13th Annual Summer Hope Benefit Honoree

Serge Alahverdian

This year, The Summer Hope Foundation is delighted to have as it’s 2015 honoree, Mr. Serge Alahverdian. Serge is a founding board member and one of the driving forces in our mission to help those touched by cancer. 

A cancer survivor himself, Serge has been a part of The Summer Hope Foundation since the very beginning and was part of the very first discussion about Summer Hope, when it was simply an idea about raising money for the American Cancer Society. Since then his commitment, vision and incredible talent have been a huge part of the evolution of The Summer Hope Foundation. He has helped it grow from a one-time benefit to the all-encompassing cancer-fighting organization it has become.

Serge’s support of The Summer Hope Foundation has touched every aspect of our organization for the better. With his charisma and passion, he has driven our Balloon Auction to new heights year-after-year, while still finding time to promote Summer Hope to all his friends, family and customers. He works on obtaining sponsorships and helps us procure items for our Art Supply Drives and Hope Packages. He jumps right into everything that Summer Hope takes on – serving Thanksgiving Dinner to cancer patients residing at The Hope Lodge and painting faces to raise money for Summer Hope Relay For Life teams.

In his professional life, Serge is recently retired after a storied career. He started as a Fashion designer, before moving on to design fabric for Disney Studios. He then opened and ran a successful floral business, Flowers by Serge. After twenty years, he sold the shop and moved his talents to Garden World, as a floral curator. In between, he has been the artistic lead for the renowned Fortunoff’s Christmas Shop, has had his own side business, Designs by Serge, and runs a successful Christmas decorating business. We are lucky and thrilled to be able to have Serge’s incredible talents help set the tone for our work at The Summer Hope Foundation.

In addition to Serge’s busy “retired” life, he is pursuing his life’s passion, recently hosting his first, very successful, art exhibit. He also serves on the Board of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, Inc. (UCPN), working tirelessly for their fundraising event, Festival of Trees. He is also kept busy by his full family life, his wife, Annie Alahverdian, their two grown sons and their wives, Michael and Ellen, and Christopher and Lauren, as well as his six perfect grandchildren: CJ, Alexis, Cooper, Sophia, Quinn and Lola, all of whom are actively involved in The Summer Hope Foundation!

Please join us in celebrating Serge Alahverdian’s accomplishments and support of The Summer Hope Foundation on Friday, October 16, 2015 at the 13th Annual Summer Hope Benefit. It is because of volunteers like him that The Summer Hope Foundation is able to support the fight against cancer!