(L-R): Katharina Harf, Georgia May Jagger, Michele Scannavini

Nearly 1,000 people gathered at Cipriani Wall Street on May 7, for what turned out to be a highly charged and emotional evening, as Coty once again hosted an annual event to help fight blood cancer.

The dramatic stage is lit with the organization’s aspirational motto.

Coty is the founding corporate sponsor of Delete Blood Cancer-DKMS, the world’s largest bone-marrow-donor-registration center. The black tie dinner featured Michele Scannavini—CEO of Coty Inc. and honorary chair of the eighth annual Delete Blood Cancer Gala—and Katharina Harf, co-founder of Delete Blood Cancer and host for the evening. The event raised $4 million for the cause.

Georgia May Jagger—supermodel and face of Coty’s color cosmetics brand Rimmel and fragrance brand Just Cavalli—was also on stage, as she had recently accepted an appointment as the first Coty Global Ambassador in the fight against blood cancer.

On the morning of the 7th, Jagger had participated in a ceremony at the Empire State Building, whose spire was illuminated in red that evening to raise awareness for the fight against blood cancer and the efforts to recruit donors.

While celebrities, musicians, DJs and comedians lent an air of entertainment to the gala evening, the overriding message was one of serious business. Many Coty employees I spoke to at the dinner were registered donors in the program.

Coty joined Delete Blood Cancer-DKMS in 2006 as the founding corporate sponsor in the fight against blood cancer, using its celebrity partnerships to raise awareness for the disease and to help recruit thousands of donors around the world. Leukemia, a blood cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide, had personally affected the Coty family when the wife of former Coty chairman and board member Peter Harf succumbed to the disease in 1991.

During the event, Peter Harf’s daughter Katharina Harf presented

A young boy meets his donor for the first time.

the “Delete Blood Cancer Award” to Evan Sohn and the Sohn Conference Foundation, recognizing the foundation’s dedication to the treatment and cure of pediatric cancer. Sohn’s brother had tragically died as a young adult because a donor had not been found.

Harf explained that in the U.S., blood cancers kill more children than any other disease; and they are the second-leading cause of all cancer

A crowd of nearly 1,000 packs Cipriani Wall Street.

deaths in that age group. Many of these deaths, she said, could be prevented by a bone marrow transplant, but, sadly, half of patients never receive the lifesaving transplant they need in part because there are not enough registered donors.

Next, beneath the fluorescent purple words proclaiming the organization’s guiding inspiration of “Dream Big, Do Good,” Harf, dressed in a stunning red gown, provided an extreme and touching example of how the program can work miracles, matching donors and recipients.

A young, robust 12-year-old boy, previously suffering from blood cancer, joined Harf on stage with his father, mother and sister.

Harf recounted his story that, at a moment when the family had thought there was little hope for their son’s survival from the disease, a donor match had been found—and his life was saved. At the Coty gala, the now thriving, ecstatic boy and his family met the donor for the first time. Understandably, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house as Harf introduced the two.

Following the award presentation, the event featured two knockout performances by pop/rock artist LP and celebrity singer-songwriter Jessie J—but the greatest rewards of the evening were the hugs and love exchanged between the donor and the recipient and his family.