Updated: November 17, 2009, 9:38 am

2009 Angel Ball Lights Up NYC

Daniella Rich Kilstock, Dori Cooperman, Denise Rich, and Michele Rella sparkel at the 2009 Angel Ball. All photos by Wire Image

New York City - At the 2009 Angel Ball, Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research honored three outstanding individuals for their commitment and dedication to the fight against cancer, Her Highness Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, retired Vice Chairman of Quick & Reilly/Fleet Securities, one of the world's largest brokerage firms, Thomas C. Quick and his sister and fellow philanthropist, Tricia Quick. Gabrielle's Angel Foundation also announced the Shulamit Benjamini Sandberg Medical Research Grant in memory of jewelry designer and long-time supporter and friend of the Foundation, Lorraine Schwartz's mother.

Ofira Sandberg and Lorraine Schwartz

The black-tie benefit, hosted by Grammy-nominated song writer Denise Rich and her daughters Daniella Rich Kilstock and Ilona Rich Schachter took place at Cipriani Wall Street on October 20. The evening featured a cocktail reception, dinner, show and a live auction hosted by Brook Hazelton. Featuring music by DJ Cassidy, the gala's star-studded lineup of performances include Academy Award and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson, Robin Thicke, Estelle, British imports Blake, and other surprise guests.

Presenters, segment hosts and celebrity attendees included Blake Lively, Penn Badgley, Beth Ostrosky Stern and Howard Stern, Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb, Natalie Cole, Sherri Shepherd, Bar Refaeli, Alan Cumming, Alina Puscau, Ashley and Jessica Hart, Benny Medina, Buzz and Lois Aldrin, Clive Davis, Crystal Hunt, Deborah Norville, Debra Lee, Diane Passage, Dori Cooperman, Dr. Stephen Nimer, Erica Reid, Ivana Trump, Julie Henderson, Russell Simmons, Karl Wellner, Lorraine Scwartz, Marty Richards, Michelle Herbert, Ofira Sandberg, Patricia Field, Paula Patton, Paula Zahn, Sheikh Hamdan, Star Jones, and Swizz Beatz.

For the third year in a row, New York's iconic landmark, The Empire State Building, glowed red and purple in honor of Gabrielle's Angel Foundation as the official Angel Ball Lighting Partner. Lorraine Schwartz Inc. and AUDI served as the evening's sponsors. Continental Airlines is the official airline of The Angel Ball.

Honoree Tricia Quick

Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research partnered with www.charitybuzz.com for this year's silent and online auction. Bidding took place from October 7 through October 29 at www.charitybuzz.com/angelball09. Silent Auction lots featured luxury items from Missoni, Jimmy Choo, Adria de Haume and Charriol, an internship at Harper's BAZAAR, a Palm Beach, FL getaway to the exclusive Breakers Resort and tickets to the ABC hit "Dancing with the Stars." The Live Auction included a one-week stay at Denise Rich's private Aspen Estate, a Hermès Orange Croc bag and other exciting luxury lots. Proceeds from the silent and online auction will benefit the cancer research initiatives for which Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research is known. The evening raised nearly $4 million for cancer research.

Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research was created in 1996 by Denise Rich and her daughters and son in-law, Daniella Rich Kilstock, Ilona Rich Schachter and Philip Aouad in memory of Rich's daughter, Gabrielle Rich Aouad. Gabrielle lost her long and valiant struggle with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) at the young age of 27. It was Gabrielle's wish that a foundation be created to help spare others the suffering she endured. Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research funds basic and clinical medical research in both conventional and integrative disciplines which focus on prevention, treatment and quality of life issues of leukemia, lymphoma and related cancers. To date, the Foundation has awarded nearly $11 million in Medical Research Awards making Gabrielle's Angel Foundation one of the largest non-governmental sources of grant support to blood cancer researchers at the nation's leading institutions.

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