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Lincoln Center Honors Leonard A. Lauder with Women’s Leadership Award
The Estée Lauder Companies' Chairman Emeritus receives award at Lincoln Center Corporate Fund Fashion Gala...
Company Feature, Nov 20, 2019
Mr. Leonard A. Lauder, Chairman Emeritus, The Estée Lauder Companies, received the Lincoln Center Corporate Fund’s Women’s Leadership Award in recognition of his lifelong dedication to supporting and mentoring women, and his enduring commitment to public and philanthropic service. The star-studded event took place on November 18 at Alice Tully Hall during the Lincoln Center Corporate Fund's annual Fashion Gala, celebrating legendary figures in beauty, fashion and the arts.
Leonard A. Lauder and Tom Ford share the Alice Tully Hall stage for a Q&A
“An Evening Honoring Leonard A. Lauder” opened with remarks by Elizabeth Hurley, Global Ambassador of The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign. “I remember exactly the time when I first met you – I was auditioning to be the new face of Estée Lauder. When I saw you, I could see at once that you had three qualities which I admire more than any other: you are wise, you are honest and you are kind. It is rare that you meet someone who has those three beautiful qualities,” she said to Mr. Lauder.
Introductory remarks were provided by Steven R. Swartz, President and CEO, Hearst, and Glenda Bailey, Editor-in-Chief, Harper’s Bazaar. Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger introduced Mr. Lauder for an onstage conversation between Mr. Lauder and Tom Ford—fashion designer, film director and Chairman of the Board of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The discussion explored Mr. Lauder’s illustrious career, his role as a champion of women in the beauty industry and beyond, and the intersection of art, fashion, beauty, and culture.
Mr. Ford closed the conversation by recognizing Mr. Lauder’s impact on the industry. “Not only does he have the manners, the honor and so many things that so few people have, he is so incredibly forward-thinking and he is an inspiration to me and to everyone in this room.” When accepting the award, Mr. Lauder said that, “The Estée Lauder Companies was founded by a woman, and has been made even greater by the many women in the room tonight.” He graciously thanked the women in the audience and those he had known throughout his life for teaching and mentoring him along the way. Of Mr. Lauder’s longstanding love of the arts, he remarked, “Art is central to who we are as a city, a country and a civilization. Lincoln Center represents the best of that, and these programs bring inspiration and creativity to the city that I love.” Mr. Lauder thanked the Lincoln Center Corporate Fund for the honor and said that “an award like this is never just about one person,” noting that this award was shared with everyone in the room, since any achievement is always a collaborative effort.
Leonard A. Lauder and Karlie Kloss, Global Ambassador, Estée Lauder
Carolyn Murphy, Spokesmodel, Estée Lauder, introduced Academy Award-winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson, who paid tribute to Mr. Lauder on the magnificent Adrienne Arsht Stage with a performance of select songs.
The co-chairs of “An Evening Honoring Leonard A. Lauder” were Glenda Bailey and Stephen Sumner, Christina and Robert C. Baker, Anne and Joel S. Ehrenkranz, Katherine Farley and Jerry I. Speyer, Bill Ford and Marigay McKee, Kenneth C. Griffin, Tommy and Dee Hilfiger, Judy Glickman Lauder, Laura and Gary Lauder, Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder, William P. Lauder and Lori Kanter Tritsch and Tina and Steven R. Swartz.
The Host Committee for the gala
included Misty Copeland, John Demsey, Tom Ford,
Fabrizio Freda, Jane Hertzmark Hudis, Jennifer Hudson, Elizabeth Hurley, Karlie
Kloss, Jane Lauder, Sara Moss, Carolyn Murphy, Elizabeth Olsen, Hilary Rhoda,
Tracey T. Travis and Aerin and Eric Zinterhofer.
The Lincoln Center Corporate Fund has previously honored Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Valentino Creative Directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli, Carolina Herrera and Louis Vuitton’s Nicolas Ghesquière and Coach’s Stuart Vevers.
In the past six years, more than $8.7 million that has been raised at the annual Fashion Gala support the efforts of the Lincoln Center Corporate Fund. More than $2.1 million was raised at yesterday’s gala, and all proceeds from the event will be dispersed to ten performing arts organizations across Lincoln Center’s campus.
All photos courtesy of Getty images
