The Pink Gala Raised 9.8 Million For The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign

The Pink Gala auctioned off items to raise funds for breast cancer awareness in the Philippines.

October is breast cancer awareness month, which means there’s no better time to take a look at what we’re up against and figure out our steps forward. According to recent statistics from the World Health Organization, breast cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide with around 2.3 million new cases globally per year and 27,000 cases annually in the Philippines.

Thanks to global awareness campaigns and research, mortality rates have decreased by up to 42% in the US alone in the past 40 years. Monumental strides have been made, but the work is far from over. One of the leading organizations in the fight against the disease is The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign, otherwise known simply as The Campaign. 

The movement was conceived in 1992 by Evelyn Lauder, who also set up the Breast Cancer Research Foundation a year later. Since its creation, both the campaign and the foundation have donated over $108 million to lifesaving research efforts, which have led to massive breakthroughs in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease.] 

On the 30th anniversary of the campaign, The Campaign arrived in the Philippines to jumpstart a series of events to raise breast cancer awareness at a local level. Their most recent event was a Pink Gala at Shangri-La The Fort in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The gathering was hosted by Tim Yap and Tessa Prieto Valdes. The pair led an auction to raise funds to afford 4,000 free mammograms for underprivileged women. Through dinner ticket sales they raised an initial 4 million pesos. By the end of the event, a total of 9.8 million pesos was raised for the initiatives, greatly surpassing their goal.

Sharyn Wong, the Country General Manager of Estée Lauder Companies, Philippines Affiliate gave a speech to introduce the cause. She said, “In the Philippines, the Campaign has donated more than $360,000 dollars to help rehabilitate the East Avenue Medical Center and provide the much-needed bio-hood equipment at the Philippine General Hospital.” Wong introduced the non-profit organization partners for The Campaign, which includes the Kasuso Foundation, I Can Serve, and Helping Women and Others.

Covetable items up for bidding included a yellow pearl necklace from Jewelmer, Dyson and Lamer products, an Omega watch, a Vespa scooter, as well as one-of-a-kind artworks from Jana Benitez and Distort Monsters. The charity event was well attended be celebrities, diplomats, and other industry leaders. Guests included designer Zarah Juan, actors Mavy Legaspi and Kyline Juan, and Dr. Vicki Belo of Belo Medical Group. Belo herself recently spoke about harrowing 2016 stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis and recovery in an interview with Korina Sanchez.

See what went on at the Estée Lauder Pink Gala:

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