New York, NY, May 1, 2014 – On Monday, April 28,The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) hosted its annual Hot Pink Party at New York’s Waldorf Astoria. An elegant CanCan-inspired affair, the event featured a captivating performance by five-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles, who was invited by music icon Sir Elton John to join him on stage. Leonard Lauder and Kinga Lampert were the evening’s co-hosts accompanied by supermodel and actress Elizabeth Hurley as emcee. Event co-chairs included Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Reed Krakoff, Aerin Lauder, William Lauder, and Vera Wang, among others.
Since its founding by Evelyn Lauder in 1993, BCRF has raised more than $480 million to advance the world’s most promising breast cancer research. The Hot Pink Party alone has raised more than $60 million since its inception in 2001 with this year’s event raising more than $5.4 million.
“Evelyn Lauder was a philanthropic force to be reckoned with,” said Sir Elton John. “She was a dear friend, and I am proud to keep her extraordinary legacy alive by supporting BCRF and its mission to eradicate breast cancer through research.” John, who has performed at the Hot Pink Party for more than a decade, closed the 45-minute set with a moving duet of Bareilles’ “Gravity.”
Another highlight of the evening was the auction for a stay at the Lauder family’s Aspen home led by Sotheby’s Chairman Jamie Nivens. Town & Country’s “Event Planner of the Year” Bryan Rafanelli, who the Clintons handpicked to plan Chelsea’s wedding, produced the fundraiser with a generous donation from Winston Flowers.
Noteworthy guests included Tory Burch, Josh Groban, Paul Shaffer, Thom Browne, Paula Zahn, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and owner Bob Kraft, Pittsburgh Steelers’ Greta Rooney, New York Giants’ Victor Cruz, NASCAR’s Jeff Gordon, “30 Rock” alum Katrina Bowden, Academy-award nominee Hailee Steinfeld, Lisa Perry and Star Jones, while other notable co-chairs included Marjorie Reed Gordon, Jane Lauder, Jo Carole and Ronald Lauder, Ingrid Sischy and Sandra Brant, and Lizzie and Jon Tisch.
The event’s underwriters included ANN, INC., Rob and Cindy Citrone, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Condé Nast, Firmenich, Roz and Les Goldstein, Hearst, Kinga Lampert and The Leonard & Evelyn Lauder Foundation.
Contact:
Carolyn Bielfeldt
Associate Director, Communications & Engagement
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation
646.497.2639 | cbielfeldt@bcrfcure.org
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation advances the world’s most promising research to eradicate breast cancer in our lifetime. Founded by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993, BCRF has raised more than $480 million to fuel discoveries in tumor biology, genetics, prevention, treatment, survivorship and metastasis. This year, we invested $45 million in the work of more than 200 researchers at leading medical institutions across six continents. By spending 91 cents of every dollar on research and public awareness, BCRF remains one of the nation’s most fiscally responsible charities. We are the only breast cancer organization with an “A+” from CharityWatch, and have been awarded a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator 12 times since 2002. Join us at www.bcrfcure.org.
