Komen for the Cure Gala Honors, Keeps the Promise

Susan G. Komen for the Cure paid tribute to global leaders in the fight against breast cancer, including the late Betty Ford, at the Kennedy Center for its second annual “Honoring the Promise” gala, Oct. 28. Breast cancer survivor Hoda Kotb, of NBC’s “Today,” program, emceed the evening’s program which featured performances by singer Natasha Bedingfield, violinist Miri Ben-Ari, opera singer Denyce Graves-Montgomery, aerial artist Amanda Topaz and Howard University’s vocal jazz ensemble Afro Blue. Hollywood stars Kerry Washington, Donald Faison, Jennifer Beals and breast cancer survivor Vanessa Bell Calloway joined with friends of Komen from inside the Beltway – MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, FedEx Corporation’s Gina Adams, Danaher Corporation’s William H. King and philanthropist Annie Totah – to present the evening’s awards. The event raised $2 million for breast cancer research and programs in the Washington, D.C., area. Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker founded Susan G. Komen for the Cure in 1982 in her sister’s memory.