NEW YORK, NY – April 4, 2017. Nearly 300 prominent women and men from New York’s fashion, society, entertainment, publishing, philanthropic and lupus communities came together today to raise funds for lupus research. The 8th annual Lupus Handbag Luncheon & Silent Auction was the first hosted by the Lupus Research Alliance, formed by the recent merger of the Alliance for Lupus Research, Lupus Research Institute and S.L.E. Lupus Foundation.

Women of Achievement Saluted

The 2017 Women of Achievement were: Claudia Cividino, Chief Executive Officer, Bally Americas and Alison Lee, Lupus Warrior, Cancer Survivor and long-time Lupus Advocate and Volunteer. Both honorees have worked with the organization for years in the fight against lupus.

“I knew that accepting the Woman of Achievement award meant that today, April 4, 2017, would become a red-letter day in my life as the moment I shared that I am not an empathetic bystander, but an active participant in this cause as a woman living with lupus myself,” commented Ms. Cividino. “The disease has never defined me but rather, has informed how I lead my life.”

“I also hid my lupus as if it was a shameful secret,” Ms. Lee shared.  “I never wanted to be known as ‘the sick girl’. But when I found this organization, I met other young women with lupus and realized I wasn’t alone, and have no reason to hide. The Lupus Research Alliance is a beacon of hope amid the health battles I face.”

Founder of the fashion and retail services consultancy firm Abrams Global, Andrea Abrams chaired the luncheon, enlisting industry colleagues to donate numerous luxury handbags. Honorary luncheon co-chairs include: Matilda Raffa Cuomo, Former First Lady of New York State, Founder and Chair of Mentoring USA; Jessye Norman, international opera legend and long-time voice for lupus worldwide; and Brett Heyman 2015 luncheon honoree and founder of the fashion company Edie Parker.

NY’s Leaders Turn Out for Lupus 

Many members of the Lupus Research Alliance leadership were actively involved in planning the luncheon including Jennie and Richard DeScherer, Fern Kaye Tessler, Carol Weisman and Teri Wilford Wood.  Noted philanthropists and socialites in attendance included Felice Axelrod, Arlyn Gardner and Joan Sarnoff.

Fashion Luminaries Put Lupus Cure in the Bag

The fashion industry was out in full force with leaders from design, retail and editorial including: Nancy Berger, Publisher, Marie Claire; Carole Hochman, Chief Creative Officer, Carole Hochman Design Group; David Chines,Founder + CEO at COPIOUS ROW; Elizabeth Schweitzer Miller, Director, Merchandise Planning & Allocation at Bloomingdale’s; Anna Porcu, Italian jewelry designer; Laura Pomerantz, Vice Chairman And Head Of Strategic Accounts, Cushman & Wakefield; Velvor Rhone, Chief of Staff, Bloomingdale’s; Claudia Silver, Executive Fashion Director, Town & Country Magazine; and Craig Tharkur, Chief of Staff, Bally. Lupus Research Alliance volunteer and fashion industry leader Mary Belle was an active participant in the Luncheon Committee.

A silent auction featured close to 90 handbags donated by top designers to fund lupus research.  In addition, exclusive “experiences” were a first this year!

“A hallmark of the New York spring season, this year’s luncheon is the first hosted by our new organization,” bringing new perspective, new energy and new enthusiasm,” said Co-CEO Margaret G. Dowd.  “We welcome this increased support as we unify the lupus community behind one mission – to free the world from lupus through the power of science.”

Thanks go to Modern Luxury for providing guests with the latest issue of Manhattan Magazine.

About Lupus

Lupus is a chronic, complex autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide. More than 90% of lupus sufferers are women, mostly young women between the ages of 15 to 44. Women of color are especially at risk. In lupus, the immune system, which is designed to protect against infection, creates antibodies that attack the body’s own tissues and organs — the kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, blood, skin, and joints.

About the Lupus Research Alliance

The Lupus Research Alliance is the largest private funder of lupus research, united to free the world from lupus by harnessing the power of innovative science to make a difference for people living with the prototypical autoimmune disease.  Through the power of collaboration, we are relentlessly focused on seizing every opportunity to transform the lives of all affected – patients, families, loved ones and the entire lupus community.

# # #

Contact: Margy Meislin

Phone Number: 646-884-6025
Email: mmeislin@lupusresearch.org