Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research raised nearly $3.7 million last night in support of blood cancer research at Angel Ball 2016.
The evening honored the work of Carl H. June, M.D., Director of the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies and Director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at the University of Pennsylvania; the late Robert Kardashian and Heloise Pratt AM, Chair of The Pratt Foundation. This annual, black-tie benefit, hosted by Grammy-nominated songwriter Denise Rich and her daughters Daniella Rich Kilstock and Ilona Rich Schachter, took place at Cipriani Wall Street.
The Angel Ball honors individuals who have made significant humanitarian and philanthropic contributions in support of cancer research and boasts attendees in the fields of business, philanthropy, and society alike for this annual celebration of life, music and the quest for a cure.
Tommy Hilfiger introduced his good friends, the Kardashians, and spoke about their strong commitment to carrying out their father’s work ethic and charitable core. Kris Jenner, Khloe Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian took the stage to honor their late husband and father, who passed away from esophageal cancer in 2003. Jenner shared how she had spoken to many survivors and cancer research doctors throughout the evening, and she found it remarkable how the Foundation’s funding was being used to make advances in a cure for cancer after hearing so many success stories. Specifically, that her ex-husband Robert Kardashian’s form of cancer would have been curable in today’s world with the advances in treatment that Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation has helped fund.
“When I met Robert Kardashian, I was 17 years old, and he kind of raised me. One of the things he used to teach me and our four children was about philanthropy and about giving – and about doing it diligently, constantly, joyfully and generously. He taught me, and them, that no matter what we do in life, he would have been very proud of us. And what you make, you give back. And you do it without saying a word because that’s what the Bible said – and we did,” Jenner said through tears.
And the Kardashian family continued to do just that on stage at the Angel Ball, presenting a $250,000 donation to Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation in the name of their late husband and father.
Sir Bob Geldof and the Foundation’s Medical Advisory Board Chairman Dr. Stephen D. Nimer presented the honors to Heloise Pratt and Dr. June, respectively.
“Done with care, celebrity philanthropy like tonight is an incredibly powerful force of good in this world, but we must always go bigger. The celebrity platform is a means to an end but not an end in itself. You told me that, Sir Geldof, and it is a lesson I will never, ever forget,” Pratt said.
“What we have here is a Foundation that will take long shots and not just go for sure bets – and I really want to thank the Foundation for that and for promoting the careers of young scientists,” Dr. June said.
The evening’s performances included sets from Earth, Wind & Fire, CeeLo Green, Dave Stewart, Vanessa Amorosi, Jon Stevens and DJ Ruckus closed the show and had the audience dancing till night’s end.
Additional supporters in attendance included Hugh Jackman, Deborra-Lee Furness, Clive Davis, Sarah, Duchess of York; Star Jones, Toni Garrn, Donna Karan, Dee Hilfiger, Zuri Marley, Selenis Leyva, Jeff Gordon, Andreja Pejić, Anja Rubik, Brittany Daniels, Dr. Stephen Nimer, Ethan Zohn, Jonathan Batiste, Alina Baikova, Carol Alt, Christina Milian, Danielle Knudson, Donna D’Cruz, Jessica Strothler, Jill Zarin, Jocelyn Chew, Megan Williams, Montel Williams, Nadine Leopold, Scott Disick, Shanina Shaik, Suleika Jaouad and more.
The evening featured a cocktail reception, dinner, and a luxury live auction led by Simon de Pury. Popular live auction items included 18k blackened gold and purple sapphire earrings by Lorraine Schwartz that sold for $85,000 and an exclusive Porsche Panamera Turbo that sold for $140,000.
The online auction, powered by Charitybuzz, runs through November 29th at charitybuzz.com/angelball.
Sponsors for the event included celebrity jeweler Lorraine Schwartz, Porsche Cars North America, Le Mētier de Beautē, with alcohol partners SVEDKA Vodka and Billionaire’s Row Champagne.
Gala Chairs included Lorraine Schwartz, Ofira Sandberg, and Camilla Olsson.
This year’s Gala Co-Chair Committee included Giselle Aboud, Dori Cooperman, Bonnie Pfeifer Evans, Kira Faiman, Amy France, Michele Herbert, Pamela Johananoff, Star Jones, Mary Kitchen, Louise Kornfeld, Norah Lawlor, Heather McDowell Levin, Allison Lutnick, Jackie Martin, Danielle Merollo, Brooke Milstein, Cynthia Ott, Donna Poyiadjis, Michele Rella, Lauren Roberts, Alisa Roever, Paola Bacchini Rosenshein, Charleen Sacks, Catherine Saxton, Susan Shin, Stacey Silverstein, Tina Storper, Felicia Taylor, Jo Vickers, Marcy Warren and Jill Zarin.
