With Net-a-Porter, the Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering Hosted a Fashionable Luncheon at the Rainbow Room

Each year, guests are invited to slip away just before New York Fashion Week for the the Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering Winter Luncheon. At the function’s fifth consecutive year with Net-a-Porter, the fashion pack was fully represented with brand moguls, executive women, and editors alike.

In the famed Rainbow Room some 60 stories up, guests donning frocks and pumps made their way to their seats, answering the question, “Cod or cauliflower steak?” before the program began. A warm welcome came from newly seated Society president Kate Allen, who thanked the event co-chairs (Shabnam Henry, Breanna Khoury, Rebekah McCabe, Dara O’Hara, Amanda Waldron, and honorary chair Alison Loehnis) for all their tireless work and introduced the continuing sponsor. “Net-a-Porter has helped the society raise $1.4 million for MSK Kids and the fight against pediatric cancer.” She then welcomed Loehnis, president of Net-A-Porter and Mr. Porter, to the stage.

“I’m so honored to be surrounded by so many dynamic, super-chic—and most importantly, charitable—women,” shared Loehnis. Together, the two organizations have broken their own fundraising record (with flying colors) year after year—and still, they are far from slowing down. “I’m super proud of the fundraising we’ve done to date, but I’m also conscious that it’s a drop in the ocean in terms of what needs to get done. But if we can even do the smallest bit, we’re really happy, and we’re really humbled to be a part of the efforts,” Loehnis said.

The Winter Lunch raises critical funds for the Society’s newest initiative, Precision Cancer Medicine for MSK Kids, a project that is committed to creating and implementing therapies that are less toxic and more effective than traditional treatments for pediatric patients. “We believe it’s our moral impetus to bring every possible option to children affected with cancer. As we sit at lunch today, there are 150 kids being treated at MSK Kids…who, in many cases turn to us because they run out of options elsewhere,” shared Dr. Andrew Kung, world-renowned physician-scientist who became chair of the Department of Pediatrics at MSK Kids in 2016. “At MSK Kids, we’re committed to bringing the technologies that are going to become standard tomorrow to kids in clinics who need those things today.” In 2020, with five successful philanthropic years in the books, the best is yet to come.