On April 28, Elizabeth Hurley emceed the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s annual Hot Pink Party. Held inside the Grand Ballroom at New York’s Waldorf Astoria, the CanCan-inspired affair invited guests like Vera Wang and Victor Cruz, who suited up in Calvin Klein, to sport their best shade of pink. And there was no shortage of it, from Hurley’s pink Versace gown to Donna Karan’s simple pink ribbon.
“Look at this room, Elton John, Sara Bareilles, NFL royalty… It’s proof that we all can get together to beat breast cancer,” says Cindy Citrone who was honored with the Unsung Hero Award for helping countless patients receive treatment. “It gives me hope that there will be a future without breast cancer,” she says.
The evening’s highlight came when long time BCRF supporter Elton John invited Sara Bareilles, wearing J. Mendel, to sing a collection of her hits. “Elton John just said my name,” Bareilles says to the crowd, “The same man that inspires me in so many ways!”
Bareilles’ uplifting rendition of Jackie Wilson’s “Higher and Higher” kept guests like 17-year-old actress Hailee Steinfeld swaying to the beat.
“I performed with Elton at the same event five years ago,” Josh Groban tells DuJour. “It’s different than seeing him at the Garden because we’re all here to celebrate the same cause and let loose,” he says, “It’s always a fun night.”
After the special auction, dinner and concert, Evelyn Lauder’s sold-out gala raised $5.2 million matching last year’s record-breaking sum to support lifesaving breast cancer research.
Click through the gallery above to view photos from the evening.
