Thank you for supporting the 2025 Celebration of Angels! Because of you over $200,000 was raised in support of the Mary Jo Cropper Family Center for Breast Care.

Stephanie Tandoc, Jessica Mercer, Dr. Ulysses Tandoc

A special thank you to The Cropper & Miniard Families for their continued support as the Presenting Sponsors of Celebration of Angels! This event would not be possible without their continued support.

A night of support that brings lifelong impact

This event has generated over $3 million since it’s inception in 2011. This has led to the ongoing support for the entire continuum of care for breast cancer patients – from prevention and treatment all the way through survivorship. Proceeds from the event have allowed the Cropper Center to add lifesaving technology including the TriHealth Mobile Mammography Van, which provides over 3,000 mammograms annually and ProFound AI which serves as an extra set of eyes for radiologists and increases the sensitivity of finding cancer by 8%.

Pictured left: Courtney Rick, Jim Maher

This year’s Celebration of Angels was one to remember!

To kick the night off, guests were invited to mingle, grab drinks and start their bidding at the silent auction tables.

Background image: Dr. Apurva Mehta, Lisa Koch, Dr. Parinda Mehta

Congratulations to our 2025 Mary Jo's Angel Award recipients, Jennifer Dermody and Zeta Tau Alpha, Beta Delta Chapter!

Congratulations, Jennifer Dermody!

Learn more about Jennifer's incredible story and message!

Pictured left: Becky Bill, Tom Darnell, Angel Recipient Jennifer Dermody, Liam Dermody, Connor Dermody, Elise Dermody, Tim Darnell

Congratulations, Zeta Tau Alpha, Beta Delta Chapter!

Learn more about ZTA's incredible story and message!

Pictured right: Mackenzie Lynch, Camille Ryan, Libby O'Toole, Payton Santorelli, Hannah Fielding

The Celebration of Angels recognizes individuals who have been nominated and selected from the community who have the qualities of Mary Jo Cropper.

Spencer Cropper

Background image: Paula Toti, Local 12

Both Angels were in attendance with their families and friends, along with an entire room of guests who were excited to honor these two individuals. Spencer Cropper and Amy Miniard (Mary Jo’s children) welcomed the guests to dinner after cocktail hour, and shared the legacy of their incredible mother.

Lucy Miniard, Randy Miniard, Amy Miniard, Paula Toti, Spencer Cropper, Dana Cropper

Background image: Spencer Cropper, Jennifer Dermody, Amy Miniard

A Mary Jo Angel is...

Gracious, kind, compassionate, generous, inspirational. These words have often been used to describe Mary Jo Cropper, who succumbed to breast cancer in 2011. Mary Jo left behind a legacy to our community: the Mary Jo Cropper Family Center for Breast Care. Her sensitivity to people dealing with cancer was remarkable. We want to honor Mary Jo’s life and memory by recognizing those people in our community who mirror her compassion and grace.

Dr. Seerin Shatavi, Jacqui Appel

Background image: Spencer Cropper, Amy Miniard, Libby O'Toole, Mackenzie Lynch

TOP: Lori Smith, Michelle Daniher, Becky Lucchetta, Mary Fischer | Lynn , Susan Boyer, Shelley McKinney, Dr. Anthony Antonoplos, Kelly Schalk, Sarah Patchell, Brooklyn Tanner, Ashley Napier, Mickayla Gilbert-England, Annalicia Bohland | Kim Graham, Christine Hampton, Jennifer Graham, Jessica Barnett, Steve Bothe | MIDDLE: P.J. Hannan, Mary Kay Meyer, Genie Thomas, Nancy Hannan | Caven Risk, Marsha Falknor, Syndney Crombie, Jamie Crombie | Erin Heaton, Kris Banks | BOTTOM: Mackenzie Lynch, Camille Ryan, Libby O'Toole, Sabrina Larson, Payton Santorelli, Hannah Fielding | Meghan Zeiser, Chrissy Jonovski, Katie Behrle, Jennifer Dermody, Jessica Huebner, Karen Foland

This event wouldn't be what it is today without the life and legacy of Mary Jo Cropper.

Mary Jo Cropper immediately connected to the heart of Bethesda North Hospital’s breast center when she accompanied a friend to an appointment. Having battled breast cancer for 15 years, Mary Jo was impressed and overwhelmed by the staff’s warmth and expertise.

Mary Jo felt a deep connection to women suffering from breast cancer. She knew her financial support could make a difference and her generous gift to help establish a new center, named in her honor, transcended a donation. The gift reflected her hope to save as many as possible from experiencing what she had gone through.

A quiet and unassuming person, Mary Jo never sought the spotlight with her generous gift to the breast center – rather she downplayed her role by saying, “I’m just honored to be part of it.” She was the epitome of grace, dignity and generosity.

Proceeds from the 2025 Celebration of Angels will benefit a critical expansion of imaging services and the acquisition of advanced software technology to meet complex screening needs.

These services include a renovation of existing space to accommodate an additional ultrasound unit, increasing availability by 30% and significantly reducing wait times. The renovation will also make room for contrast-enhanced mammography, a highly sensitive imaging option for detecting breast cancers in dense tissue.

LEFT: Dr. Anthony Antonoplos | RIGHT: Regina Pertuset, Jenny Neal, Kathy Valentine, Rebecca Copeland, Kris Banks, Erin Heaton, Julie Haynes, Lorrie Cruse, Carolyn Sayer, Christa Lunsforsd, Jacqui Appel

A special thank you to all of our Sponsors...

Thank you for the additional support from our friends at Kendra Scott!

Thank you to our Media Partner, Local 12 and our Technology Partner, Prestige

Special thanks to Paula Toti for bringing your enthusiasm and spirit to this event!

Thank you for supporting the 2025 Celebration of Angels Gala! Because of you, over $200,000 in net revenue was raised to support cutting edge research & technology for patients at the Mary Jo Cropper Family Center for Breast Care.

Thank you for joining us this year, we can't wait to see you again in 2026!

For more information on how you can get involved to make an impact visit BethesdaFoundation.com or call 513-865-1616.