Latest news with #GabriellesAngelFoundation

South China Morning Post

Meet Denise Rich, the controversial fundraiser and songwriter: the ex-wife of a fugitive and friend of the Clintons penned hits for Diana Ross, and hosts the annual Angel Ball for cancer research

Every year, the Angel Ball, an influential charity event held in New York City, honours individuals who have made significant contributions to cancer research. In the past, stars like Hugh Jackman , Naomi Campbell, Nile Rogers and the Kardashian family have been recognised for their efforts. Last year, the spotlight was on children's literature author Grace Cayre. The Angel Ball is hosted by Grammy-nominated songwriter Denise Rich (née Eisenberg) after the death of her daughter Gabrielle, who succumbed to acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) aged 27. Today, Gabrielle's Angel Foundation is one of the largest non-governmental sources of grant support for blood cancer research in the United States. Last year, the event raised US$3 million. The gala is also known for its star-studded performances: previous line-ups have included the likes of Patti LaBelle, Pharrell, Alicia Keys and Usher Denise Rich at the Angel Ball in New York City in 2024. Advertisement Denise Rich has established herself as a prominent philanthropist but in the noughties, she was dubbed 'Lady Gatsby' for her affluent lifestyle. So, just who is Denise Rich? What's her background? Denise Rich on CNN's Larry King Live show in 2001. Photo: Reuters Denise Rich was born in Worcester, Massachusetts to Emil and Gerry Eisenberg. Her father left Germany in 1933 and moved to Paris where he started a fur company with his three brothers. In 1940, per The New York Times, he moved to the Big Apple with Gerry and their firstborn daughter Monique. The family eventually settled down in Worcester, where he ran several businesses. In 1976, he established a girls' vocational high school in Tel Aviv. Rich's father struggled with illness for a long time before passing away in 2003. In a red carpet interview with Charlii Sebunya in 2023, Rich said she lost her mother to lung cancer and her sister Monique to breast cancer. She has a prolific songwriting career Denise Rich, ex-wife of fugitive billionaire Marc Rich, at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2001. Photo: AFP