F L A U N T
DKMS, raised $4.7 million for its 18th annual gala on October 17th at New York’s Cipriani Wall Street. The black-tie event brought in essential funding for DKMS’s global lifesaving work. The evening’s honoree was pioneering fashion designer Vera Wang, recognized for her many years of dedicated support for DKMS and her exceptional contributions to the organization’s mission.
The gala featured a performance by Grammy Award- and Golden Globe award-winning singer and actress Andra Day, with an auction hosted by comedian and actor Mario Cantone.
Notable guests included the iconic supermodel Niki Taylor who’s resigning as the face of covergirl marked a major feat for the brand, as her name and connection to the company headlined their advertising focus and proved their slogan “once a covergirl - always a covergirl” with consumers and fans globally (she first became an ambassador for the Coty brand 20 years earlier), fashion designer Marc Jacobs, Andra Day, MSNBC President Rashida Jones, Maya Jama, iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman, Frederic Fekkai, Katharina Harf, DKMS Global Chairman, Peter Harf, DKMS Founder, and Coty CEO Sue Nabi.
Gala guests experienced a moving, on-stage moment of gratitude when Brooklyn St. John, an 11-year-old blood disease survivor from Kansas, was introduced to her lifesaving stem cell donor, Justin Bradshaw. Brooklynn and her family’s lives were upended by a sudden diagnosis of severe aplastic anemia that nearly took her life. Last night, Brooklynn and her mother finally had the opportunity to thank her genetic twin, a firefighter paramedic, and father of two from Texas, in person with a hug.
Honoree Vera Wang’s moving speech thanked DKMS, “I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from DKMS, an organization whose lifesaving mission has always inspired me. The courage and resilience of patients and donors alike are a reminder of the immense power we hold when we come together to fight blood cancer. It is a privilege to support DKMS’s incredible work, and I hope that through continued efforts, we can give even more people a second chance at life.”
Katharina Harf, Global Chairman of DKMS, said “This memorable event reflects a deep level of support and confidence in our mission. My big dream is that every patient will be saved from blood cancer and other blood diseases. We’re grateful to those who make it possible for our work to continue to grow.”
Longtime DKMS advocate and Coty CEO Sue Nabi said, "At Coty, we are proud to have worked with DKMS for more than 30 years in the fight against blood cancer. This year’s gala celebrated not only DKMS and their vital work but our long-term partner, Vera Wang. Coty has worked with Vera for nearly 20 years, starting with the launch of the Princess fragrance and its iconic heart-shaped bottle, which perfectly embodies Vera’s giving spirit.”
The 18th annual gala united 800 supporters who continue to help raise awareness and crucial funds for blood cancer patients in need of a stem cell transplant. All funds raised go to saving patients worldwide by recruiting more donors, conducting medical research, and giving access to treatment for patients in developing countries and regions, including India and Africa. DKMS has registered more than 12.5 million stem cell donors globally and has provided over 120,000 patients with blood cancer or a blood disorder with a second chance at life.
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