December is the season for giving, and supporting professional women in and beyond the industry is always en vogue. Or as Mary Murcko, vice president, publisher of Self at Condé Nast put it in her remarks, “The most important thing going on is the desire for women to be self-made.”
Cancer and Careers
The CEW Foundation calls Cancer and Careers—a national non-profit helping professionals with cancer—its “signature charity.” The organization got its start in 2001 and has been working ever since “to eliminate fear and uncertainty for working people with cancer… by providing expert advice, interactive tools and educational events,” said the CEW press release. Cancer and Careers serves almost 300,000 people annually with its digital, print and live career empowerment programs.
Jump bid
The CEW luncheon in 2013, attended by 600+ cosmetics industry pros and allies, raised $520,125 for Cancer and Careers. The 2014 Beauty of Giving luncheon saw over 700 attendees and raised $735,125 to support the charity.
That figure includes not only proceeds from the live auction of prizes (spa, travel, and fashion excursions) but also from Fund-A-Need, tax-deductible donations made during the event in a flurry of conspicuous altruism inspired by a good cause and a ballroom full of spirited donors. The 2014 Fund-A-Need was the foundation’s most successful to date, bringing in $94,000.
Saying thanks
Besides a lively auction for a good cause, the CEW luncheon also “celebrates individuals and companies for their philanthropic achievements and commitment to…Cancer and Careers,” explains the press release.
QVC has partnered with CEW for the past two years on Beauty with Benefits, an on-air fundraising for the charity. “QVC has championed Cancer and Careers on so many levels, and we are so grateful for our partnership that enables us to change the lives of cancer patients and survivors,” Kate Sweeney, executive director of CEW Foundation says.
Over 20% of QVC products are from the beauty and health categories, and QVC has an impressively engaged network of consumers. So the partnership works: “At QVC we believe in working together to build relationships that create meaningful positive change in our communities and industry,” says Mike George, president and chief executive officer of QVC.
“By working with CEW and their strong network, we aim to generate more awareness and support for Cancer and Careers, and for the men and women balancing work and cancer,” George states.