Out & About
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
Watching 115 scientists collect $24.3 million in grants was inspiring and serious business yesterday at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s annual luncheon.
Yet for the hundreds of women in pink who gathered in the ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria, it was easy to become distracted by more trivial matters, such as the persimmons and grapes in the center of the table, and the disclosure of a beauty secret from singer and songwriter Sheryl Crow: daily use of Estée Lauder’s Re-Nutriv cream.
Even the chairwoman and founder of the foundation, Evelyn Lauder, had her fun, calling attention to Ms. Crow’s cleavage. The response from Ms. Crow, who successfully battled breast cancer last winter and spring: “I’ve never been known for my breasts, but this year I’ve been gathering attention for them, mainly my left breast.” She has been using that attention to urge women to have mammograms, and has also donated $200,000 from her summer tour proceeds to the foundation.
Facing breast cancer with a positive attitude was the key lesson from another speaker, cartoonist Marisa Acocella Marchetto, who is the creator of the feisty and upbeat cartoon alterego, Cancer Vixen, the subject of a book published last month by Knopf.
“When I was first diagnosed, I looked at the sonogram and I thought the tumor looked like a black hole,” Ms. Marchetto said. “My doctor said, ‘No, Marisa, it looks like a pearl.’ And that’s when I knew I had to leave my pessimistic outlook behind.” She is donating a portion of book sale proceeds to the foundation and to St. Vincent’s Hospital to help uninsured women pay for breast cancer treatment.
Ms. Lauder shared some of the recipes from her new cookbook, “In Great Taste” (Rodale). That is, the Waldorf-Astoria used recipes from the book to prepare lunch, which included Asian chicken salad, carrot-ginger soup, and poached pears.
“They got it right,” she said of the hotel kitchen’s execution.
The book, whose sales also support the foundation, already has at least one major fan. “Today someone bought 300 copies to give as Christmas gifts, but you don’t have to,” Ms. Lauder said. The remark captured her dogged yet gentle pursuit of support for the foundation.
The foundation is also interested in helping scientists work together. The scientific director of the foundation, Dr. Larry Norton, announced a new online Researchers Portal where scientists can share information.
Joining Ms. Lauder as co-chairwomen of the luncheon were Anne Eisenhower Flöttl, Besty Green, Ronnie Heyman, Gail Hilson, Cynthia Lufkin, Gigi Mortimer, and Elizabeth Rohatyn.
