Bringing the Mission into High-Res Focus: A Night of Clarity and Progress at the 2025 Emily’s Entourage Gala

 

On Saturday, October 11, 2025, supporters of Emily’s Entourage gathered for the 2025 Evening with Emily’s Entourage Gala, “High-Res,” a night where hope, clarity, and progress came vividly into view. The evening brought together new faces and longtime Entourage members alike, all united in the mission to accelerate breakthroughs for the final 10% of the cystic fibrosis (CF) community still waiting for lifesaving therapies.

The night kicked off with an exclusive VIP reception for gala sponsors and EE leadership, where attendees enjoyed curated cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and lively conversation. The reception featured a warm welcome from gala steering committee member Ivy Solomon, followed by brief remarks and a celebratory champagne toast from co-founders Emily Kramer-Golinkoff and Liza Kramer, setting a spirited and heartfelt tone for the evening. 

Meanwhile, guests arriving at the Mann and were greeted with drinks, snacks, and heartfelt welcomes from the Kramer-Golinkoff family, who enjoyed the evening from the safety of a private tent, safeguarding EE Co-Founder Emily Kramer-Golinkoff, as she continues to navigate the challenges of advanced-stage CF.

Next, all guests gathered in the program tent for the start of the evening’s eagerly awaited program. As the program began, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement and anticipation. Emily’s sister, Julia Kramer-Golinkoff, welcomed guests, sharing, “It’s so moving to look out into this crowd and see so many faces that mean so much to us. Thank you to everyone in this room—the OG Entourage and the newbies alike—we are forever grateful to have you in EE’s corner.” Her words set the tone for an evening defined by connection, inspiration, and the unifying power of a shared and urgent mission.

Celebrity comedian, host, actor, and Philly native Anna Roisman then took the stage as the official emcee, guiding the audience through EE’s journey from a scrappy nonprofit born on the Kramer-Golinkoffs’ living room floor to a multi-million-dollar engine of innovation and hope. She reflected, “Just like an image comes into view pixel by pixel, EE started small…has now become a multi-million dollar engine of innovation and hope.”

Anna drew a vivid contrast between her own path and Emily’s life with CF, noting that in some ways they grew up in parallel on the Main Line. But despite the similarities, she emphasized, “While I have been out in LA and New York chasing my dreams and building my career, Emily has been here in our hometown, fighting for her life and the lives of so many others like her.”

“It’s not fair. Emily deserves better. Everyone in the final 10% deserves better.” 

She reminded attendees that Emily’s daily life requires intensive breathing treatments, a strict medication regimen, and careful management of CF-related diabetes—an unrelenting battle undertaken with grace and dogged resilience.

2025 Gala Honoree John Scaglione then took the stage to share the personal inspiration behind his family’s commitment to the CF community. He spoke about his mother, Dr. Carolyn Denning, MD, a pioneer in the diagnosis and treatment of people with CF, and the physician who first diagnosed Emily with CF in 1985. He remarked, “I am here tonight to honor the memory of my mother, Dr Carolyn Denning, MD. Raised in rural western Kentucky she was a trail-blazer, committed to achieving her personal ideals and professional goals.” 

 “We simply must continue to focus on the 10% of CF patients who do not benefit from current mutation-targeted modulator therapies. We can leave no one behind in our search for answers and a breakthrough for those still struggling with this devastating disease. My Mom would celebrate the progress made in CF care but her focus would not waver from raising the money to fund research until every patient can say ‘I used to have CF.’”

John’s remarks were followed by one of the night’s highlights—the debut of the 2025 Emily’s Entourage video, Dear Younger Me. Told through the eyes of a mother and three individuals in the final 10% of the CF community, the film is a powerful reflection on childhood dreams and the harsh reality of living with CF, an unrelenting, deadly and progressive disease that robs your breath, your dreams, your very future.

Then, Emily began her speech via livestream from the safety of the Kramer-Golinkoff family tent, positioned just a several feet from the guest areas. She recounted the harrowing experience of a recent hospitalization—the slow, creeping decline in her health, the sudden realization that her lungs were failing to recover as they had in the past, and the weight of confronting a new stage of her CF’s progression. 

Her words brought the audience into that intimate, painful moment: 

 “It was like my hands and legs were bound as I plummeted, powerless and paralyzed. In that moment, I lost something greater than hope. I lost my belief that I could do anything to change my outcome.” 

Yet even in that raw vulnerability, Emily’s resilience shone through. She spoke about a revelation that came during those dark days. 

“What I realized in that moment is that not having full control didn’t mean that I had no control over my destiny.” 

She went on to explain, “My tireless work to fight the progression of my CF wasn’t for naught. But rather than trying to “will” the outcome, my energy was better spent focusing on the inputs, which I could control, and holding onto faith that the hard work would ultimately create more chances for luck to show up.” 

The room was silent with reverence as she went on to highlight EE’s research and clinical development progress over the past year, reminding everyone that through dedication, persistence, and shared effort, the community can generate the “inputs” to expand what is possible and help shape the destiny of the final 10%. 

“Through this approach, we transform luck from something external to “hope for,” into something we actually engineer through sustained, strategic inputs.”

As the evening reached its crescendo, the room fell into a hushed anticipation as Mark Fishman, a member of EE’s Leadership Team, took the stage to lead the live fundraising countdown. 

“You, the Entourage, are the reason the organization is in this position, making a real impact for real patients and the broader scientific community. We are eternally grateful for all you’ve done to help get us here. Now is our chance to bring this picture to life.” 

With each tick of the timer, hearts raced and eyes stayed glued to the stage as donations poured in. One by one, gifts flashed across the screen, each a tangible push toward hope and progress. The excitement soared when an initial matching gift was announced, and in real time, another generous donor stepped in to match it all—doubling the impact in an instant. And then—the night’s goal was not just met; it was shattered. The roar of the crowd echoed the collective energy, a moment of pure exhilaration and shared triumph that left every guest feeling part of something transformational.

Riding the wave of that momentum from the countdown, the evening flowed into the high-energy reception. Guests explored curated food stations offering small plates that showcased a variety of delectable cuisines, complemented by signature cocktails and drinks. Laughter and conversation mixed with the music from The Philly Keys’ dueling pianos, whose tips from song requests were generously donated back to EE, fueling lifesaving research and keeping the night’s energy alive.

In the days following the gala, the grand total was tallied, revealing a record-breaking $1.6 million and counting—a remarkable testament to the Entourage’s unwavering generosity, focus, and commitment to propelling breakthroughs for the final 10% of the CF community.

The 2025 Evening with Emily’s Entourage Gala was a night where purpose came into sharp focus. From the first greeting to the final applause, every moment pulsed with the heartbeat of the CF community—resilient, determined, and unwavering. Guests witnessed firsthand what happens when a community refuses to accept “good enough” and channels its energy into action. By the end of the night, everyone in the room carried with them a renewed sense of possibility, inspired to transform dedication into fast breakthroughs for the final 10% of individuals with CF.

We are profoundly grateful to everyone who made this extraordinary night possible. Together, you bring the mission into High-Res, turning hope into real, tangible change—and proving that when a community unites, even the most daunting challenges are achievable.

Relive the livestream recording here.