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
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