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November 26, 2019 – New York, NY –
The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) 2019 Breaking Through Gala
gathered more than 600 members of the global lupus community at
the Lupus last night to raise $3 million, all of
which goes directly to lupus research. The theme, Breaking
Through, celebrates the many research discoveries that LRA
makes possible to transform the lives of those who struggle with
lupus every day.
This
year’s Gala honored
Alfred F. Kelly, Jr.,
Chairman and Executive Officer of Visa Inc. and
Molly McCabe,
Co-Founder of the former Molly’s Fund Fighting Lupus and current
member of the Board of Directors for the Lupus Research
Alliance.
“Lupus has taught me compassion, caring, and how to appreciate
every good moment you are given,” commented Ms. McCabe. “I have
been given many great moments over the past 44 years, many of
them representing the Lupus Research Alliance. I am currently
very proud to be a member on their Board of Directors.”
“The
Lupus Research Alliance is that connective tissue that brings
these givers together in this incredible community that wants to
find treatment solutions for lupus, an astonishingly complex
autoimmune disease that affects each person differently,” noted
Mr. Kelly.
LRA
President and CEO
Kenneth M. Farber
gave reasons for real hope. “Lupus research is at an interesting
inflection point and we just saw exciting results from Phase 3
and Phase 2 clinical studies that show promise for new
treatments
Honorary Co-Chairs who helped make this the world’s largest
single lupus fundraising event include former NYC mayor, the
Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg
and
Lady Gaga.
In a video message, the former Mayor Bloomberg
noted the LRA’s accomplishments.
“Tonight, we celebrate the scientific advances
this amazing group helps make possible.
Bloomberg Philanthropies
is proud to support the Lupus Research Alliance as we have done
for many years. We are sharing a simple and powerful message –
join us. Together we can transform even more lives.”
Lady
Gaga
also serves as Honorary Co-Chair out of love for her aunt Joanne
who lost her battle with lupus before they could ever meet. Her
dad Joe Germanotta sits on the Lupus Research Alliance Board of
Directors.
Even
New York City did its part to help raise lupus awareness
in honor of the Breaking Through Gala. Yesterday, the
organization has top billing on a prominent marquee in Times
Square saluting its research leadership thanks to corporate
supporter GSK. And last night, the world-famous
Empire State Building is lit up in the LRA colors --
purple and red. November 25 marks the day when millions of
people throughout the city are taking notice of the lupus cause
and the organization as the global leader in lupus research.
Fresh from her starring role as Eliza Doolittle
in My Fair Lady,
Laura Benanti
entertained with a medley of songs including the unforgettable,
“I Could Have Danced All Night.”
Emmy-winning Journalist
Brenda Blackmon
emceed the Gala, sharing the poignant story of her daughter’s
struggle with lupus and celebrating the triumphs of all those
with the disease.
The
highly distinguished and hard-working group of 2019 Gala
Co-Chairs include: Ira Akselrad, President,
The
Johnson Company;
Lynn Biggar, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing
and Communications Officer,
Visa, Inc.;
Richard DeScherer,
Chief Legal and Compliance Officer,
Bloomberg L.P.;
Colleen Ostrowski,
Senior Vice President and Treasurer, Visa Inc.;
Robert W. Pittman, Chairman and CEO,
iHeartMedia, Inc.;
and Kelly Mahon Tullier, Executive Vice President and
General Counsel, Visa Inc. The LRA 2018 honoree,
William J. Wolfe,
Chairman of First Washington Realty, Inc., also contributed his
efforts as one of this year’s co-chairs.
Additional board members in attendance were Neil Burmeister,
Jerome Chazen, Jennie DeScherer, Katey Driscoll,
Bill Mulvihill, Carol Weisman, and Spencer Zwick
and the 2019 honoree Molly McCabe.
Watch this video
to
understand why thousands of generous members of the lupus
community worldwide support the innovative science funded by the
Lupus Research Alliance.
About Lupus
Lupus is a chronic, complex autoimmune disease
that affects millions of people worldwide. More than 90% of
people with lupus are women, most of whom are diagnosed between
the ages of 15 to 44. Women of color are especially at risk. In
lupus, the immune system, which is designed to protect
against infection, creates antibodies that attack the body’s own
tissues and organs -- the kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, blood,
skin, and joints.
About the Lupus Research Alliance
The
Lupus Research Alliance
is
transforming the lives of people affected with
lupus by financing the most
innovative lupus research in the world. The organization’s
stringent peer review grant process fosters diverse scientific
talent who are driving discovery toward better diagnostics,
improved treatments and ultimately a cure for lupus. Because
the Lupus Research Alliance’s Board of Directors fund all
administrative and fundraising costs, 100% of all donations goes
to support lupus research programs. |