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Women's Cancer Research Fund

The Women’s Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) is a program of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Based in Los Angeles, the WCRF mobilizes the influential entertainment community to raise critical funds to support cancer research, and the exciting new collaboration with BCRF will allow WCRF’s impact to go further in its ability to fast-track more effective approaches to the study and early diagnosis of women’s cancers. WCRF is honored to collaborate with BCRF and work under their powerful umbrella, and hope you will join them in taking this historic step to unite with a singular mission of funding the best and most innovative cancer research worldwide.

WCRF was started as a way to give back in honor of mothers, sisters, and friends. All of the founders have been impacted by cancer, either having supported a friend or family member as they underwent treatment, or having dealt with their own diagnosis and recovery. In 1997, Renette Ezralow and co-founder Marion Laurie toured the MD Anderson Cancer Center with Dr. Lawrence Platt, and began plans to form an organization that would support cancer research initiatives. When Renette passed away from ovarian cancer, her daughter-in-law and co-founder Quinn Ezralow felt a strong passion to continue her fight, and brought in her friends and connections to help raise funds to find a cure. Co-founder Jamie Tisch remembers “When we first started, we decided to have a party and raise money. We didn’t realize the response would be so positive from people who wanted to give. After a few parties, we became known as the hot ticket, and had an opportunity to raise more and more.” 

From these grassroots origins grew WCRF’s flagship fundraising event, “An Unforgettable Evening”. Founding supporter Natalie Cole, who passed away in 2015, would sing “Unforgettable” each year, and other major musical acts, from Beyoncé to Taylor Swift to Rihanna, have performed incredible sets at the event. The event also gives honorees a chance to share heartfelt acceptance speeches in memory of the loved ones they have lost to cancer, including Courtney Cox, who spoke of her friend Mary, Gwyneth Paltrow on her beloved father, and Martin Short, who shared remembrances of his wife of 30 years, Nancy Dolman; WCRF and the Keck School of Medicine at USC went on to create the Nancy Short Lecture series in her honor. The annual event brings together an incredible array of supporters and has helped raise millions for cancer research.

The Women’s Cancer Research Fund is proud to partner with Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL)Sézane, and Octobre to fuel critical breast cancer research.

Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL)

APL is continuing its almost decade-long partnership with WCRF to support lifesaving research. This year, the brand has released a limited-edition pink Streamline running shoe for women and men, featuring a striking silhouette and bleached pink ribbon on the heel. From now through September 30, 2023, APL will donate 20 percent of the sale price of the APL Streamline in Fusion Pink/White/BCA to WCRF, with a minimum guaranteed donation of $5,000.

Sézane & Octobre

Sézane and Octobre decided to transform their annual campaign into a monthly drop to support pioneering research throughout the year. From July through December, on the first Wednesday of every month, 100 percent of the net profits of U.S. sales from one pink piece and 10 percent of the day’s gross U.S. denim sales are donated to the Women’s Cancer Research Fund with a minimum contribution of $40,000.


 

Women’s Cancer Research Foundation Leadership

 Kate Capshaw - Women’s Cancer Research Foundation LeadershipKate Capshaw Kelly Chapman Meyer  - Women’s Cancer Research Foundation LeadershipKelly Chapman Meyer Headshot of Woman Named Quinn EzralowQuinn Ezralow Headshot of Woman Named Marion LaurieMarion Laurie
  Jamie Tisch - Women’s Cancer Research Foundation LeadershipJamie Tisch Rita Wilson - Women’s Cancer Research Foundation LeadershipRita Wilson 
Natalie Cole, in memoriam
Renette Ezralow, in memoriam
Anne Douglas, in memoriam