BCRF Raises $638,000 at Palm Beach Hot Pink Luncheon & Symposium

We are proud to announce that BCRF, alongside our many supporters, raised $638,000 at the annual Palm Beach Hot Pink Luncheon & Symposium. Held at The Breakers Palm Beach, the benefit drew more than 350 BCRF supporters for the 12th annual luncheon. The Palm Beach fundraiser has garnered $4.6 million since its inception, funding research grants in the areas of tumor biology, metastasis, heredity & ethnicity, survivorship, lifestyle & prevention and treatment. Co-chairman of the foundation and Palm Beach resident, Leonard A. Lauder and BCRF President Myra Biblowit hosted the event alongside Liz Quirantes of CBS12 and Josh Cohen of ESPN.

“Palm Beach has always been extremely generous to BCRF,” Mr. Lauder said. “With the community’s support, our grantees, who are truly some of the most brilliant minds in science and medicine, can forge ahead to make a discernible difference in the battle against breast cancer and all cancers.”

BCRF Scientific Director Dr. Larry Norton, and Chairman of BCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board Dr. Clifford Hudis, both of New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discussed “The Next Step in Eliminating Breast Cancer” with BCRF grantees Drs. Lisa Carey, Elizabeth Comen and Andrea Richardson.

Notable guests included founding chairmen Sandy Krakoff, Hillie Mahoney, Mary Alice Pappas, Frances Scafie and Judith Schlager. Also in attendance were fundraising co-chairs and prominent Palm Beachers Louise Braver, Kinga Lampert, Tommy Quick, Merel Cayne, Betsy Green, Petra Levin, Sydell Miller, Raysa Fanjul, Laura & Harry Slatkin, Pauline Pitt, Michelle Kessler and Barbara Smith.

“As a three-time breast cancer survivor, I am proof in the power of research,” stated Judith Schlager, Hot Pink Luncheon & Symposium Co-chair. "I am passionate about supporting women, their health and cancer research so that no one in the future has to go through a breast cancer diagnosis.”

Guests were treated to an informal Spring 2015 fashion presentation featuring collections provided by Neiman Marcus Palm Beach including special guests Carmen Marc Valvo and Margot McKinney. Underwriters including Neiman Marcus along with The Braver Philanthropic Fund, Fairholme Foundation, Leonard A. Lauder, Petra and Stephen Levin, The Ambrose Monell Foundation, Tricia Quick, Westreich Finaly Foundation, Douglas Elliman, and J.P. Morgan Private Bank.