The Breast Cancer Research Foundation Announces New Board Appointments

NEW YORK, March 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) today announced the election of three new members to its Board of Directors. Tory Burch, CEO and designer of luxury lifestyle brand Tory Burch, and Ed Brennan, Chairman and CEO of the world's largest duty free travel retailer, DFS Group L.P., will serve as members, and Larry Norton, MD, will serve as an ex officio member. Each will join a dynamic Board, led by Leonard A. Lauder, who was elected Acting Chairman of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in December 2011, following the death of his wife, Evelyn H. Lauder, who founded BCRF and served as the Board's Chair.

"We are thrilled to announce the addition of three renowned individuals, each of whom brings added depth and breadth to our distinguished Board of Directors," said Myra J. Biblowit, who has been President of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation for more than a decade. "We welcome Tory and Ed, and of course, Dr. Norton has been providing thoughtful guidance and expertise to BCRF for years. Having lost our founder, Evelyn H. Lauder, we are especially honored that Leonard Lauder has stepped into the role of Chairman and is attracting new talent to our active and committed roster of BCRF Directors."

Tory Burch was launched in February 2004 as a lifestyle concept with multiple product categories, including ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes, accessories and jewelry. Graphic prints, bold colors and unique detailing are all signatures of the brand. Burch has received several awards from the fashion industry, including the 2008 CFDA for Accessory Designer of the Year and 2011 Glamour Woman of the Year award. In 2009, she established the Tory Burch Foundation to empower women entrepreneurs, the focus of which is initially microfinance and mentoring.

Brennan joined DFS Group (Duty Free Shoppers) in 1997 after almost 20 years in various management positions with R.H. Macy & Co. and Federated Department Stores. In 2001, not long after being promoted to CEO, Brennan was named Chairman of the Board. Under the leadership of Brennan, DFS has become the world's most successful luxury travel retailer with more than 200 stores across 14 countries and territories.

Dr. Norton will continue to serve as Scientific Director and Chairman of BCRF's Executive Board of Scientific Advisors. Dr. Norton is Deputy Physician-in-Chief for Breast Cancer Programs at Memorial Sloan – Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, and Medical Director of MSKCC's Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center. Since 1993, Dr. Norton has overseen BCRF's grant-making and scientific direction, working alongside the late Evelyn H. Lauder. For his work, Dr. Norton has received many accolades including ASCO's highest honor, the David A. Karnofsky Award, and was a McGuire Lecturer at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. He has served as a visiting professor throughout the US, Canada, South America, Europe, Israel and Asia and has trained many cancer physicians and researchers.

Leonard Lauder is Chairman Emeritus of The Estee Lauder Companies. He has been actively involved in the Foundation since its inception.

In October 2011, BCRF awarded $36.5 million to 186 scientists across 13 countries, extending its funding from the United States to Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and China. With over 90 cents of every dollar donated currently being directed to breast cancer research and awareness programs, BCRF supports brilliant investigators at major medical institutions worldwide, while continuing to remain one of the most fiscally responsible charities.. For more information about BCRF, visit www.bcrfcure.org.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®, founded by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993, is an independent not-for-profit organization committed to finding a prevention and cure for breast cancer in our lifetime by funding scientific research, cumulatively raising $355 million to date to fight a global battle against the disease.

SOURCE Breast Cancer Research Foundation