The
Children’s Cancer & Blood Foundation (CCBF) hosted its annual “Breakthrough
Ball” benefit gala on Tuesday evening, October 20, 2009 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 who are patients of the Division of Pediatric Hematology
and Oncology of New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medical
Center.
Former honoree, NFL great Tiki Barber, presented the “Breakthrough
Spirit” award to Grammy Award- winning singer Toni Braxton, actor,
writer and CBS News commentator Charles Grodin, and media entrepreneur
and philanthropist Ted Turner. Charles Grodin, in addition to accepting
his award, served as Master of Ceremonies for his fourth year. The evening
also featured a spectacular performance by Toni Braxton, who sang some
of her classic hits along with her newly released single, “Yesterday”.
Jamie Niven, vice chairman, North and South America, Sotheby’s
lead a live auction that featured some amazing packages, including a
dinner for 10 with Ted Turner and tickets to Super Bowl XLIV. The live
auction concluded with a pledge item that raised $75,000 for helping
uninsured families pay for chemotherapy and other cancer treatments.
For 57 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.
