Beneath the Chandeliers: Renée Blythewood and the Angel Ball's Quest for a Cure.
Under the soft glow of chandeliers in a room where the city’s elite gathered for a cause greater than themselves, Renée Blythewood was a quiet storm. At this year’s Angel Ball, one of the luminary events of Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, Renée stood among others, not with the loudness of celebrity but with the resolute calm of a dedicated philanthropist and a mother—a guardian to her son and, in many ways, to the causes she holds dear.
Who is Renée? In her own words: loving, generous, empathetic. These are not just facets of her personality but the pillars of her life's work. She admits to her flaws—she's not a creature of the dawn, her life is occasionally untidy, and her heart feels the full weight of the world. Yet, it's precisely this deep-seated empathy that steers her toward leaving a lasting imprint on the world.
Renée's foray into the world of philanthropy began not in grand ballrooms, but in the intimate setting of classrooms where she shaped young minds as a preschool teacher; Discovering the plight of youngsters battling cancer struck a personal chord. Renée's dream, shared with Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation, is bold yet tender—to find a cure for childhood cancer and to support the families whose lives pivot around it.
Balancing the manifold demands of life is an art Renée practices with finesse and determination. Motherhood came to her at a tender age, and with it, the wisdom that the finest gift one can offer is presence; Her advice to fellow mothers is disarmingly simple: Cherish the ordinary moments, the breakfasts, the walks, the songs. With her son Levi, she’s transitioned from caregiver to confidante, sharing in travels and tales, each learning from the other. The separation of her personal space from her role as a mother is deliberate, a protective measure for the world she has built around Levi.
Mornings in the Blythewood household are unsung symphonies—there’s no rush to daylight. Her routine is a ritual of self-care and a dance to the tune of life's potential. It's in these precious moments, perhaps, that she finds the strength to face the world—not as a force of nature but as a gentle harbinger of change.
Renée's calling is a tapestry of immediate action and lasting impact. The war in Ukraine pulled her across the world, not as a spectator but as a catalyst for change. She poured her heart into rebuilding a school, crafting a haven for children displaced by conflict—a labor of love that speaks to her unyielding commitment.
Renée Blythewood—philanthropist, mother, traveler, dreamer—is a study in the power of empathy. At the Angel Ball, amidst the sparkle and the celebration of achievements, her story is a gentle reminder that the most profound impacts often come from the quietest corners.
In the grand ballroom where the Angel Ball unfolded, there was a sense of unity, a collective heartbeat for a shared cause. It’s here, amidst the fusion of philanthropy and celebration, that Renée Blythewood’s spirit shone—not as a mere attendee, but as an embodiment of the gala's deepest values.
"Every person here has a story," Renée mused, her gaze sweeping across the room adorned with the city's finest, "a personal script that led them to this moment. For me, it's about holding space for those stories, about fueling hope and healing through our actions."
Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation, born out of Denise Rich’s profound loss, stands as a beacon of that hope. With over $35 million awarded in grants and an exceptional 88 cents of every dollar raised going directly to research, the Foundation is a force of transformation in the battle against cancer. The Angel Ball itself is a testament to the tenacity of human compassion, having become one of the city’s most anticipated philanthropic events. It is not just a fundraiser but a confluence of purpose, where stories of survival and strength are shared and celebrated.
Renée's own narrative intertwines deeply with the ethos of the Angel Ball. "It's about legacy, isn't it?" she reflected. "I want my son to live in a world where we’ve turned our pain into progress, where each dollar we raise tonight brings us closer to a cure."
While the night glimmered with celebrity allure and the promise of breakthroughs funded by generosity, Renée's authenticity remained her signature. It's found in her laughter, in her candid admission of life’s messy beauty, and in her simple, yet profound, articulation of her mission.
“We’re here to dance, to donate, to dream,” she said, a statement as effervescent as the champagne toasts around her, yet as grounding as the cause that drew everyone together. “But more so, we’re here to declare a war on despair, to invest in life, in survival.”
In a room filled with the city's glitterati, Renée Blythewood was more than a philanthropist; she was a mother sharing her heart’s journey—a journey she hopes will inspire others long after the music fades and the evening ends.
