What does it take to turn a gathering of more than a thousand supporters of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation into a raucous party?

Evelyn Lauder knows. It starts with a great name. The foundation’s spring gala on Tuesday was called “The Hottest Pink Party Ever,” prompting many guests to wear various shades of pink, or stick fresh pink orchids in their hair. And who doesn’t look good in pink?

Then, she added a beloved entertainer. Sir Elton John, a long-standing attendee of the gala and supporter of the foundation, played a generous set of favorites, including “Tiny Dancer,” which he dedicated to the late Linda Stein, whom, he said, was the last one dancing at the celebration of his civil partnership to David Furnish. “She loved to dance,” he said.

The tunes got the crowd dancing too, and that’s always fun.

A sprinkling of female celebrities throughout the room also made the event memorable. Gwyneth Paltrow was seated at a table smack in the middle of the ballroom; Elizabeth Hurley sat on one side, with Mrs. Lauder’s husband Leonard, and Mrs. Lauder was on the other side.

As a cookbook author, Mrs. Lauder certainly does not take the food served for granted. She makes sure it is not only delicious but healthy. On this night the meal consisted of a vegetable tart, miso-glazed cod, and a low-fat key lime parfait.

The décor transformed the Waldorf into a pink wonderland, with paper butterflies suspended from the ceiling, and ladybugs, butterflies, and flowers decorating the tables.

And as usual, Mrs. Lauder’s foundation reaped the benefits of her party planning prowess. The event raised more than $5 million for breast cancer research.

agordon@nysun.com