Daniella Rich Kilstock
Director
Director
Denise Rich
President & Co-Founder
President & Co-Founder
Grammy-nominated songwriter Denise Rich has created an expansive body of work that embraces several musical genres and transcends cultural divides. Her songs span across generations and have been recorded by world-class artists from Mandy Moore to Natalie Cole. Multi-faceted and driven, Rich is recognized internationally as a serious and ardent philanthropist and entrepreneur.
Ms. Rich created Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research in 1996 in memory of her daughter, Gabrielle, who passed away at age 27 from acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Since its inception, Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation has awarded grants totaling $35 million to over 300 of the top physician-scientists in America. Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation maintains its status as one of the largest non-governmental sources of grant support for blood cancer research in the United States.
Denise Rich hosts the signature fund raising event for the Foundation, the Angel Ball, to promote awareness and further fund these vital research initiatives. The Angel Ball has become recognized as one of New York City’s top charity events with past honorees including: Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan; Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev; Dr. Daniel Vasella of Novartis Pharmaceutical, Naomi , H.H. Seikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Heloise Pratt, Howard Lutnick, Hugh Jackman, Clive Davis, The Kardashian Family, Jeff Gordon, Queen Noor of Jordan, Sean Parker, Harvey Spevak, Monte & Avery Lipman, Nile Rogers and Naomi Campbell. Past Angel Ball performers and celebrity participants include: Jennifer Hudson, Pharrell, Alicia Keys, Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Usher, Kool & the Gang, OneRepublic, Marc Anthony, Ludacris, Nelly, Smokey Robinson, Robin Thicke, T-Pain, Jamie Foxx and Flo Rida, Kim Kardashian and with President Bill Clinton serving as Honorary Chair at two past Angel Ball galas.
Ms. Rich is President and Songwriter of NYC-based independent music publishing company, Denise Rich Songs, writing and producing music of the highest quality across several genres. Ms. Rich’s songs resonate with different genres and cultures as she writes in English, French, Spanish and Italian. Her songs have been recorded by many respected and world-renowned artists including R&B icons Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige, Latin pop sensations Marc Anthony and Lara Fabian, international superstar Celine Dion, legendary headliners Johnny Mathis and Diana Ross, art song interpreters like Duncan Sheik, and dance divas from Donna Summer to Amber.
Her song “I Have Loved You” appeared on Jessica Simpson’s multi-platinum album In this Skin, “Candy” provided Mandy Moore with a Top Ten hit, and “Livin’ For Love” peaked at the top of the dance charts for Natalie Cole. “Aim Your Arrow High” helped earn a Grammy nomination (Contemporary Soul/Gospel) for the Tramaine Hawkins album To a Higher Place. Her song, “Don’t Waste Your Time,” a duet with musicians Mary J. Blige and Aretha Franklin, also earned her a Grammy nomination. She has written for many film projects, including Billy Porter’s rendition of “Love Is On The Way” in The First Wives Club, which inspired Celine Dion to record her triple-platinum version of the song. Rich also wrote “Love Is A Crime” for the film Chicagowhich was also featured on the film’s Grammy winning Soundtrack. Her music stands the test of time with a revival of one of her songs written and performed by Luther Vandross, recently newly recorded by Dionne Warwick for her I’m Backalbum, where the remix landed a number one Breakout Dance Song on the Billboard charts. Proving her continued songwriting longevity, her song “Love Will Set You Free” was sampled and featured in the Wale song “Set You Free” just released by Warner Records for the rapper’s sixth studio album.
One of Ms. Rich’s accomplishments includes being appointed to the board of the Clive Davis Recorded Music Program at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She also served on the boards of LIFEbeat (The Music Industry Fights AIDS), The Interfaith Center of New York, and The International Committee of the Guggenheim Museum.
It is her instinctive love of music that has propelled her through life as a successful songwriter, philanthropistand mother.
Ilona Rich Schachter
Director
Director
Lorraine E. Schwartz
Lorraine E. Schwartz, Inc.
Lorraine E. Schwartz, Inc.
Responsible for some of the most iconic jewelry moments of the 21st Century, Lorraine Schwartz is an American high jewelry designer and third-generation diamond dealer whose pieces have adorned some of the world’s most influential individuals – from royalty, to industry icons, and A-list celebrities.
Michèle Rella
Director
Director
Patricia Quick
Philanthropist
Philanthropist
Ms. Quick, the youngest of the late Leslie Quick’s children, is a prominent fundraiser and philanthropist, as well as an active member of numerous Boards and organizations. In honor and furtherance of her father’s renowned generosity to Catholic charities, she has served on the Board of Trustees of The Inner-City Scholarship Fund (ICSF) in New York City since June of 2001 and personally sponsors three inner-city students each year. (Her late father was especially loyal to ICSF, having served as one of the founding trustees).
