Needham residents David (left), chairman and CEO of Best Doctors Inc., and Adriana (right) Seligman recently joined about 600 guests at the American Cancer Society’s seventh annual Key Gala at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre in Boston.  

David, who serves as a member of the American Cancer Society’s CEOs Against Cancer initiative, focuses on several thousand cancer-related cases each year with his team at Best Doctors, which works to provide patients with the right diagnosis and right treatment. 

This year’s event raised a gross amount of $1.1 million, with all proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society AstraZeneca Hope Lodge Center in Boston. The Lodge provides free, temporary lodging for cancer patients and their caregiver needing to travel to Boston for treatment.

Arts and entertainment critic, three-time cancer survivor, and cancer patient advocate Joyce Kulhawik served as the event’s emcee. Scott Wahle, a former sports anchor on WBZ-TV, served as the event’s auctioneer.  

Serving as Honorary Chair for the Key Gala was Robert A. Cascella, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hologic, Inc. located in Marlborough. Cascella and his company were one of the lead corporate donors in bringing Hope Lodge to Boston and they have served as a sponsor for past Key Gala events as well as the Hope Lodge Golf Invitational.

Opened in 2008, the American Cancer Society’s Boston Hope Lodge, located at 125 South Huntington Avenue in Jamaica Plain, has so far provided free temporary residence to 2,230 cancer patients and their caregivers who have traveled to Boston from 46 states and 13 countries for cancer treatments not available at home.  Thanks to generous financial contributions from donors, organizations, foundations, and events such as the Key Gala, the Lodge has provided over 41,000 nights of free lodging, saving $7.5 million in housing costs or about $5,700 per guest.

For more information contact the American Cancer Society at 800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.