Coty Inc. Helps Raise Record $1.7M To Support the DKMS 4th Annual Gala: Linked Against Leukemia

NEW YORK, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The DKMS 4th Annual Gala: Linked Against Leukemia, held on April 29 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City, raised $1.7M to support the fight against leukemia and other blood related cancers. The money raised jointly by Coty Inc., a leading global beauty company, and DKMS, the world's largest bone marrow donor center, will help register over 19,000 bone marrow donors and work to save lives worldwide.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100430/NY96799-a )

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100430/NY96799-b )

The highlight of the night is the "Moment of the Match", when a leukemia patient and donor meet for the first time. This year's moment united three-year-old leukemia survivors Keane and Ethan Denke and their parents with Monika Rasche, the twins' life-saving donor match, and left few dry eyes in the room. In 2007, at just four months old, identical twins Keane and Ethan Denke were diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Their parents, Xander and Carrie Denke, immediately began searching for one bone marrow donor to save both of their sons, and found support through the Coty-DKMS Linked Against Leukemia partnership.

"When I met Xander and Carrie Denke during the twins' donor search, I was blown away by their determination and strong will," said Bernd Beetz, Coty CEO. "Three years later, Coty is honored to stand beside two very healthy boys and their proud parents as they meet the woman who saved Keane and Ethan. This is the reason we are committed to DKMS, saving lives one donor at a time."

During the Gala, Coty CEO Bernd Beetz and Oscar winning actress and Coty partner, Halle Berry, presented Island Def Jam Chairman, Antonio 'LA' Reid with the "DKMS Linked Against Leukemia Award" in honor of his tireless work in fighting cancer.

"I'm thrilled with my partnership with Coty, a company that has such a great sense of social responsibility, in supporting DKMS in the fight against leukemia," said Halle Berry.

Access Hollywood's Shaun Robinson emceed the black tie event, which included a special performance by legendary music icon, Jon Bon Jovi. Vera Wang, Carmindy, Solange Knowles, Kylie Minogue, Melissa Etheridge, Estelle, Eva Mendes, Anja Rubik and Coco Rocha also attended.

In honor of the Coty-DKMS Linked Against Leukemia partnership and the DKMS 4th Annual Gala: Linked Against Leukemia, the Empire State Building illuminated the iconic New York City landmark in red and white lights on Thursday, April 29.

Coty joined DKMS in October 2006 in the fight against leukemia, one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. Leukemia also touched Coty Inc. in a very personal manner in 1991, when the wife of longtime Coty Inc. Chairman Peter Harf succumbed to the disease. Each year, more than 140,000 people are diagnosed with a blood cancer, including leukemia, which is the most common cancer among children and adolescents.

All proceeds from the DKMS 4th Annual Gala will go directly to enrolling life-saving bone marrow donors, and furthering advancements in cancer treatment and care.

"We are moved by the support of all our long term supporters, especially our legacy corporate sponsor, Coty," said Katharina Harf, Executive Vice President, DKMS Americas. "The money raised will further the DKMS mission to save lives around the world."

For more information on Coty-DKMS Linked against Leukemia partnership visit http://www.dkmsamericas.org/about/our-supporters/coty-partnership.

About Coty Inc.

Coty was created in Paris in 1904 by Francois Coty who is credited with founding the modern fragrance industry.

Today, Coty Inc. is a recognized leader in global beauty with annual net sales of nearly $4 billion. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, passion, innovation and creativity, Coty Inc. has developed an unrivaled portfolio of notable brands and delivers its innovative products to consumers in 90 markets worldwide.

The Coty Prestige brand portfolio is distributed in prestige and ultra-prestige stores and includes Baby Phat, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Calvin Klein, Cerruti, Chloe, Chopard, Davidoff, Home Skin Lab, Jennifer Lopez, Jette Joop, Jil Sander, JOOP!, Karl Lagerfeld, Kenneth Cole, L.A.M.B. fragrance by Gwen Stefani, La Voce by Renee Fleming, Lancaster, Marc Jacobs, Nautica, Nikos, Phat Farm, Sarah Jessica Parker, Vera Wang, Vivienne Westwood and Wolfgang Joop.

The Coty Beauty brand portfolio is more widely distributed and includes adidas, Astor, Beyonce Knowles, Celine Dion, Chupa Chups, David and Victoria Beckham, Esprit, Exclamation, Faith Hill, GUESS, Halle Berry, Jovan, Kate Moss, Kylie Minogue, La Cross, Miss Sixty, Miss Sporty, N.Y.C. New York Color, Pierre Cardin(1), Playboy, Rimmel, Sally Hansen, Shania Twain, Stetson, Tim McGraw, and Tonino Lamborghini.

Coty and Puig Fashion and Beauty S.A. have a strategic partnership for the distribution of the perfume lines of Nina Ricci, Carolina Herrera, Prada, Paco Rabanne, and Antonio Banderas in the United States and Canada.

For additional information about Coty Inc., please visit www.coty.com.

(1) Not available in North America

ABOUT THE COTY-DKMS LINKED AGAINST LEUKEMIA PARTNERSHIP

In October 2006, Coty Inc., a global beauty leader, joined DKMS, the world's largest non-profit bone marrow donor center, in the fight against leukemia by establishing the Coty-DKMS Linked Against Leukemia partnership. Led by CEO Bernd Beetz, Coty has leveraged its strong celebrity partnerships to raise awareness of the disease and help recruit thousands of donors around the world.  Additionally, Coty has assisted DKMS in establishing independent DKMS organizations in the Americas and Poland with plans to open offices elsewhere in Europe in the coming years. Leukemia, one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide, personally affected the Coty family when the wife of longtime Coty Chairman Peter Harf succumbed to the disease in 1991.

ABOUT DKMS

The DKMS mission is to save lives by recruiting bone marrow donors for leukemia patients. More than 20,000 DKMS donors have helped save lives by donating their bone marrow. DKMS is the largest and most experienced bone marrow donor center in the world with over 2 million registered donors. DKMS Americas is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information about DKMS visit www.dkmsamericas.org .

SOURCE Coty Inc.