Main Street News

All photos courtesy of Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research.

On June 23, Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research will be hosting their Young Professionals Committee’s Young Angels Gala at 7pm. The event, which will be held at New York City’s Crane Club, will be hosted by Fox5 News Anchor Bianca Peters. Honorees include Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. executive vice chairman and director of Newmark Group, Inc. Kyle Lutnick, who is a longtime supporter of the foundation, and Coty USA ultra-luxury skincare and fragrance general manager Andrea DiNunzio. 

Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research is an organization that was first founded in 1996 by Denise Rich to honor her daughter Gabrielle Rich Aouad’s final wish following her passing at the tragically young age of 27 years old. As the foundation’s website states, the foundation created in her honor would “invest in research for better treatments for leukemia, so people would not have to suffer from the side effects and damage of chemotherapy and radiation.”

Denise Rich emphasizes the importance of the Young Angels Gala event: “Our young professionals are the hope for the future. Their passion, purpose, and drive ensure that the legacy of love and the pursuit of a cancer free future lives on. My daughter, Gabrielle, would be so proud.”

About Gabrielle Rich Aouad

Raised in Switzerland, and an honors graduate of Oxford University where she earned a bachelor’s of arts in philosophy and modern languages, Gabrielle was fluent in five languages, and was also “a champion skier, an expert in horseback riding and a skilled rock mountain climber.” In 1991, she moved to New York to study film at NYU, and met her future husband, Philip Aouad, through this intensive program.

When she was just 23 years old, Gabrielle was diagnosed with advanced stage Hodgkin’s disease, enduring months of painful treatment with strength, and by 1993, Gabrielle reached remission. She married Philip and achieved great career success during this period as an actress in plays and films, and as a writer with the aspiration of having her own screenplay produced. 

In May of 1996, Gabrielle was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), and once again faced chemotherapy with courage and determination. She received donated bone marrow from her mother Denise in a transplant to save Gabrielle’s life. Sadly, Gabrielle passed away in the fall of 1996. As the foundation’s website shares, “The work of Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research continues in her honor and memory. Gabrielle’s strength and wisdom live on in her own words, ‘Love defies all pain, even death.’”

About Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation

The foundation not only “funds innovative clinical or basic science research that will lead to novel therapeutic approaches that could replace, or be used in combination with existing effective therapies,” but also “funds research to improve the efficacy of cancer treatments, reduce their toxicity and improve the quality of life of patients with leukemia or lymphoma.” Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation also prioritizes the collaboration between select research leaders to ensure that improvements in the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma patients can be yielded.

Having funded more than $45 million in grants since its founding, the organization is one of the largest non-governmental sources of blood cancer research grant support in the country, with an average of 88 cents per every dollar raised going directly towards research funding.

What to expect at the gala

At the gala, which is sponsored by Cantor Fitzgerald, Tommy Bahama, and LVH Global, you can expect to connect with the emerging philanthropists, change-makers, and industry leaders in New York who aim to continue the legacy of Denise Rich’s impact in the event’s seventh year. All proceeds from this event will benefit Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation’s music therapy programs and cancer research efforts.

This opportunity for young professionals to contribute to the fight against cancer will feature music by DJ Chloe Jane, oysters from East Hampton Oyster Shucker, a candy cart underwritten by Double O Fragrance, Deanna First’s live illustrations, celebrity magician and mentalist Josh Pele, as well as cocktails and wines sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Pernod Richard, The Macallan, LALO Tequila, Tres Chicon, Wolffer Estates, Hamptons Muse, and Spring 44 Gin.

An art and silent auction will also be arranged by the Young Professionals Committee. Launched on June 11 and open until June 27, you can find the array of experiences, artwork, and luxury items up for auction here.

Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research will be holding their Young Professionals Committee’s Young Angels Gala on June 23 at 7pm at the Crane Club, which is located at 85 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011. To purchase tickets, please click here. To learn more about Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation and how to get involved, please visit their website. You can support them on Instagram and Facebook.