Lifesaving Nonprofit DKMS Celebrated 20th Annual Gala At Cipriani Wall Street

Auction Led by Scott Adsit and Hilaria Baldwin, Performances by Nile Rodgers & CHIC and New York City Ballet's Joseph Gordon and Tiler Peck

With Moving First-Time Meeting of 11-Year-Old Ezra, Recipient of a Life-Saving Stem Cell Transplant, and His Donor Dallas Wilson

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Photo Credits: Astrid Stawiarz & Bryan Bedder / Getty Images

Friday, October 16 - Last night, DKMS - the most significant non-profit organization in the world to fight blood cancer - welcomed supporters to its 20th annual black-tie gala on Thursday, October 15th at New York's Cipriani Wall Street. The black-tie event raised more than $2.3 million in essential funding for DKMS's global lifesaving work. The evening had a live auction introduced by Hilaria Baldwin and led by actor Scott Adsit, with thrilling performances from Nile Rodgers & CHIC and New York City Ballet's Joseph Gordon and Tiler Peck.

Inspiring on-stage remarks were delivered by Katharina Harf, DKMS Global Chairman, who celebrated 20 years of DKMS galas in New York City. Gala leadership included event chairsDr. Peter Harf, Katharina Harf and Viktoria von Wulffen.

Notable guests included supermodel Coco Rocha (2025 DKMS Gala Honoree), Love Island's Amaya Espinal, Susan Lucci (All My Children), Colby Minifie (The Boys), Scott Adsit (30 Rock), Brenna D'Amico (Descendants), and more.

The evening also highlighted the moving story of Ezra, an 11-year-old from California who received a life-saving stem cell transplant, from his donor, Dallas Wilson, a Nashville-based country and pop songwriter-producer. The two met for the first time on stage last night, after Ezra received his transplant from Dallas in May 2025. Wilson sang an emotional rendition of "Heart Like a Truck" by Lainey Wislon - his long time collaborative partner - and dedicated it to Ezra. The two shared a teary-eyed hug backstage upon meeting for the first time.

"Celebrating the 20th anniversary of our New York gala was a powerful reminder of how far compassion can go towards saving lives," said Katharina Harf, Global Chairman of DKMS. "I am deeply grateful to the community that has stood beside us for two decades, turning hope into second chances at life. Together, we will keep fighting for a future in which every patient, everywhere, can receive the lifesaving treatment they need."

Dr. Peter Harf founded DKMS 35 years ago in honor of his wife who lost her battle to leukemia and it has since evolved into an international and multifaceted organization registering donors in seven countries on five continents. Leading beauty company Coty has long supported the organization, helping to amplify its mission and worldwide impact.

In addition to having over 13.5 million registered donors worldwide, DKMS also supports patients in countries where access to transplantation is limited. Through financial assistance, investments in medical infrastructure, and education, DKMS ensures that these patients have a fighting chance against blood cancer and blood disorders.

The organization also invests in clinical trials, cutting-edge research, and state-of-the-art laboratory technology to improve outcomes for patients. This commitment to advancing medical science is central to DKMS's mission and is helping to shape the future of blood cancer treatment.

ABOUT DKMS

DKMS is the most significant non-profit organization in the world to fight blood cancer and blood disorders. Founded in Germany in 1991 by Dr. Peter Harf, DKMS has since relentlessly pursued the aim of giving as many patients as possible a second chance at life. With more than 13.5 million registered donors, DKMS has succeeded in doing this over 136,000 times to date by providing blood stem cell donations to those in need. This accomplishment has led to DKMS becoming the global leader in the facilitation of unrelated blood stem cell transplants.

The organization has offices in Germany, the US, Poland, the UK, Chile, South Africa, and India. Its International expansion is key to helping patients worldwide. Blood cancer knows no borders. DKMS is also strongly committed to providing access to treatment for patients living in low-and middle-income countries, as well as advancing research and development to improve the survival and recovery rate of patients.

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