MAD: CanCan in New York or how we helped raise $5.4 million for breast cancer research

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation's largest event, The New York Hot Pink Party, was this year on April 28, but our work on it started before New Year Eve. Ideas, concepts, themes. We explored everything related to CanCan, this year's theme, to create several options for art direction. The winning one was inspired by posters of Toulouse Lautrec and René Gruau.

Hana painted the illustrations, Mario did all the calligraphy (Hana said she can't do "messy").

Our friends and long-time BCRF supporters at Levon Graphics in NY were in for a printing treat. Sadly, large printing budgets that allow designers and printers to utilize their expertise are very rare these days. But since Levon donated the printing, we were able to create silkscreen-like look of vintage posters with flat, rich colors. We replaced the magenta channel with a neon Pantone ink. The pink, red, and black received double hit. The Mohawk paper turned out to be the perfect choice.

Main envelope

Reply card and envelope

Program

Get your paddleboards ready for The Hamptons Paddle & Party for Pink! August 16.

Along with Boston-based Mario Avila Design, the New York event got generous help from four(!) other Bostonians - Rafanelli Events, Winston Flowers, GJ Nelson (main stage backdrop animations), and photographer Michael Blanchard. Creative industry in Boston rocks!!

The Waldorf Astoria New York

Mr. Leonard Lauder and Paul Shaeffer

Donna Karan with Leonard Lauder and Elizabeth Hurley

Elizabeth Hurley looked gorgeous as always. Here in her Versace gown with Sara Bareilles.

The very colorful Snooky Bellomo and Tish Bellomo of Manic Panic NYC. (Now I know what I am going to do when my hair turns gray.)

Hana Pegrimkova and Mario Avila, Mario Avila Design, happy to see the results of their work for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Beautiful pattern. And people always ask where we get our inspiration. Torry Burch and Carolyn Maloney.

Ready. The amazing combined effort of BCRF, Rafanelli Events, Winston Flowers, Levon Graphics, GJ Nelson, and Mario Avila Design teams.

The Pledge card

Hands up! (If the bit is not too high for you!) Another contribution from Boston - the backdrop screens came to live with animations by GJ Nelson. Thank you for being sensitive with my artwork GJ!

Fashion designer Reed Krakoff, Hana Pegrimkova, Mario Avila. What can I say about Reed's creations for the latest season? One of each!

CanCan dancers. Since the photo is so blurry, I could say it is me, but I really could not kick at all in my gown. (My treasured vintage Kenzo, so happy to fit in it after the long winter...)