Breast Cancer Alliance Celebrates 20th Annual Benefit Luncheon & Fashion Show

On October 22nd, hundreds of supporters will gather at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich in Greenwich, CT to celebrate the Breast Cancer Alliance's (BCA) much-anticipated 20th annual benefit luncheon and fashion show, titled Honor. Recognize. Embrace. This year's benefit recognizes those whose lives have been impacted by breast cancer and applauds BCA's two decades of commitment to improving survival rates and quality of life through better prevention, early detection, exceptional treatment, and innovative research, which could ultimately lead to a cure. For event Co-Chairs Jill Coyle, Meg Russell and Jennie Stehli, BCA's annual benefit is more than just a volunteer endeavor it's an act of love and support for all women affected by breast cancer. Celebrating 20 years, the theme Honor. Recognize. Embrace. honors BCA's history as well as those who've lost their lives to breast cancer, recognizes the work yet to be done, and embraces the possibility of what can be accomplished in the future. In celebration of its 20-year anniversary, the organization has set an ambitious goal to provide $2 million in grants in 2015, an increase of $400,000 over last year's funding distribution. The event gets underway at 11:00 a.m. with a silent auction reception, featuring stunning jewelry, fabulous vacations, celebrity engagements and private gallery tours through Manhattan's art district. Escape to Palm Beach this winter and enjoy a week in BCA-founder Lucy Day and her husband's beautiful one-bedroom apartment at the Brazilian Court Hotel including round-trip airfare from Westchester airport on JetBlue. Embark on an unforgettable sailing adventure with 10 friends aboard an historic Amercia's Cup Winning Racing Yacht or get your adrenaline flowing at Pamela Roland's fabulous show during Fashion Week. Indulge with a $10,000 shopping spree at Shreve, Crump and Low or spruce up your home with acclaimed decorator Amy Hirsch at Hoagland's of Greenwich. Rub elbows with celebrities such as Rachel Ray, Kathie Lee and Hoda, or Bravo's very own Andy Cohen. Or stay in and find your center with a calming in-home yoga class, cooking class or catered dinners with and friends and family. From club seats at a Knicks game, legend seats to see the Yankees, and VIP concert tickets to an O.A.R's concert, there's something for everyone right down to teens and children. Acclaimed NBC Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent and Emmy Award-winning journalist, Andrea Mitchell, will address attendees during the luncheon, scheduled to begin at noon. In addition to traveling with Secretary of State John Kerry, she hosts Andrea Mitchell Reports on MSNBC, her daily program of political and foreign policy news. Mitchell has also received the prestigious Goldsmith Career Award for Excellence in Journalism from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, the National Press Foundation 2010 Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism, and the Radio-Television News Directors  Foundation Zeidenberg Award for protecting the First Amendment. At 1:15 p.m., the fashion show gets underway, paying tribute to the inspiring courage and compassion of those affected by breast cancer as a dozen elegant survivors model a collection of fall couture curated especially for the benefit by Richards of Greenwich. Stunning fashions by many of the industry's most notable designers afford attendees a glimpse into what's trending this season. BCA supporters are invited to honor, recognize and embrace the breast cancer survivors, loved ones who were lost, and those still fighting the disease in their lives by including a personal message, purchased through their ticket or online at http://weblink.donorperfect.com/benefit2015. Meaningful and supportive, personal messages will be featured at the event and on a special tribute page on the BCA website. The inaugural Breast Cancer Alliance autumn luncheon fundraiser was held in October 1996. Says BCA co-founder, Lucy Day, My dear friend in Greenwich, Mary Waterman, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer when she was 49 years old. She asked a few of us to help her found a nonprofit to raise funds for research so other women would not suffer her fate. Six of us met around Mary's kitchen table to brainstorm, and within a year we held our first fundraiser. At that luncheon in October 1996, more than 600 BCA supporters gave Mary Waterman a standing ovation. She died less than three months later, but her inspiration and legacy live on with us.  Since its inception in 1996, BCA has awarded more than $20 million in grants, funding cutting-edge research, regional education, dignified support, screening for the underserved, and one-year postgraduate breast surgery fellowships at 25 of the nation's leading research institutions. Supporters joining Lead Sponsor, Mitchells | Richards include Greenwich Hospital, PepsiCo, Stamford Hospital, Kekst and Company, NEBCO Insurance Brokers, First Republic Bank, Nestle Waters, NA, vineyard vines, Williams & Co., and Moffly Media. Tickets are $350,  $2,000 and tables of 10 are $5,000  $100,000. For online registration, visit weblink.donorperfect.com/benefit2015 Silent action items can be viewed and bid on at breastcanceralliance.tofinoauctions.com/benefit2015 For information about luncheon tickets or to reserve raffle tickets, please email info@breastcanceralliance.org or call (203) 861-0014 For media inquiries, please contact: Christine M. Biddle, Biddle & Bellidora Communications / 914-763-3843, christine@biddleandbellidora.com