Celebrating Life, Music, Hope

To me, few things are more inspiring than the power of music. A simple melody paired with the perfect lyric can transport and transform even the most hardened heart. My daughter, Gabrielle, believed in music's restorative power, music as medicine, that it truly can heal the soul. As a songwriter, I couldn't agree with her more. As a mother, I continue to take Gabrielle's message with me everywhere I go.  Ever since leukemia took her young and vibrant life, I have leaned on music to help heal my own soul, to reach beyond the pain of losing Gabrielle to create something beautiful in her memory.

Each year, Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research celebrates the many advances in blood cancer research with our signature fund-raising event, the Angel Ball. This black-tie gala has become one of the most anticipated fundraisers of the New York social season, due in large part to our amazing musical performances. So many wonderful artists have generously donated their time and talents to help make the Angel Ball the spectacular night that it is. One particularly poignant moment for me was the year Marc Anthony recorded and performed the song I wrote for Gabrielle, "Remember Me." From Stevie Wonder to Robin Thicke and John Legend, from Joss Stone to Patti LaBelle and Jennifer Hudson, every gala celebrates life and helps lift our collective spirits, all while raising money for a very important cause.

This year's Angel Ball will take place on October 21 in New York City at Cipriani Wall Street and we anticipate another sensational evening! DJ Cassidy will spin for the event and Entertainment Tonight correspondent Samantha Harris will host the festivities, which will feature tons of talent and some amazing performances. Fortunately for us, the artist Romero Britto, Continental Airlines and celebrity jeweler Lorraine E. Schwartz have all signed on as Angel Ball sponsors.

This year's Angel Ball boasts an extraordinary group of honorees, each of whom embody the true meaning of giving back to the world. It is our great thrill to honor U2's lead guitarist, The Edge, and his wife, director, choreographer and dancer Morleigh Steinberg. Both Edge and Morleigh are devoted to finding new and better treatments for blood cancers and understand firsthand the healing power of music. Joining them is our dear friend and longtime supporter, Bernd Beetz, Chief Executive Officer of the leading global beauty company, Coty Inc. The work that Bernd and Coty do in conjunction with DKMS Americas to support bone marrow drives is just remarkable and gives us hope for the future of cancer research. Our fourth honoree brings his youthful passion and drive to this year's Angel Ball — he is Sean Parker, Managing Partner at Founder's Fund and the co-founder of such category defining Internet companies as Napster, Plaxo, and Facebook Causes. The collective commitment of these four outstanding honorees inspires us and we could not be more delighted to share this evening with them.

The Angel Ball reminds us that music truly does have the ability to transform lives, to lift us up even in the face of seemingly unbeatable odds, to sing us on to brighter days. With Gabrielle's light and spirit as our guide, we will continue her quest to fund the best and brightest cancer researchers in search of a cure.

For ticket information to the Angel Ball 2010, please visit: www.gabriellesangels.org or call Tracey Doolin at the Benefit Office at 212-254-6677.

Photo by PR Photos.