An overflow crowd came out to support the first TASTE OF LIFE wine tasting event organized by THE GEORGE “BEST” COSTACOS CULTURAL AND CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION last night (Monday, May 9th, 2011) at the elegant AMMOS Estiatorio, 52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY.
Guests included the well-known singer Steve Ross, the composer Seth Weinstein, singer/musician Pericles Kanaris, the Consul General of Greece, Evangelos Kyriakopoulos, the Consul General of Cyprus, Koula Sophianou, Dr. David Lyden, Stavros Niarchos Chair at Weill Cornell Medical Center, Dr. Marinos Petratos, Dr. Stella Lymberis, Dr. Demetrios Skokos and many other dignitaries from the medical, scientific, cultural and business communities of New York.
The wines sampled during the evening, donated by Wines We Are, were Fresco Averoff Red and Fresco Averoff White, both from the Peloponnese area of southern Greece. The evening included a silent auction with products donated by Revive, Cellcosmet at Saks Fifth Avenue, John Barrett Salon at Bergdorf Goodman, DS Studio, Jon Megaris Salon, Mastiha Shop, Telesto Designs, Concert Promotions, Pathos Productions, and restaurant gift certificates to Avra, Kellari, Stamatis, Sanfords and Bareburger. Friends who supported the event were Bahari Taverna, Komi Construction, Chrissie Pelecanos and Digital Kids4All.
A recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, THE GEORGE “BEST” COSTACOS CULTURAL AND CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION was founded in 2009 to honor the memory of the late actor/singer and member of the ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION, GEORGE “BEST” COSTACOS who died in November 2008 of a malignant brain tumor. The Foundation’s mission is to promote, foster, and advance the professional pursuits of young performers in theater, dance or musical performance, to support research to understand the etiology of cancer and to support improvement in the management of brain tumors.
This year the foundation will support the innovative research of the laboratory of David C. Lyden, M.D., Ph.D. A leading authority on cancer metastasis and brain tumors, Dr. Lyden holds the Stavros S. Niarchos Chair at New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medical Center where he is Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Cell and Developmental Biology and an investigator in the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Lyden, who is also Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Attending Physician at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has received numerous distinctions and awards for his work. Dr. Lyden is co-senior author of the book, “Cancer Metastasis: Biological Basis and Therapeutics” by Cambridge University Press, the first ever book on metastatic research and clinical care of the metastatic patient was published in the spring of 2011.
GEORGE COSTACOS was born in Athens, Greece in 1964 and besides being an exceptional student, became an accomplished athlete, winning awards for gymnastics in the BALKAN GAMES. He also exhibited artistic talent in many areas at a very young age. An award from the FULLBRIGHT FOUNDATION gave him the opportunity to study in New York. His passion for music and the theater led him to receive countless kudos for diverse and prolific creativity as an actor and a writer, “carving the steady and significant course of a dynamic artists who has bewitched with his multifaceted talent, knows how to magnetize the lens of current events and puts his signature on every aspect of his work” – to quote a few of the glowing reviews in the abundant international press. With his passionate sense of drama and “boundless energy.”. George Costacos was dubbed by theatrical leaders and press alike as “an unencumbered spirit with a mission.” “An artistic chameleon,” “A particularly distinguished actor,” “A genuine child of the theater.”
George Costacos died at the age of 44 in Hanover, Germany of complications from a malignant brain tumor. George Costacos’ love of life and humanitarian spirit were an inspiration to all who met him. The George “Best” Costacos Cultural and Cancer Research Foundation was founded to continue his life’s work and spirit.
