The Grand Ballroom at The Waldorf was a hot pink wonderland for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s 10th Anniversary Gala: The Hot Pink Party, highlighting the group’s signature color. There were hot pink table linens, hot pink floral centerpieces, A-listers sitting pretty in pink, and the Foundation’s spokesperson and evening’s emcee, Elizabeth Hurley, looking sensational in a spe-cially designed, vibrant pink, form-fitting Donatella Versace gown.

The Foundation was founded by Evelyn Lauder in 1993, with the mission of funding clinical and genetic research on breast cancer at major medical facilities worldwide, and achieving prevention and a cure for this devastating disease in our lifetime. Evelyn and Leonard Lauder co-chaired the event, along with Annette de Rothschild, Cornelia Guest, Elizabeth Hurley, Josie Robertson, Ingrid Sischy, Sandra Brant, and Linda Stein. Sadly, the Lauder family could not be present due to the death just days earlier of 97-year-old Estée Lauder, founder of the Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and long-term benefactor of the Foundation. Our condolences go out to the family.

Honorary chairs were: Sir Evelyn and Lady de Rothschild; the Bushes; the Cheneys; the Clintons; the Reagans; the Fords; Senators Jon Corzine, Joseph Lieberman, Charles Schumer, and John Kerry with wife Teresa; Congresswomen Carolyn Maloney and Carolyn McCarthy; Governor and Mrs. Pataki. In other words, who wouldn’t support this noble cause?

Speeches were given by Libby Pataki, Mayor Bloomberg (festive in a hot pink tie), and Dr. Larry Norton (Deputy Physician-in-Chief for Breast Cancer Programs at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center). Other faces among the 1,100 guests: Senator Frank and Bonnie Lautenberg, Hilary Geary and Wilbur Ross, Jamee and Peter Gregory, Alfred and Judy Taubman, Audrey and Martin Gruss, Veronica Hearst, Karen and Richard LeFrak, Joan and Robert Tisch, Barbara Walters, Wendy Wasserstein, Barbara and Donald Tober, Charles Bronfman, Patsy and Sandy Warner (chair of Sloan-Kettering), Carole and Earl Mack, Daisy and Paul Soros, and Wolfgang and Anne Eisenhower Flottl. Perennial and loyal Foundation-supporter Sir Elton John performed such crowd-pleasing songs as “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man,” and “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues.”

The Gala raised an unprecedented $5.4 mil for the Foundation from its passionate supporters. It was a hot pink night for a hot cause that left event organizers flush with success.