The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), founded by Evelyn Lauder, held its annual Hot Pink Party benefit at the Waldorf-Astoria to support critical research projects worldwide. Elizabeth Hurley reprised her role as emcee for the evening. The Roz and Les Goldstein Unsung Hero Award was presented by Andrea Redmond to Terry Savage. As the premier event underwriter, Mike’s Hard Lemonade and the von Mandl family offered guests the chance to enter a drawing to win a winery-tour trip to the Mission Hill Family Estate in British Columbia; pink lemons with guests’ names were collected, and Elizabeth Hurley conducted the drawing to great anticipation. Deborah Norville assisted Lydia Fenet from Christie’s in engaging guests to participate in the thrilling auction, which featured prizes such as an invitation to the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar After Party, a Turks and Caicos “fantasy getaway” on Donna Karan’s estate, and the chance to sponsor “research time.” The goal of the auction was surpassed, raising upwards of $425,000.
Sir Elton John and Sting (in a tight black t-shirt that showed those arm muscles, à la Michelle Obama) concluded the evening with a spirited concert to celebrate BCRF’s efforts in supporting the work of 172 brilliant breast cancer researchers from 12 countries. Excitement built when Sting invited the beautiful women in the room to join him onstage for his final croon.
The charitable evening was an overwhelming success, raising a whopping $4.5 mil!