The Children’s Cancer & Blood Foundation (CCBF) will host its annual “Breakthrough Ball” benefit gala on Tuesday evening, October 20, 2009 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

New York (PRWEB) October 8, 2009 — The Children’s Cancer & Blood Foundation (CCBF) will host its annual “Breakthrough Ball” benefit gala on Tuesday evening, October 20, 2009 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Proceeds from this benefit help to provide much needed medication, chemotherapy and other life-saving treatments to children who are patients of the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology of New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Last year’s honoree, NFL great Tiki Barber, will present this year’s “Breakthrough Spirit” award to Grammy Award- winning singer Toni Braxton, actor, writer and CBS News commentator Charles Grodin, and media entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner. Charles Grodin, in addition to accepting his award, will serve as Master of Ceremonies for his fourth year. The evening will also feature a special performance by Toni Braxton.

Jamie Niven, Vice Chairman, Sotheby’s will lead a live auction that will include a golf package with tee-offs at some of the most exclusive golf courses in the tri-state area, a chef’s dinner for 20 at the winner’s home by renowned Chef Kevin Garcia of ‘Cesca, trips to exclusive locations including Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic and a South African lodge, and much more. The auction will raise much-needed funds to help families in financial crisis pay for costly treatments.

For 57 years, CCBF (http://childrenscbf.org) has been proud to support the extraordinary team of doctors and researchers of the Division. CCBF’s support has attracted and retained a group of world-renowned experts on the treatment of multiple pediatric blood disorders and cancers, including hemophilia, sickle-cell anemia and leukemia. CCBF researchers have received international recognition for their work and are on the cusp of breakthroughs predicted to change the way the medical community treats children with cancer and blood diseases. Each year, physicians treat more than 1,000 children through more than 10,000 inpatient and outpatient visits. No child is ever turned away for services, regardless of his or her ability to pay.

prweb.com