Cancer and Careers honors Laura Geller at CEW Beauty of Giving event

13-Dec-2016 - Last updated on 13-Dec-2016 at 18:34 GMT

Cancer and Careers honoree Laura Geller (photos courtesy of JF Productions)

Related tags Laura geller Waldorf-astoria hotel

The CEW Foundation hosts an annual luncheon and auction event to raise funds and awareness for its Cancer and Careers non-profit program. And, this year’s event brought in over $700,000.

Friday at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, the charitable arm of Cosmetic Executive Women held the annual Beauty of Giving luncheon.

The luncheon is a chance to learn about the mission and work of Cancer and Careers, to network with a veritable who’s who of the beauty industry, and to have a bit of fun raising money for the non-profit.

Laura Geller

Laura Geller the woman and the brand have been involved with Cancer and Careers for 10 years. She and her team have raised funds and donated product for the non-profit amounting to over $1m.

“The CEW Foundation is so fortunate to have industry icons like Laura Geller provide support for Cancer and Careers,” says Kate Sweeney, executive director of CEW Foundation, in a media release about the luncheon. “From her commitment to supporting Laura Geller New York employees who are working through cancer, to her exceptional generosity over the years, Laura is an inspiration to us all.”

Accepting the award, Geller reminded those gathered that “the feeling of hope is universal” and encouraged everyone to “make help universal too.”

Fundraising fun

This year’s Cancer and Careers raised an estimated $732,100 with the luncheon. Much of that figure, $546,600, came in through sponsorships, table, and ticket sales. The 2016 event was sponsored by the likes of Condé Nast, Robertet, Pfizer Oncology, QVC, Gotha Cosmetics, Yonwoo/PKG, Mary Kay, Orlandi, P&G Beauty, Tweezerman, BeautyKind, Beauty Inc., Consultancy Media, Kaplow Communications, Suite K, and WWD.

The live auction part of the event, which was led by Erin Ward of Star Benefit Auctions, brought in $75,500 for Cancer and Careers. Auction prizes bid on at the luncheon include, a Grammy Awards Hollywood Glam Package, a Cabo San Lucas Golf Getaway, a Hawaiian Holiday, a week-long stay at a Jumby Bay Island Private Estate, and more.

The fund a need option, where guests donate an amount of their own choosing to Cancer and Careers, earned an estimated $110,000 this year.