The Maurer Foundation held its annual dinner dance, the Pink Diamond Ball, on Saturday, April 29, 2006 at The Ritz-Carlton, Battery Park in lower Manhattan. Marking its third year, the Pink Diamond Ball celebrated the Foundation’s current expansion in New York City, offering new programs which specifically target women in medically-underserved, high-need communities. The event raised over $500,000.
More than 350 of New York and Long Island’s elite attended the April 29, 2006 event. This year also marked the debut of “Diamonds after Dark,” a late night party hosted by the Foundation’s Junior Committee which is expected to draw 200 of the area’s young philanthropists.
Since its founding in 1995 by Long Island breast surgeon Dr. Virginia E. Maurer, The Maurer Foundation has directly educated over 75,000 people across Long Island communities and throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Education on early detection and making certain lifestyle changes can help prevent breast cancer—the second leading cause of death in women that will affect 211,240 women this year.
Niki Gregory, Chairperson of The Maurer Foundation’s Board of Directors, and a three-time breast cancer survivor, understands the importance of education and early detection. She and her husband, Joseph M. Gregory, President and COO of Lehman Brothers, have been long time supporters of the Foundation. The Maurer Foundation is an independent 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to educational programs for people of all ages about breast cancer risk reduction and early detection. Its mission is to provide women and adolescents with the skills and knowledge necessary to change behaviors that affect breast health.
The Maurer Foundation is distinctive in imparting an intergenerational and multicultural philosophy in its programs, and develops strategic collaborations with other agencies. The Foundation brings its programs to community organizations, places of business, schools, and thousands more through public education campaigns and on-line resources. The Foundation’s up-to-date educational programs are aimed at dispelling myths and allaying fears about breast cancer while filling the knowledge gap that exists about maintaining breast health.