn more about ways to help or seek resources, visit www.cancer.org.
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