A breast cancer survivor herself, Ms. Quick serves on the Board of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). In addition, she has been an active supporter/donor of many other charities over the years, including The American Red Cross, The Arthritis Foundation, The Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT, The Norton Museum in Palm Beach, FL, The Christopher Reeve Foundation, amfAR/Cinema Against AIDS, and Cold Spring Harbor laboratory.
For three years (2005-2007), she hosted and championed the Belle Haven Challenge event for the benefit of Shake-A-Leg, a Newport, RI charitable organization providing progressive rehabilitation for people with disabilities. She continues to serve on the Board of Shake-A-Leg today.
Patricia is also affiliated with Best Buddies, a Miami-based charity that provides college and high-school student mentors to mentally-handicapped individuals.
A graduate of Pine Manor College, she maintains homes in Palm Beach, FL, Greenwich, CT, and New York City but resides primarily in Palm Beach with her son, P.J.
Paul Schindler
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Paul D. Schindler is the Senior Chair of the New York Entertainment and Media Practice at Greenberg Traurig LLP. Paul and Allen Grubman established a law firm in May 1974 and were joined shortly thereafter by Arthur Indursky. Together they formed the law firm of Grubman Indursky & Schindler, P.C. Over the years, Paul Schindler has served as counsel to numerous award-winning, multi-platinum musical artists, producers, record labels, and various types of entertainment companies.
Star Jones
Attorney, Advocate & Television Personality
Attorney, Advocate & Television Personality
Star Jones is an attorney, advocate, business executive, best-selling author
and an Emmy award nominated TV host. Skilled in law, media and
business, Ms. Jones is presently a member of the Board of Directors and
President of Professional Diversity Network, a publicly traded company
(Nasdaq: IPDN). She is amongst a small group of African-American women
in leadership of a publicly traded company in the U.S.
Ms. Jones has also worked in television (NBC News, The Today Show,
Dateline NBC, ABC News, E! Entertainment Television, Court TV, CNN,
Fox Business, CNBC, MSNBC, BET) as a host, journalist, commentator
and/or producer for more than 25 years; offering a fresh perspective to the
day’s most talked about crime and justice, political and sociological issues
from the worlds of news, entertainment, politics and pop culture. Best
known to television viewers for her candor, confidence and uncanny ability
to clarify muddy legal and social issues as a co-host of ABC’s The View for
nine years, along with her colleagues, Ms. Jones is a 2017 Inductee into
the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame.
An author of three best-selling books, Ms. Jones’ third best book, Satan’s
Sisters, (a fictional account of the behind-the-scenes workings of a daytime
talk show) was developed into “Daytime Divas,” a VH1 network television
series with Ms. Jones as an Executive Producer.
Ms. Jones is a 38 year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and is
heavily involved in numerous philanthropic efforts. In 2011, a heart disease
survivor, Ms Jones was named the American Heart Association’s National
Volunteer; utilizing her name, voice, time and international media platform
to combat the nations’ number one killer…cardio-vascular disease, and
champion Heart Health in America.
A frequent motivational speaker, Star lectures on a variety of topics including,
Law, Politics, Race, Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment, Pop
Culture, Networking, and Heart Health. She continues to be seen in various
media appearances as a legal analyst and women’s health and workplace
advocate.
Stephen D. Nimer, MD – Chairman
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Director, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
A hematologist, molecular biologist, and bone marrow transplant physician, Dr. Nimer is currently the Director of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami, Florida. Dr. Nimer was at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York for nearly 20 years, where he held the Alfred P. Sloan Chair and served as Head of the Division of Hematologic Oncology, Vice Chairman for Faculty Development, and Chief of the Hematology Service. He also served as a member of Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, an Attending Physician at Memorial Hospital, and a Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University.
Over the years, Dr. Nimer has conducted extensive clinical and basic science research into the treatment and genetic basis of adult leukemia and bone marrow failure states, defining the regulatory mechanisms that control the production of blood cells and exploring ways to improve the treatment of blood based cancers. He has authored over 200 scientific publications and has received numerous awards for his research, including the prestigious Irma T. Hirschl Career Scientist Award. Dr. Nimer graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1975, and received his M.D. degree with honors from the University of Chicago of Medicine in 1979. He completed training in Internal Medicine and Hematology/Oncology at the UCLA School of Medicine, and joined the faculty there in 1986, before moving to Memorial Sloan-Kettering in 1993.
Dr. Nimer was elected to the American Society of Clinical Investigators at age 42, and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. He serves on the editorial board of several medical journals, and on the medical boards of the Myelodysplastic Syndrome Foundation, the Bone Marrow Foundation, and other foundations. Dr. Nimer is also the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board of Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research.