Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund Marks First Year Anniversary During National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund (LMOCF), commemorates its first anniversary during National Ovarian Cancer Awareness month (September). The Fund's mission is to raise awareness and fund research and educational efforts that will help diagnose, treat and support women with ovarian cancer. Since its 2012 launch, the Fund has donated approximately $500,000 to organizations that support the cause.

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Claudia Poccia, President and CEO of Gurwitch Products, the manufacturer and distributor of Laura Mercier cosmetics, and Laura Mercier, founder of the Laura Mercier cosmetics brand established the LMOCF in September 2012. Both Poccia and Mercier have loved ones who were affected by ovarian cancer, which is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among American women.* The Fund was created out of their desire to leverage the Laura Mercier brand as a global platform to prevent more women from dying from the disease.

"Laura and I are thankful to our friends, colleagues and customers who have joined us in this life-saving mission and are helping to make a difference in the fight against ovarian cancer," stated Poccia. "Together, we are shining a light on a disease that has been in the shadows for far too long and improving the lives of women who are currently fighting or will someday face ovarian cancer. National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is the perfect time to commemorate our first year anniversary and to inspire others to get involved."

Beneficiaries of the Fund this year include Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Cancer and Careers, a program of the CEW Foundation, the charitable arm of Cosmetic Executive Women, Inc., the Laura Lia Murray Fund for Ovarian Cancer to support key programs at Memorial Cancer Institute in Fla., and Ovarian Cancer Canada. The LMOCF raises money through the sale of limited-edition Laura Mercier products, as well as direct donations.

The Fund's key partner is Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a world leader in ovarian cancer research. To date, the Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund has donated $200,000 to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to help support promising research opportunities.

"For the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center investigators leading ovarian cancer research, our goal is nothing short of a transformation in treating this disease," said Dr. Carol Aghajanian, Chief of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Gynecological Medical Oncology Service. "The generosity of donors like the Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund has given us the freedom to move quickly on leads, and to test promising theories as they arise. We are truly grateful for their partnership"

The Fund also donated $25,000 to Cancer and Careers to underwrite a series of educational online videos on topics that affect working individuals with cancer. In addition this year, the Fund sponsored the organization's National Conference on Work & Cancer in June, which explored the challenges working people with cancer face — including job search, health insurance, legal issues, working through treatment and job re-entry.

The LMOCF provided a grant of $25,000 to the Laura Lia Murray Fund for Ovarian Cancer to support key programs at Memorial Cancer Institute in Fla. These include the "Ovarian Cancer Tumor Registry Retrospective Study," which analyzes the hospital's vast patient database to determine potential risk factors, better treatment algorithms, prognostic characteristics, preventative measures, and improved surveillance methods of the disease. The donation also funds ovarian cancer seminars to educate the community on early detection and risk factors.

In addition, the LMOCF recently donated $10,000 to support the annual Walk of Hope held by Ovarian Cancer Canada, the country's largest walk dedicated to overcoming ovarian cancer. Poccia and teams representing the Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund participated in the walk in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal on September 8, 2013.

Beginning this month, Laura Mercier cosmetics will donate 100 percent of the profits from the sale of three products – Bonne Mine Healthy Glow for Face & Cheeks Creme Colour Palette, Kiss of Hope Lip Glace and Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Healthy Glow Powder & Mini Face Brush – to the Fund.

For more information on the Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund and its fundraising products, or to make a donation and Speak Out for Hope, visit: www.lmocf.org.

*Source: American Cancer Society

About the Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund
The Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund was founded in September 2012 by Laura Mercier Cosmetics. Its mission is to raise awareness and fund research and educational efforts that will help diagnose, treat and support women with ovarian cancer – which is the leading cause of death among gynecological cancers in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society.

About Laura Mercier Cosmetics
Inspired by world-renowned makeup artist Laura Mercier and founded in 1996, the company's philosophy revolves around The Flawless Face- the concept that making skin look perfect is the first and foremost important thing a woman can do to achieve a great look. Laura believes that a flawless look begins with a fresh canvas, and each product has been specially developed to allow every woman to achieve an incredibly even, smooth, natural-looking complexion. Laura Mercier is an international brand sold in 26 countries. Key US retailers include Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and Sephora. 

SOURCE Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund