Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation Gets a Major Donation from the Kardashian Clan

Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian

By now you’ve probably heard that Kim Kardashian didn’t make her much publicized return to the public eye at last night’s Angel Ball at Cipriani Wall Street, but the event managed to carry on and raised a whopping $3.7 million in support of blood cancer research. Kim’s sisters Khloe and Kourtney were there to see Kris Jenner pick up an honor for their later father, Robert Kardashian, who died from esophageal cancer in 2003. Tommy Hilfiger introduced Jenner, who reminisced about her former husband at the seated dinner. “When I met Robert Kardashian, I was 17 years old, and he kind of raised me,” an emotional Jenner told the crowd. “One of the things he used to teach me and our four children was about philanthropy and about giving—and about doing it diligently, constantly, joyfully, and generously. He taught me, and them, that no matter what we do in life, he would have been very proud of us. And what you make, you give back. And you do it without saying a word because that’s what the Bible said—and we did.” The family then publicly presented a check for $250,000 for Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation in Robert Sr.’s name.

This year’s gala, which some have dubbed the Grammy Awards of charity events, included performances by Earth, Wind & Fire, CeeLo Green, and Dave Stewart, and a lengthy roster of VIPs such as Hugh Jackman, Duchess of York, Donna Karan, Shanina Shaik, Nadine Leopold, Anja Rubik, Clive Davis, William Benson, Dorinda Medley, and Jill Zaran. The black-tie evening supports Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, which Denise Rich started 20 years ago in honor of her daughter Gabrielle, who died of leukemia.

Other honorees of the night were Dr. Carl H. June and Heloise Pratt, who were presented by Sir Bob Geldof and the foundation’s medical advisory board chairman Dr. Stephen D. Nimer, respectively. Simon de Pury held a live auction of items including 18k blackened gold and purple sapphire earrings by Lorraine Schwartz that sold for $85,000 and an exclusive Porsche Panamera Turbo that sold for $140,000. Sponsors for the ball were Lorraine Schwartz, Porsche Cars North America, and Le Mētier de Beautē, with alcohol partners SVEDKA Vodka and Billionaire’s Row Champagne.