Vera Wang Is Honored at the Annual BCRF Luncheon

Yesterday afternoon, supporters (both local and far-flung) rallied together to back the research-focused efforts of the world’s largest private breast cancer initiative, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Conceived by Evelyn Lauder of Estée Lauder in 1993, the organization has awarded nearly $70 million in grants worldwide to advance the prevention and treatment of the illness—from diagnosis to survivorship. And since Lauder’s passing, the company, along with her family, has continued their hefty support of the BCRF.

For the fundraising luncheon, the New York Hilton Midtown was doused in shades of pink; from floral centerpieces (donated by Winston Flowers year after year) to the pink carpet itself, salmon, fuchsia, and magenta were on constant repeat. And if guests weren’t wearing pink, there were looped ribbon pins in the hue (an emblem of support created by Evelyn Lauder) on offer.

VIPs from the worlds of fashion, theater, beauty, and philanthropy filled the space, exchanging facts, stories, and positive affirmations regarding the illness. “Every two minutes, a woman in the United States hears the words ‘you have breast cancer,’” shared Kinga Lampert, cochair of the BCRF and a former New York–based lawyer. “Still, there is a huge message of hope that I always try to put out there—death rates have dropped by 40 percent in the past 25 years. That means nearly half the women who are survivors today would not have made it 25 years ago. All of that is through the advances that have come out of research.”

As the luncheon kicked off, guests enjoyed a crisp Chardonnay donated by the Wine Sisterhood in support of the Tough Enough to Wear Pink initiative, paired with a seasonal salad dressed in an apple cider vinaigrette. The meal finished with a trio of chocolate desserts. The program began with a touching anecdote from Nina Garcia, who possesses the BRCA gene and had to take preventative measures, followed by the presentation of the Sandra Taub Humanitarian Award, passed from Donna Karan to Vera Wang in honor of Wang’s irrepressible dedication to moving the needle in breast cancer research, both through BCRF and her eponymous brand.

For Karan and Wang, the motive to rally behind research is shared: “Women have to support other women, and health is a women’s issue,” said Wang. “We’re all in an industry that dresses women, that strives to make women more beautiful, healthier, well—and to be able to fight the most dreaded of all diseases for women? I can’t stress the importance enough.” Karan agreed: “It’s not only dressing, as designers do, but addressing the issues at hand. What you’re wearing on the outside [matters as much as] what you’re wearing on the inside.”