On October 27, the 10th annual Avon Foundation for Women Gala honored exceptional women and men for their efforts to end breast cancer and violence against women. The event, held in New York City, has raised more than $20 million for Avon philanthropy in the decade since it launched. It was hosted by Reese Witherspoon, award-winning actress and Honorary Chair of the Avon Foundation for Women, and Andrea Jung, Chairman and CEO, Avon Products, Inc., with a special musical performance by Melissa Etheridge.

More than 550 guests attended and donated $2.2 million this year to benefit breast cancer research and access to care and domestic violence education, prevention and victim support programs. Every year since 2001, the Avon Foundation for Women has recognized individuals, organizations and companies for leadership in women’s causes.

The Breast Cancer Medical Advancement Champion Award was presented to President and CEO of New York-Presbyterian Hospital Dr. Herb Pardes and Co-Director of Avon’s Breast Cancer Program at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at the New York Presbyterian Medical Center, Dr. Dawn Hershman. New York-Presbyterian Hospital was one of Avon’s pioneering partners in creating the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Centers of Excellences, now located in eight of the top medical centers in the United States.

Partners in Health Vice President Susan Sayers received $520,000 grant to create the Avon Cancer Care Program in Haiti. The program will provide expert clinicians at 15 locations in Haiti to train community health workers to perform clinical breast screening exams. In addition, it will supply modern equipment for diagnostics of suspicious exam findings and access to state-of-the-art pathology evaluation through partners in the United States, as well as treatments where available

The Voice for Change Award was presented to Anna Quindlen, author of Every Last One. The award honors those who lend their voices to speak out for those who cannot by championing the cause of domestic violence.

The evening’s final award, Community Advocacy Champion Award, was given to the, to Ambassador-at-Large, Office of Global Women’s Issues, U.S. Department of State, Melanne Verveer. This award recognizes organizations and individuals working to help end violence against women.