CEW 2012 Beauty of Giving Luncheon Benefits Cancer; Careers

From left, Carlotta Jacobson, president, CEW; Kate Sweeney, executive director, CEW Foundation; Bob McDonald, chairman, president and CEO, P&G; Gina Drosos, chairwoman, CEW Foundation Board; at 2012 Beauty of Giving luncheon. P&G was honored for its longstanding support of the Cancer and Careers program.
From left, Carlotta Jacobson, president, CEW; Kate Sweeney, executive director, CEW Foundation; Bob McDonald, chairman, president and CEO, P&G; Gina Drosos, chairwoman, CEW Foundation Board; at 2012 Beauty of Giving luncheon. P&G was honored for its longstanding support of the Cancer and Careers program.

The annual CEW Beauty of Giving Luncheon and Live Auction benefiting Cancer and Careers, the philanthropic arm of CEW dedicated to empowering and educating people with cancer to thrive in their workplace, was held December 7, 2012, in the Grand Ballroom of New York’s Waldorf-Astoria. The luncheon drew more than 800 industry professionals to commemorate philanthropy in the beauty industry, and acknowledges those whose work and support have made a significant contribution to the cause. In 2012, CEW Foundation honored P&G for its longstanding support of the Cancer and Careers program.

Carlotta Jacobson, president, CEW, welcomed attendees and shared the genesis of the formation of the program. She noted that in her first years as president of CEW, five board members had shared that they had been treated for cancer, and it was clear that they needed to figure out ways to continue working while undergoing treatment. Jacobson then introduced Kate Sweeney, executive director, CEW Foundation, who Jacobson said, “took the germ of an idea and turned it into a robust organization.”

Sweeney noted that many of those present had endured a tough month, with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy taking its toll, and it created additional challenges for those needing chemotherapy treatment. “Cancer, career and Con Ed—that’s a lot to have on your plate,” said Sweeney.

Gina Drosos, chairwoman, CEW Foundation Board, explained the work of Cancer and Careers, noting that the program helps working people with cancer and their co-workers. It provides a comprehensive website and online community, free publications in English and Spanish, online access to one-on-one career coaching, webinars and teleconferences with legal experts, support groups, and an annual National Conference on Work & Cancer.

“This year, more than 200,000 individuals found information on CEW’s Cancer and Careers website," said Drosos. "In addition, 2,100 patients, survivors and healthcare professionals have attended the program’s seminars, conferences and speaking engagements, and 35,000 Cancer and Careers publications have been distributed this year. Everyone should feel proud of the great work the beauty industry is doing for Cancer and Careers.”

She cited the contributions of Founding Sponsors Avon and Genentech, as well as Laura Geller, Chanel, Elizabeth Arden, The Estée Lauder Companies, Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund, L’Oréal USA, P&G Beauty & Grooming, Self, Shiseido, Allure, Bare Escentuals, Batallure Beauty LLC., Bath & Body Works, Bloomingdale’s, Johnson & Johnson, Kaplow, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Sephora, Target, Time Inc. and Tweezerman. She also noted the $72,000 contribution raised by 32 magazines in their annual Beauty Editor’s Closet sales.

In introducing Bob McDonald, chairman, president and CEO, P&G, as well the event’s honoree, Drosos said, “P&G impacts billions of individuals around the world—from eradicating neo-natal tetanus, to pure water programs, to supporting and building strong communication networks, and enriching lives.”

In presenting McDonald with CEW Foundation’s Beauty of Giving Award for Uniting Business and Benevolence, Drosos noted P&G was among the first companies to support CEW Foundation’s Cancer and Careers program,  and highlighted such P&G programs as the Do Something Beautiful campaign, Pantene Beautiful Lengths, and the Live, Learn and Thrive initiative aimed at keeping children healthy with clean drinking water in parts of the developing world, reiterating its message of Touching Lives and Improving Life.

McDonald, thanking CEW for the honors, said, “We believe strongly in giving back to the communities in which we work. The innovations of such products as SK II and others, like Clairol, with its first at-home color treatment, have been important to our philanthropic efforts. In addition, some of our biggest innovations come through our partnerships with others. This same spirit is true of Cancer and Careers, which allows us to come together to be greater than our individual parts. This is how we connect diverse modes and create something even greater.

"We’ve learned how important it is to create workplaces that support individuals undergoing cancer treatment. My request is that we all support our friends and colleagues. Support Cancer and Careers. Someday someone we all know will need it.”

An Auction and a Tribute

A rousing auction followed, which included such packages as a spa retreat in the Maldives, donated by Spa Media Group; a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade package, with Trump Soho Spa treatments, donated by Macy’s and Allure; a Napa Valley wine country getaway, donated by Women’s Health; and a Grammy Awards Hollywood experience, donated by GQ and Target. Overall, the auction raised more than $56,000 for the cause.

The program concluded with a poignant tribute to Charla Krupp, the author and beauty and style expert who passed away of cancer in 2012. “The beauty world has lost one of its own, an extraordinarily generous and talented woman," said Jacobson. Krupp, who also was the former Glamour beauty director, appeared on the Today show with Katie Couric 113 times, with beauty tips and advice, and was a mentor and a guiding force in the industry, as well as an inspiration to all who knew her.

In a video tribute, her husband Richard Zoglin, said, “She worked and no one knew she was being treated. She didn’t want cancer to define her and it didn’t.”

Cristina Carlino, founder of Philosophy, said, “Who could have been that sick and that alive at the same time? Because of her, the message of Cancer and Careers is even more important today.”

Event sponsors included Self, Omnicom Group, BBDO, Ketchum, Marina Maher Communications, Robertet, Devries, Mary Kay, Orlandi, Tweezerman, QVC, Alden Image, Beauty Inc., Consultancy Media, Kaplow, Suite K and WWD.

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