By Tim Saunders on
A host of some of the Entertainment Industry’s hottest stars hit Cipriani’s on Wall Street in New York last night for the 2009 Angel Ball benefiting Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research.
Among the guests who flocked to the exciting event were Bar Refaeli, Blake Lively, Penn Badgely, Jennifer Hudson, Natalie Cole, Howard Stern, Robin Thicke and Estelle.
The charity proudly funds leading junior investigators whose work represents cutting-edge scientific research in both conventional and integrative disciplines which focus on prevention, treatment and quality of life issues of leukemia, lymphoma and other related cancers. To date, the Foundation has awarded nearly $11 million in Medical Research Awards making it one of the largest non-governmental sources of grant support to blood cancer researchers at the nation’s leading institutions. Established by Denise Rich in 1996, the charity honors Rich’s daughter Gabrielle, who died from acute myelogenous leukemia at age 27 in 1997.
“What makes this night so special is that when you lose a child, it becomes an absolute compulsion to find a cure so this doesn’t happen to any other family,” said Natalie Cole. “Denise is doing it for the right reason.”
Bar Refaeli – who lost a friend to cancer just two weeks ago – told JustJared.com exactly what the charity means to her: "I love working with charities and cancer is one of the things that touches my heart the most. Cancer research is really important, because one day we’re going to look back and say, “I wish we had that cure back then.” As soon we find it, it’ll be better."
Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively was also excited to be part of the evening: “Cancer research in general is so important. My grandfather had cancer. Also, I’m very close with [jewelry designer] Lorraine Schwartz and this is close to her for personal reasons. So, I wanted to be out here to support her tonight. She got me off work, so I’m very excited!”
The evening raised $4 million for the charity. And now YOU have the chance to bid on some amazing items through the online Angel Ball auction. Unique opportunities such as the chance to sit in on a live broadcast of the Howard Stern Show, meet Bar Refaeli in New York or LA, meet Wynonna, VIP tickets to see Elton John and Billy Joel and much more.
The auction finishes on October 29, and can be accessed here.
To find out more about the charity, visit the official website.
Copyright © 2009 Look to the Stars
