New York City, Sept. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 
Left to Right: Portraits of Susan Hort, George Wells and Manfred Rantner, and Jacolby Satterwhite
High-resolution images: [LINK]
(NEW YORK, NY—September 10, 2026) – The Rema Hort Mann Fund is pleased to announce it will fête 30 years of art and care at its gala and art auction on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at Tribeca Rooftop (2 Desbrosses St., New York). The Fund will honor co-founder Susan Hort; philanthropists George Wells & Manfred Rantner; and inaugural Artists Living with Cancer Grant recipient Jacolby Satterwhite. The special evening is held once every five years and is the organization’s single most important fundraiser. The proceeds support RHMF’s programming and its expanded rapid-response grant portfolio, which comprises the Emerging Artists Fellowship Grant, the Peter Hort Quality of Life Grant, and the just-announced Artists Living with Cancer Grant. RHMF is the only organization of its kind offering a threefold model of support for people living with cancer, emerging artists, and now NYC-based artists in active treatment.
The festive affair will feature a cocktail hour and seated dinner hosting 400+ guests spanning the worlds of art, finance, health, fashion, entertainment and law. Throughout the evening, guests will have the opportunity to bid on the live and silent auction with artworks from over 70 rising and established artists. The silent portion of the auction, held on Phillips' online bidding platform, will open for bidder registration in early October. 100% of the proceeds raised from the evening will directly support the Fund’s grant programs and initiatives.
RHMF was established in 1995 around a kitchen table by Susan and Michael Hort; Rema’s widower, Billy Mann; and close family and friends to commemorate the legacy of their daughter, Rema Hort Mann, who passed away from stomach cancer at age 30. Rema’s dedication to building relationships with artists early in their careers was well known and led to her being a founding member of the New Museum’s Young Collectors Group. Inspired by the grief of her passing and her commitment to the arts, the Rema Hort Mann Foundation was formed. Since its founding, RHMF has raised over $9.5 million to support over 2,400 cancer patients while recognizing 460+ emerging visual artists early in their practice.
The anniversary marks a year of notable expansion for RHMF. It will be the first gala under Executive Director Elysia Borowy. Since joining the organization in 2024, Borowy has led the renaming from the Rema Hort Mann Foundation to the Rema Hort Mann Fund, launched its new brand identity and website, and is broadening RHMF’s grant offerings with the Artists Living with Cancer Grant. That night, RHMF will also toast three newly appointed board members: Scott Ziegler, Esq.; Dana Schutz, world-renowned artist and former 2002 Emerging Artist Grant recipient; and Augusto Aribizo, visual artist and curator.
ABOUT RHMF’s 30th ANNIVERSARY GALA HONOREES
Susan Hort, a passionate advocate for early-career artists, is also a revered philanthropist and seasoned collector of contemporary art. Listed numerous times on the ARTnews Top 200 Collector List, alongside her husband Michael, they have since amassed over 5,000 artworks by regional and international artists.
As Treasurer of RHMF’s Board of Directors, she’s been a steadfast force in furthering RHMF’s mission to provide financial support to emerging artists and offer compassionate aid to individuals affected by cancer. In 2022, RHMF increased its funding for emerging artists by establishing the Peter Hort Emerging Artist Award, following the loss of their son, Peter Hort, a father of four, lawyer, and judge, who provided 27 years of stewardship overseeing the Quality of Life grants. The award will continue to uphold Peter's commitment to encouraging artistic development. Since RHMF's inception, Susan has remained a dedicated defender of artists and a major driver of RHMF’s efforts to create opportunities within artistic communities and advocate for the rights of individuals undergoing cancer treatment with empathy, generosity, and dignity.
1991 (circa) - Rema and Susan Hort courtesy of The Rema Hort Mann Fund
“Thirty years after beginning this work in memory of Rema, we are deeply proud of how her legacy has continued to grow through RHMF,” said Susan Hort. "What began with an unimaginable loss has become a lasting commitment to standing beside artists and families when illness arrives unexpectedly. Peter and Rema’s spirit continues to guide this work, and seeing it evolve into new forms of support is profoundly meaningful to me. We are grateful for all that RHMF has become and for the opportunity to carry their legacy forward."
In a fitting tribute, Susan Hort will receive the RHMF Legacy Award, presented by her daughter Dr. Shoshana J. Hort, MD.
