Tulane Cancer Center: Fashion Targets Breast Cancer

Fashion Targets Breast Cancer
The "Fashion Targets Breast Cancer" event was a Success!
2002 Event
2001 Event

2002 Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Event
Over 2,000 shoppers and Tulane Cancer Center supporters descended upon Saks Fifth Avenue New Orleans on the evening of Wednesday, September 18, for the Fourth Annual "Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Charity" shopping weekend kickoff gala. As guests perused the tempting Saks displays, eager to use their $25 complimentary gift cards, they were treated to a mouthwatering menu of gourmet treats compliments of two dozen of New Orleans's finest restaurants, an enviable array of beverages and spirits generously provided by Glazer's Companies of Louisiana, and the N'Awlins-style rhythms of Deacon John and the Ivories, the Executive Steel Band, and the incomparable Jeremy Davenport. Wednesday evening's festivities kicked off a four-day charity shopping weekend which took place simultaneously at all 65 Saks Fifth Avenue locations nationwide. Each store chose a local beneficiary to receive the proceeds from the event -- 2% of sales over the four-day shopping weekend. For the second year in a row, Saks Fifth Avenue New Orleans partnered with the Tulane Cancer Center, pledging all local event proceeds to Tulane's breast cancer research program.

The result? The Saks contribution combined with local sponsorships and raffle donations are expected to yield approximately $100,000 for breast cancer research at Tulane! That's more than double the $42,000 raised through this event last year. "This year's event was tremendous," said Roy S. Weiner, M.D., director of the Tulane Cancer Center. "I can't tell you how many supporters have called to say that this event far exceeded in style and reception any other they had attended in the city. We owe it all to the tremendous team at Saks Fifth Avenue New Orleans, our committed and vivacious chairs, and the wonderful base of support provided by our volunteer committee who helped plan the event." Over 150 strong, the volunteer committee was tirelessly led by co-chairs Pam Ryan and Ann Williams. "This year's overwhelming results are a tribute to their leadership, energy and dedication to the Tulane Cancer Center," said Dr. Weiner. "We can't thank them enough." In addition to the gourmet refreshments, guests at the Kickoff Gala enjoyed a caricaturist, tarot card readings, a guest appearance by sportswear designer David Dart, giveaways, and a raffle of items donated by local breast cancer survivors or the families of local breast cancer patients.
Roy S. Weiner, M.D., director of the Tulane Cancer Center, presented roses to this year's Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Committee co-chairs Pam Ryan (left) and Ann Williams (right).

A signature moment of the evening was the prolonged performance of the Gala's unofficial anthem "I Will Survive" by Deacon John and the Ivories singer Danon Smith. The dance floor filled and the energy was palpable as shoppers, supporters, and survivors sang together in hope and determination that events like this will support the research that one day will eliminate breast cancer.
Danon Smith and Deacon John thrill the crowd with a duet.

2001 Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Event
The Second Annual Saks Fifth Avenue "Fashion Targets Breast Cancer" Charity Shopping Weekend, October 18 - 21, 2001, was a huge success for the Tulane Cancer Center, raising both breast cancer research funds and community awareness. Held at all 63 Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide the same weekend, this four-day shopping event donates two percent of sales at each Saks location to a designated local beneficiary. The Tulane Cancer Center was chosen by SFA New Orleans to receive the proceeds from this year's event - nearly $50,000 for breast cancer research.

An evening kickoff celebration on Thursday, October 18, hosted by Saks Fifth Avenue New Orleans and Benson Motor Company, attracted 1,500 eager shoppers -- more than twice the number expected! Lucky patrons got to sample delicious bites from 20 local restauranteurs (including chef Andrea Apuzzo, pictured, left) and an incredible selection of spirits generously donated by Glazer's Companies of Louisiana as they browsed the merchandise.

Shoppers were also treated to live entertainment as they made their selections. Blake Amos and Saudade (pictured, right)greeted shoppers as they entered on the first level; the Pfister Sisters delighted patrons on three; and the Charmaine Neville Band occupied the main stage on the second floor. There were long lines for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer tattoos, tarot card readings or caricature drawings. Several guests also participated in a raffle to win one of several donated items, including an exquisite antique mirror from Mirror Mirror, donated by the family of Cynthia F. Fowler in her memory, and a beautiful Tibetan rug from Jacqueline Vance Rugs, lovingly donated by the family of Jacqueline Vance. Two original sculptures were also raffled off -- "Hope," a glass sculpture by Maurice Alvarado, and an abstract metal sculpture by local artist Hernan Caro. Internationally famous jewelry designer Steven Lagos made a personal appearance at the kickoff event to formally unveil his latest creation, The Heart of New Orleans. This heart-shaped emblem which uniquely displays Lagos's appreciation of our great city, adorns a variety of items in the Lagos jewelry collection, and one of his "Heart of New Orleans" 18k-gold pendants with a pearl necklace was offered as an additional raffle prize.

Tulane Cancer Center was privileged to have a local volunteer committee over 150 strong who planned for many months to make this event such a success. Led by co-chairs Ana Gershanik and Cathy Pierson, this phenomenal group was instrumental in driving both attendance and sales throughout the four-day event.

In addition to the Saks Fifth Avenue New Orleans donation of 2% of their gross sales over the four-day shopping weekend, Tulane received sponsorship contributions from a variety of New Orleans businesses, organizations, and philanthropists. Combine these funds with proceeds from the sale of Fashion Targets Breast Cancer T-shirts and national sponsorships, and Tulane Cancer Center will receive close to $50,000 from this event for breast cancer research.

Pictured, left: Carolyn Elder, general manager of Saks Fifth Avenue New Orleans; Roy S. Weiner, M.D., Director of the Tulane Cancer Center; Cathy Pierson, co-chair of the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Committee; and Ana Gershanik, chairperson of the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Committee

Thanks to our local sponsors without whom success could never have been possible:

Glazer's Companies of Louisiana	HCA Delta Division	Entergy
Jones Family Foundation	Aventis Oncology	Boh Brothers Foundation
IDEC Pharmaceuticals	GambitWeekly	Jerome S. Glazer Foundation
Ortho Biotech Oncology	The Shops at Canal Place	Dr. and Mrs. Roy Weiner
Wyndham New Orleans at Canal Place	Adams & Reese	BellSouth
The Gershanik Family	Walter J. Leger, Jr., Leger & Mestayer	Marsiglia Construction
Cathy and Hunter Pierson	Regency Ford	Ellen & Steve Manshel and Marsha & Skip O'Connor

Participating restaurants:
Andrea's, Artesia , Bayona, Begue's, Brennan's, Commander's Palace, Couvilloni's, Chateau Sonesta, English Turn, Highlights, Le Meridien, Muriel's, New City Diner, Partysist, Portobello's Cafe, Southern Hospitality, Starbuck's Coffee, Upperline, Windsor Court, The Wyndham at Canal Place
Glazer's Companies of Louisiana generously provided all spirits for the evening

This page is http://www.som.tulane.edu/cancer/fashion01.html
This page was last updated on

Return to the top of this page.

Return to the Tulane Cancer Center homepage.

Calendars

Clinical Trials

Faculty

Links

Location

News

Site index

Tulane Cancer Center, Box SL-68
1430 Tulane Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112-2699
(504) 988-6060, fax (504) 988-6077
http://www.som.tulane.edu/cancer