BCRF will honor Bill and Sinesia Karol for their extraordinary philanthropy and support of breast cancer research with the Foundation’s Carolyn Lynch Humanitarian Award. They will receive the honor at BCRF’s Virtual Boston Hot Pink Evening on April 29.
“We were really surprised and delighted to receive this award,” Bill said. “The Boston Hot Pink Evening has always been a special event. And although we’re being honored, this event is not about us—it’s about continuing to raise as much money for breast cancer research as possible.”
The Karols have actively supported BCRF for more than a decade. In the late 1990s, Sinesia met Evelyn H. Lauder, BCRF’s founder, and Elizabeth Hurley, global ambassador for The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign benefitting BCRF, and the couple began attending the Foundation’s Boston events.
Over the years to follow, they strengthened their commitment to BCRF, and as co-chairs of the Boston Hot Pink Evening, the couple played a pivotal role in the event’s fundraising success. Furthering their commitment to BCRF, Sinesia joined BCRF’s Advisory Board in 2018, and Bill joined the Board of Directors in 2019.
Breast cancer research is a cause that’s particularly personal for the couple, as well. Bill lost his first wife, Darcie, to breast cancer, and his daughter with Darcie has undergone preventative treatment and monitoring as a BRCA gene mutation carrier.
This year, BCRF awarded more than $7 million in grants to 45 researchers in the New England area, bringing its total cumulative investment in the region to $102 million. As longtime Boston-based philanthropists, Bill and Sinesia have made a mark supporting a number of area hospitals and nonprofits, in addition to bolstering BCRF’s recognition and investment throughout the region.
“The interesting thing about BCRF is it’s like early-stage venture capital supporting research that might not be funded by the biggest institutions,” Bill said. “Guided by its incredible Scientific Advisory Board, BCRF fills an important gap. It’s really exciting.”
After Bill and Sinesia learned they would be honored with the Carolyn Lynch Humanitarian Award at the 2020 Boston Hot Pink Evening, the event unfortunately had to be canceled because of COVID-19—so this honor has been a long time coming.
The Karols are quick to stress, though, that although they are being honored at this year’s event, their priority is to fund more research—especially now.
“Cancer has not stopped,” Sinesia, who has been treated for another form of cancer during the pandemic, said. “Cancer patients are still getting diagnosed and treated, so we can’t stop raising awareness and money for research.”
To learn more about this year’s Virtual Boston Hot Pink Evening, click here.
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