Scott and Elizabeth Zweigel, of Brookhaven are helping make the 31st annual Torch Gala benefiting Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation a success. We caught up with them to talk about the Gala.
Q: Your reason for supporting the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is personal. Scott was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when he was a sophomore in college and was taking 26 pills a day, living in constant pain, a shell of his former self. He was able to get on an intravenous biologic, Remicade, shortly after FDA approval and his health and life turned around.
A: Yes. Then Scott went to law school, met Elizabeth, and together they decided that it was important to give back to the community. After living in Atlanta for a few years and building a life together, Elizabeth and Scott were invited to Torch Gala by friends Stacey and Mark Rothberg. They saw the wonderful things the Foundation was doing and were moved to get involved. Scott was eager to use his legal skills to help those in need, particularly to navigate the confusing web of insurance approvals for expensive, necessary, life-impacting medication; and Elizabeth was eager to engage as the partner and caregiver for someone deeply affected by Crohn’s.
Q: What makes the 31st annual Torch Gala unique and important?
A: The silent auction, camaraderie, and presentations are always first-rate, and it is our chapter’s flagship event, which raises much-needed funds for the Foundation’s research, programs, and mission. Torch Gala provides that opportunity and allows us to focus on IBD community members facing unique challenges during COVID (particularly due to immunosuppressive drugs that are common treatments for Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis).
Q: The 31st annual Torch Gala will be Friday, October 15 at the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta with dinner, drinks, dancing and an auction. Exciting!
A: We will also honor some community volunteers and providers who are making a big impact on the lives of people with IBD, including The Elvin C. Price Volunteers of the Year - Drs. Ellen and Pip Spandorfer, Premier Adult Physician - Dr. Mark Murphy, and Premier Pediatric Physician - Dr. Bess Schoen. Major sponsors include Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and United Digestive, among others. We will also be offering an at-home participation option for those more comfortable joining that way. TorchGala.org.
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