Singer Rita Ora, recording artist Swizz Beatz, and Baywatch movie star Alexandra Daddario were among the guests at the 11th Annual DKMS Gala on April 27.
Hosted by Delete Blood Cancer DKMS co-founder Katharina Harf, the event, which was held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, raised money to help fund the registration of lifesaving bone marrow donors.
An international non-profit organization, DKMS was founded 25 years ago by Katharina’s father, Dr. Peter Harf, following the death of his wife and Katharina’s mother, Mechtild, to leukemia. Since then, DKMS offices around the world have helped register over six million potential donors.
“For me, this is not a job. It’s become part of who I am,” Katharina said in a video about the organization.
“Our patients and donor[s] inspire me, they’re my fuel to keep going and to want to work harder and save more lives,” she added.
During this year’s event, which was themed “Big Love,” DKMS honored philanthropist Claudia D’Arpizio, a partner at Bain and Company, for her generosity and commitment to delete blood cancer.
Hip-hop ballerina Ebony Williams opened the night with a performance while DJ Mick spun tunes throughout the evening. Ora took the stage during the program to present a special video, stressing the importance of donating.
“Every three minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with blood cancer,” Ora said.
It was an emotional night that also included marrow recipients meeting their donors for the first time.
“I was just really excited to meet him and I couldn’t wait,” said recipient Ezra Miller. “I got a new brother now!” added his donor Luis Miranda.
Former The Voice contestant Jordan Smith closed the memorable evening with a medley performance that included the songs “Chandelier,” “Over the Rainbow,” and “Somebody to Love.”
Additional supporters attending the event included DKMS ambassadors Coco Rocha & James Conran and guests Charlotte & Alejandro Santo Domingo, Leslie Lopez, Tommy Dorfman, Jessica Joffe, Derek Lam, India Gants, Elisabeth Murdoch, Andreja Pejić, Paula Zahn, Kimberly Chandler, Morgan O’Connor, and Anastasia Ganias.
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(Photo Credit: Getty Images for DKMS)
