Designer Michael Kors Donates $5 Million Gift to God's Love We Deliver

NEW YORK, NY - Michael Kors, the world-renowned, award-winning designer has gifted $5 million to the Expansion Campaign at God's Love We Deliver. With this donation, the $25 million Expansion Campaign, launched 20 months ago, reaches its $20 million mark, ensuring that the beloved organization will be able to move forward with their expansion project.

God's Love will construct a 41,000 building on the site of its current home, thereby more than doubling the organization's capacity to cook and deliver more than 2 million meals each year to individuals with severe illnesses.

The announcement was made at The Sixth Annual Golden Heart Awards, held on Monday, October 15. Michael Kors has been committed to God's Love We Deliver for over twenty years and was awarded the 2012 Golden Heart Award for Lifetime Achievement. In recognition of the gift, God's Love will re-name its building "The Michael Kors Building." Thanks to the generosity of Michael Kors, God's Love will be able to touch even more lives.

The Golden Heart Awards evening began with a warm welcome from Speaker Christine Quinn followed by the viewing of a beautiful film documenting the 26 year history of God's Love We Deliver. God's Love President & CEO Karen Pearl presented the Golden Heart Award for Outstanding Volunteerism to Cindy Little, a God's Love kitchen and delivery volunteer.

Actor and singer Gwyneth Paltrow presented the Golden Heart Award for Outstanding Community Service to Ryan Murphy. "God's Love We Deliver has done such important work for over 25 years," said Mr. Murphy. "They are helping some of the most vulnerable among us, people who are so sick they can't even prepare a meal for themselves. I am honored to be recognized by this amazing organization."

Amy Cappellazzo from Christie's was brilliant in leading a rousing live auction raising critical funds for the continued success of our programs. Auction items included a walk-on role in the smash TV program "Glee," a Michael Kors fashion show experience that includes a shopping spree; Gramercy Tavern culinary experience; and program support items to help fund the individually-tailored meal and nutrition counseling programs and more.

After the auction, Bette Midler took to the stage and recognized the love, support and community purpose at God's Love. She then invited Michael Kors to the stage to accept the Golden Heart Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Before Mr. Kors could speak, Anna Wintour and Blaine Trump joined Ms. Midler on stage. As the buzz in the room grew louder, Ms. Wintour and Ms. Trump announced to a standing ovation that Michael Kors has made a $5 million gift to the God's Love Expansion campaign.

As a rendering of the new building showed on screens throughout the room, Mr. Kors made his remarks to the evening's guests.

"God's Love does life-changing, life-saving work, and it's been an honor working with the team throughout the years," says Kors. "There are so many people living with cancer, HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses who need the care and the assistance God's Love offers. My support for the organization is lifelong and I am proud to be a part of the God's Love family."

Mr. Kors began his work with God's Love We Deliver over 20 years ago. Each year he has increased his unwavering dedication to the organization tenfold. This past July, God's Love announced "Michael Kors Month" in honor of the designer's long-standing support.

Throughout July, employees of Michael Kors had the opportunity to volunteer at God's Love during their regular workday. Drawn from a workforce of over 400 employees in the New York and New Jersey corporate offices, the volunteers assisted in preparing meals in the God's Love kitchens.

"We are extremely honored to receive this remarkable gift from our dear friend Michael Kors. This gift is historic. It is the single largest private gift we have ever received and makes our building expansion project a reality," said Karen Pearl, President and CEO of God's Love We Deliver. "We are delighted to be naming our expanded home 'The Michael Kors Building' and are grateful to Michael for his more than 20 years of life-sustaining support."

The guests dined on delicious food prepared by Canard, Inc. and imbibed wonderful wine and spirits generously donated by Pernod Ricard. The spectacular event was made possible through the hard work and efforts of many individuals, including co-chairs Blaine Trump, Keith Richards and Patti Hansen, Margaret Russell and Michael Sennott.

Past recipients of the Golden Heart Award have included M�A�C Cosmetics/M�A�C AIDS Fund; Prudential Douglas Elliman; Altria Group; Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS; Jackie Fierstein; the Hon. Jerrold Nadler; Harry Slatkin; 7th on Sale; and Roz Gilbert; Calvin Klein; Christine Quinn; Ed Prostak; Joan Rivers; Philippe Dauman, Evan Schwartz, Carolina Herrera and "25 Years of Volunteers."

God's Love is the New York metropolitan area's leading provider of life-sustaining meals and nutrition counseling for people living with severe illnesses. Begun as an HIV/AIDS service organization, today God's Love provides for people living with more than 200 individual diagnoses. God's Love cooks and home delivers the specific, nutritious meals a client's severe illness and treatment so urgently require.

Meals are individually tailored for each client by one of our Registered Dietitians, and all clients have access to unlimited nutrition counseling. God's Love supports families by providing meals for the children and senior caregivers of its clients. All of the agency's services are provided free of charge, and in its history of more than 25 years, God's Love We Deliver has never had a waiting list.

For more information, visit www.godslovewedeliver.org