George Wells is the founder and CEO of Wells Group of New York, a finance and accounting consulting firm he established in 2009. He began his career at 19 as an intern at Salomon Brothers, then spent a decade on Wall Street at Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs before launching his own company. Today, Wells Group serves over 70 companies worldwide across SaaS, media, healthcare, fintech, and consumer goods, with an extensive client portfolio.
Wells is also a collector and philanthropist who works at the nexus of contemporary art and civic life. In 2020, he made a landmark gift of a $1M+ collection to Morehouse College, his alma mater, consisting of works by leading Black and queer artists. He’s held leadership positions across major arts institutions, including Treasurer of the Parrish Art Museum, Co-Chair of the North American Acquisitions Committee at Tate Americas Foundation, and Co-Chair of the 2024 Whitney Museum Biennial. Today, he’s a member of the Painting & Sculpture Acquisitions Committee of the Whitney and is a Board Member of the Black Trustee Alliance for Art Museums.
Manfred Rantner, a retired registered pediatric nurse, spent more than thirty years in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, part of a critical-care team serving approximately 1,400 critically ill children annually and supporting their families through their most vulnerable times. In one of medicine's most demanding settings, Rantner came to appreciate the science of healing and the emotional rewards of that care. He treated countless children whose lives were touched by illness and recovery, including one young patient who would go on to become an artist and quietly embrace a connection between his life in medicine and the world of art.
“Advancing emerging artists, whose practice challenges us and expands who gets to be seen and valued, is deeply rooted in who we are,” said Wells. “For Black, queer, and historically underrepresented artists in particular, financial support can create pathways that give them the freedom to take risks while developing their craft. When an artist’s career is this hard to sustain, we believe championing them and their ideas is an investment in the societies they help to shape.”
In recognition of their forward-thinking philanthropic leadership, George Wells and Manfred Rantner will sponsor a $10,000 Artists Living with Cancer Grant to support the inaugural year of the Artists Living with Cancer Grant Program. They will receive the Philanthropic Leadership Award, presented by Mickalene Thomas.
Jacolby Satterwhite, a two-time cancer survivor diagnosed with bone cancer at age 11, is celebrated for his interdisciplinary practice addressing central themes of ritual, fantasy, freedom, and world-building through immersive installation, virtual reality, and digital media. He uses a range of software to produce intricately detailed animations and live-action films that make up a unique cinematic universe, including a cast of characters featuring various artists and friends. These animations serve as the stage on which the artist synthesizes the multiple disciplines that encompass his work, namely illustration, performance, painting, sculpture, photography, and writing. Satterwhite draws on an extensive set of real and fantastical references, guided by mythology, contemporary visual culture, and music, to disrupt Western art conventions while celebrating Black queerness and freedom from oppression and discrimination. His works are represented in the permanent collections at the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Modern Art, as well as at the San Jose Museum of Art, the Seattle Art Museum, the Hessel Museum of Art at Bard College and the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma in Helsinki. Jacolby continues to exhibit despite his health complications. He was featured as the solo artist for Kabinett’s presentation with Galerie Kadel Willborn at Art Basel earlier this summer, with We Are in Hell When We Hurt Each Other, and will be included in the Frist Art Museum’s Shimmer: Dreaming the Posthuman, which opens September 25, 2026. Satterwhite's oeuvre, informed by a lived experience of illness and resilience, makes his selection as the inaugural recipient of the Artists Living with Cancer Grant especially resonant. In partnership with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, he will receive additional recognition, bringing his award total to $25,000.
Satterwhite shared, "It’s an honor to receive the first-ever Artists Living with Cancer Grant. Thank you to the Rema Hort Mann Fund and the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation for recognizing that an artist’s overall health and ability to produce are inseparable. As healthcare becomes increasingly out of reach for so many people today, it’s encouraging to see organizations working together to provide artists with resources that encourage the continuation of their artistic practice while prioritizing their well-being.”
“Jacolby's lifelong public struggle with cancer and related illnesses made us realize that artists are particularly vulnerable and at risk," said Carole Server Frankel, Board Co-Chair. “With the end of the Obamacare subsidies and the uptick in cancer cases in people under 50, we realized that RHMF was uniquely positioned to help. RHMF’s decades of work with both emerging artists and cancer patients became the catalyst for creating a new grant for artists navigating illness and the high cost of healthcare. My hope is that the Artists Living with Cancer Grant can become a lasting safety net available to artists when they need it most, helping them retain agency over their lives and creative pursuits.”
