Gala Celebration 2025

Building healthier communities through science! 

Join us as we come together to support and celebrate breast cancer prevention research that benefits us all. This year, we are honoring several remarkable individuals who are making a difference and paving the way for a future that is healthier and more just.

Thursday, October 9, 2025
Museum of Science, Boston

The program

6:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception, The Blue Wing

8:00 p.m. Program and Auction, The Blue Wing

Hosted by the dynamic thought leader Katie Martell

Also featuring:

• Remarks by Dr. Mary Beth Terry, Executive Director, Silent Spring Institute
• 2025 Honorees:
  • Peggy Shepard, Executive Director at WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Rachel Carson Advocacy Award
  • Eniola Shokunbi, Indoor Air Quality Advocate, Rachel Carson Young Environmentalist Award
  • The Bailis Family (Larry Bailis, Kathryn Bailis Phillips, and Davis Bailis), The Susan Bails Champion Award
• Live auction with Jacqueline Tower-Perkins of Tower-Perkins Consulting

Be a sponsor

Your support—whether as an individual or corporate partner—will directly fund Silent Spring's groundbreaking breast cancer prevention research, advancing science that protects lives and empowers communities.

Auction

We’re currently seeking auction items for the live and silent auctions. Auction sponsors receive acknowledgement on the Gala webpage and in auction materials on the day of the event. To donate an item, please fill out our online Auction Form.

Questions about the auction? Contact gala@silentspring.org.

Honorees

Peggy Shepard, Rachel Carson Advocacy Award

Peggy Shepard is the co-founder and executive director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and a national leader in environmental policy and justice. For over three decades, she has mobilized Northern Manhattan communities and beyond to fight for clean, healthy, and sustainable environments. She was the first female chair of EPA’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council and served as the inaugural co-chair of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. Peggy currently chairs NYC’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board and serves on several national boards. Her groundbreaking work has earned numerous honors, including the Jane Jacobs Medal, the Heinz Award for the Environment, and honorary doctorates from Smith College and Lawrence University.

Eniola Shokunbi, Rachel Carson Young Environmentalist Award

Eniola Shokunbi is dedicated to improving indoor air quality in classrooms and homes through the promotion of simple, DIY Corsi-Rosenthal air filters. The 12-year-old advocate played a key role in securing an $11.5 million grant to support the construction and installation of these filters in schools throughout Connecticut, working in partnership with scientists at the University of Connecticut. Eniola is dedicated to expanding this initiative across the country and beyond. By involving students in building the filters themselves, she hopes to spark curiosity, inspire future leaders in STEAM, and raise awareness about environmental health—empowering young people to create healthier and more sustainable learning environments.

The Bailis Family, Susan Bailis Champion Award

Susan Bailis was a passionate advocate and a steadfast supporter of Silent Spring’s research on the environmental causes of breast cancer. Until her death from breast cancer in 2000, she championed the institute’s mission by creating the Susan S. Bailis Research Fund. The fund raised over $4.5 million, amplifying Silent Spring’s work and bringing her network to the cause. Susan helped diversify and strengthen the institute’s funding—critical to Silent Spring’s continued innovation and impact.

The inaugural Susan Bailis Champion Award is being presented to her family—Larry Bailis, Kathryn Bailis Phillips, and David Bailis—in recognition of their ongoing commitment to Susan’s vision. Going forward, they will help Silent Spring identify future recipients of this new award.  Susan’s husband, Larry, has served on Silent Spring’s Board of Directors since 2007, bringing distinction and dedication to the cause. Kathryn, a breast cancer survivor, has written and spoken powerfully about her mother’s legacy, and continues to support families impacted by the disease as Director of Program, Family Grants, at Runway for Recovery. Her brother, David, is an accomplished musician who promotes health and wellness for touring musicians. Through Tourganic, a blog and podcast he created, David shares insights on nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness, and interviews fellow musicians and athletes about their health journeys.

Featuring

Dr. Mary Beth Terry

Dr. Mary Beth Terry is an internationally renowned cancer epidemiologist with over 25 years of experience leading studies on breast cancer risk factors. Her many contributions to the field include groundbreaking work on how environmental exposures increase breast cancer risk in women with a family history or genetic predisposition. She currently leads an international study investigating drivers of early onset cancer and the influence of environmental exposures during key windows of susceptibility. Author of over 450 scientific publications, Dr. Terry has served on numerous prestigious committees for the National Cancer Institute and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. She is also a Professor of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health and Associate Director at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University.

Host

Katie Martell 

Katie Martell has appeared on stages across the U.S. and internationally as an emcee, host, and speaker. She speaks and writes about the collision of marketing and social movements (aka woke-washing) and has been named "one of the most interesting people in B2B marketing."  Her two cents have appeared in places like the BBC, Adweek, CNBC, Forbes, WSJ, New York Times, and more. With 150,000 followers and subscribers, she shines a light on important narratives and believes Mary Oliver when she wrote, "To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work."

Auctioneer

Jacqueline Towers-Perkins 

Jacqueline Towers-Perkins is an international auctioneer and fundraising consultant, serving non-profit institutions and holding auctions at high profile charity galas and benefit events in the United States and Europe. Her clients include international royalty from His Majesty King Charles to Jay-Z and Beyoncé, and she has shared the stage with leaders of finance, entertainment, tech, and politics. Over the years she has auctioneered to thousands of bidders and raised millions for charity. Alongside her independent auctioneer business, she previously held senior positions at top global auction houses including Sotheby’s New York and Bonhams Auctioneers, as a lead Auctioneer and Contemporary Art Specialist, most recently rising to the position of Vice President at the former.

Host Committee

Tara‡ and James Foley, Co-Chairs
Robin‡ and Bruce Polishook, Co-Chairs
Larry Bailis† and Susan Shevitz
Amy and Joel Janovsky
Kristin Knox* and Thomas A. Knox
Katie and Martine Martell
Cynthia McKeown† and Terry Kitchen
Lisa Carey Moore and Justin Moore
Sabine Oskar†
Daniela Rochez†

†Board of Directors
‡Leadership Council
*Staff