Gala to Honor Novartis Corporation and Cardinal Health Leaders

Parsippany, NJ — Nearly 1,000 guests are slated to attend Community Hope’s 22nd Annual Sparkle of Hope Dinner Auction on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 to honor Thomas N. Kendris, US Country President, US Country Head Legal and President of Novartis Corporation and Mike Kaufmann, Chief Executive Officer of Cardinal Health.  The gala is one of the largest fundraising events in New Jersey and benefits Community Hope’s programs to rescue more than 1,000 veterans and veteran families annually from homelessness.  The gala also supports Community Hope’s residential programs serving more than 100 individuals daily in recovery from mental illness.  This year’s gala will be held at the Legacy Castle in Pompton Plains, NJ.

This year’s event is led by Brent Saunders, Chairman, President and CEO of Allergan plc. The Sparkle of Hope event has raised more than $14 million and continues to grow into an event that brings together the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in support of a common cause. This will be among Community Hope’s largest galas in the 22 years since Fred Hassan, then-Chief Executive Officer of Pharmacia & Upjohn, founded the charity event to enhance community-based services to coincide with pharmaceutical advances in mental health treatment. More than two decades later, Mr. Hassan, presently Chairman of the Caret Group and Director of Warburg Pincus, continues to serve as Founding Chair of the event.

Community Hope is recognizing Mr. Kendris with the Hero’s Award for his commitment to the charity and his Corporation’s decades-long support of the nonprofit.  In his role as US Country President, Mr. Kendris is responsible for all Novartis corporate functions represented in the US. He has oversight of approximately 23,000 associates across Novartis US group companies in its three divisions,  as well as the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research and other supporting functions. He is also Chairman of the Country Executive Committee, which includes the US Division CEOs and Country Heads of the key functions. As US Country Head of Legal, Mr. Kendris has country-level responsibility for Legal across all Novartis US divisions. In addition, he is responsible for leading Novartis global material litigations and investigations.  He has served with Novartis for more than 20 years.

Mr. Kaufmann is receiving the Sparkle of Hope Award for his outstanding contributions to the healthcare industry.  As CEO, Mr. Kaufmann leads Cardinal Health, a global, integrated healthcare services and products company ranked among the top 15 on the Fortune 500. He also joined the board of directors when he became the CEO.   He is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion and often speaks about gender equity. His support of women leaders in healthcare led to the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association naming Kaufmann as its 2012 “Honorable Mentor” and the Institute for Women’s Leadership awarding him the 2014 “Guys Who Get it Award.” When he became CEO, Mr. Kaufmann became a member of the Columbus Partnership and joined the Executive Committee. He currently serves as a member of the board of directors for MSC Industrial Supply and on the executive board of Red Oak Sourcing.

The 2018 Honorary Co-Chairs are Mark Alles, Chairman and CEO of Celgene Corporation, and Kenneth C. Frazier, Chairman and CEO of Merck.  Co-chairing this year’s event are Elizabeth Barrett, CEO of Novartis Oncology; Albert Bourla, CEO-Designate and current Chief Operating Officer of Pfizer; John F. Crowley, Chairman and CEO, Amicus Therapeutics; Terrie Curran, President, Inflammation & Immunology, Celgene Corporation; Douglas J. Langa, Executive Vice President, Head of North America Operations and President, Novo Nordisk Inc.,; Kabir Nath, President and CEO of N.A. Pharmaceutical Business, Otsuka America, Inc., Paul Navarre, CEO of Ferring Holding Inc. US, and Shaji Procida, President and Chief Operating Officer of Eisai, Inc.

Title sponsors of the event are Accenture; The Allergan Foundation; Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP; McKinsey & Company and Pfizer. Sponsoring at the Premier level is Moelis & Company.  Presenting Sponsors include The Boston Consulting Group; Cardinal Health; Celgene Corporation Eisai Inc.; Ferring Holding Inc.; Goldman Sachs & Co; IM HealthScience; J.P. Morgan; Merck; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.; Physician’s Seal; Prasco LLC and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.  Diamond Sponsors include, Allergan plc; Arnold & Porter; Bausch Health; Cognizant; DLAPiper; Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto; Gibson Dunn; Greenberg Traurig LLP; Hogan Lovells; Hollingsworth LLP; Lowenstein Sandler, LLC; McKesson Corporation; Morgan Stanley; Novo Nordisk Inc.; O’Melveny; PwC; Teva Pharmaceuticals; Turner Construction Company; Ulmer & Berne LLP and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP  and White & Case LLP.