This year’s honorees embody Rema Hort Mann Fund’s enduring values and share its commitment to supporting artists and the wellness of its community through compassionate care and meaningful investment in creative talent during defining chapters of their lives. We are honored to celebrate them.
To purchase tables, tickets, or to make a contribution in support of RHMF’s 30 years of art, care, and service, please visit https://givebutter.com/RHMFGALA2026.
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WHAT: Rema Hort Mann Fund’s 30th Anniversary Gala and Art Auction
WHO: Honorees: Susan Hort, George Wells & Manfred Rantner, Jacolby Satterwhite
WHEN: Wednesday, October 28, 2026 from 6:00-10:00 PM
WHERE: Tribeca Rooftop (2 Desbrosses St, New York, NY 10013)
ABOUT THE REMA HORT MANN FUND
The Rema Hort Mann Fund was founded on a deep belief in creativity and community's healing power. In our work, we’ve discovered meaningful kinship and connection between emerging artists and individuals battling cancer. As a community, we honor their courage and strength, and support their ability to heal and express themselves artistically.
RHMF is led by a dedicated Board of Directors, whose vision and guidance form the backbone of our service. A nimble team of devoted staff assists the Board and manages day-to-day operations thoughtfully and efficiently. The Board and staff partner closely to fulfill RHMF's mission: supporting emerging artists at critical points in their careers and ensuring cancer patients have access to resources while navigating treatment with care and dignity.
RHMF Board of Directors: Augusto Aribizo, David Biro, MD, PhD; Jamie Cohen Hort; Carole Server Frankel, Co-Chair; Amy Globus, Co-Chair; Michael Hort, Emeritus; Shoshana Hort, MD; Susan Hort, Treasurer; Billy Mann; Emily Santangelo; Dana Schutz; Joyce Siegel; Maria van Vlodrop; Tal Weitzman, Secretary; Scott Ziegler, Esq.
ABOUT THE EMERGING ARTISTS FELLOWSHIP GRANT
The Rema Hort Mann Fund Emerging Artists Fellowship Grant provides direct financial support to emerging New York City–based visual artists. Established more than twenty years ago, the Emerging Artists Fellowship Program has become an emblem of excellence, recognizing artists at critical junctions of their development who go on to produce extraordinary work. Our distinguished alums—whose ranks include Sarah Sze (1997), Sanford Biggers (2001), Dana Schutz (2002), David Altmejd (2002), Mickalene Thomas (2007), Lisa Oppenheim (2008), Rashaad Newsome (2009), Deanna Lawson (2010), Virginia Overton (2011), Njideka Akunyili Crosby (2012), Aliza Nisenbaum (2013), Kenny Rivero (2015), Christina Quarles (2017), and Patrisse Cullors (2020)—are a testament to the significant contribution of the Rema Hort Mann Fund to the art world.
ABOUT THE PETER HORT QUALITY OF LIFE GRANT
The Peter Hort Quality of Life Grants (PHQOL) aim to assist cancer patients with tangible financial and personal difficulties that can accompany their care. Often, the challenges of cancer stretch beyond medical bills and treatment. To support patients navigating these obstacles, PHQOL offers flexible financial aid for critical healthcare needs, whether that means finding in-home caregivers, babysitting, taking a trip out of state, or covering unexpected costs. By relieving these added stressors, the grants help build patients’ support systems and offer more stability during a period when both can be crucial to their quality of life.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS LIVING WITH CANCER GRANT
The RHMF Artists Living with Cancer Grant will provide direct financial support of up to $10,000 to ten NYC-based visual artists who are currently receiving cancer treatment. After submitting an application and meeting all eligibility requirements, each candidate will be selected at random through RHMF’s lottery system. The one-time grant program targets immediate, treatment-related economic uncertainty when uninterrupted care is critical. This new initiative continues the legacy of the Fund’s rapid-response grants and adapts the model to address the economic vulnerability artists face today. Rooted in urgency and empathy, we believe no artist should have to choose between medical assistance and their livelihood, so they can preserve their well-being and the cultural impact of their work. The program will debut immediately after the Fund’s 30th gala, with registration open to all those who qualify in the NYC metro area.
CONNECT:
Instagram: @remahortmannfund
Facebook: @RHMFund
Website: remahortmannfund.org
PRESS CONTACT:
Claudette McQueen
Principal, FNDTN.
E: rhmfgalapr@fndtn.world
Contact Info
Rema Hort Mann Fund
rhmfgalapr@fndtn.world
