NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Children’s Cancer & Blood Foundation (CCBF) will host its annual “Breakthrough Ball” benefit gala on Tuesday evening, November 1st, 2011 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Proceeds from this benefit help to provide much needed medication, chemotherapy and other life-saving treatments to children at the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology of New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medical Center.
The coveted “Key to Life” award will be presented to Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Founder of IDEA Environment Campaign. Joining her will be the “Breakthrough Spirit” award recipients Muffie Potter Aston, Humanitarian and Philanthropist and Buddy Valastro, Master Cake Decorator and Star of the Hit TLC Reality Show, who will be awarded for their inspirational dedication to supporting children in need. Past “Breakthrough Ball” honorees include Katie Couric, Ted Turner, Toni Braxton, Tiki Barber, Trent Tucker and HRH Princess Ghida Talal of Jordan. The evening will also include a special performance by popular a capella group, Straight No Chaser.
Jamie Niven, Vice Chairman, Sotheby’s will lead a live auction that will feature, among other packages, Super Bowl XLVI Tickets, a Fashion Trip to Paris and a Hampton’s Golf Package with tee-offs at the Hampton’s most exclusive and highly rated courses including Shinnecock Hills, Atlantic, The Bridge and Maidstone. The live auction concludes with a pledge item that gives guests the opportunity to support a child’s chemotherapy treatment for a year.
For nearly 60 years, CCBF has been proud to support the extraordinary team of doctors and researchers of the Division. CCBF’s support has attracted and retained a group of world-renowned experts on the treatment of multiple pediatric blood disorders and cancers, including hemophilia, sickle-cell anemia and leukemia. CCBF researchers have received international recognition for their work and are on the cusp of breakthroughs predicted to change the way the medical community treats children with cancer and blood diseases. Each year, physicians treat more than 1,000 children through more than 10,000 inpatient and outpatient visits. No child is ever turned away for services, regardless of his or her ability to pay.