Born Out of Love: A Partnership That Advances Cancer Research
Athena Cosmetics' partnership with City of Hope began with a personal connection. In 2006, ophthalmologist Michael Brinkenhoff, M.D., developed RevitaLash® Cosmetics' first product — a conditioning eyelash serum — to help his wife, Gayle, feel more beautiful during her 25-year battle with metastatic breast cancer. The product became the foundation of Athena Cosmetics, the family-owned company behind the RevitaLash brand.
Gayle received much of her care at City of Hope, where her family experienced firsthand the institution's commitment to both leading-edge treatment and compassionate support for patients and their loved ones.
Gayle passed away in 2013, and since then, the company has carried on her legacy. Together with its customers and partners, Athena Cosmetics has raised more than $14 million for breast cancer initiatives since 2008. A significant portion of the company's investments and philanthropic efforts support City of Hope through research funding, event sponsorships, employee engagement, patient programs and volunteer leadership.
These efforts reflect the company's belief that philanthropy works best when organizations take the time to understand the work, build relationships with researchers and invest in projects with the potential to advance the field.
Supporting Groundbreaking Research
“What attracted me to City of Hope as a physician and as the husband of a former patient is that they have the full spectrum of what it takes to advance cancer research and care for people with cancer,” says Dr. Brinkenhoff. “They do deeply meaningful scientific work and turn those investigations into clinical trials of the highest caliber. City of Hope has the expertise to take discoveries from the laboratory bench all the way to the patient's bedside.”
RevitaLash Cosmetics supports individual investigators whose work could ultimately improve treatment options for patients. Among them is Linda Malkas, Ph.D., professor, Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Experimental Therapeutics at Beckman Research Institute who is developing novel therapies that could treat a wide variety of cancers.
Bringing Researchers Together
One of RevitaLash Cosmetics' most visible contributions is the annual Gayle Brinkenhoff Breast Cancer Symposium at City of Hope in Duarte, California. Now entering its 11th year, the symposium brings together leading researchers, clinicians and trainees to share discoveries and exchange ideas. This year’s symposium on Oct. 22 will expand beyond breast cancer to include a broader range of women's cancers, reflecting the increasingly collaborative nature of cancer research.
Dariel Sidney, Vice President of Global Philanthropy at RevitaLash Cosmetics and Gayle’s daughter, has seen firsthand how those conversations can spark new ideas and partnerships.
"You see light bulbs go on," Dariel says. "Someone will hear an idea and think, 'You know what? I'm going to try that.' Then they come back the following year, talking like friends instead of researchers in separate labs. They're collaborating, and there is real progress that comes from that."
More Than One Way to Make an Impact
RevitaLash Cosmetics supports City of Hope in ways that extend beyond research funding. The company sponsors Walk for Hope at the $25,000 level, fields employee teams at the annual fundraising event and donates products to the Farouk Shami Positive Image Center, which helps patients manage the visible effects of cancer treatment. The company also maintains a longstanding leadership role with City of Hope's National Beauty Industry group, and Dariel currently serves in a volunteer leadership role.
The upcoming National Beauty Industry Spirit of Life® gala on January 14, 2027, hosted in Los Angeles, will honor Dr. Michael Brinkenhoff for his 20 year mission of transforming a personal family journey into a global movement of compassion, innovation and purpose. The Spirit of Life event brings together founders, executives, creators and partners across the beauty industry to support City of Hope’s pioneering work in cancer and whole patient supportive care. RevitaLash Cosmetics’ recognition is a tribute to Gayle’s legacy – and to the company’s unwavering belief that beauty and impact can coexist in powerful ways.
"RevitaLash Cosmetics isn’t just sending checks to City of Hope," Sidney says. "We're on campus, engaging with the community, meeting researchers and participating in events. We get our staff involved, and we know our support goes directly to science. It's a very holistic and involved process of philanthropy."
As RevitaLash Cosmetics celebrates its 20th anniversary, the company continues to explore new ways to support City of Hope researchers, doctors and patients. What started with a single product created for one woman has expanded into a broad commitment to advancing cancer research and supporting those affected by the disease.
Advance Cancer Research at City of Hope
- Explore visionary funding partnerships that expand access to advanced cancer care and research close to home and work.
- Learn more about the Gayle Brinkenhoff Women’s Cancers Symposium.
- Register to attend the National Beauty Industry Spirit of Life Gala honoring Dr. Michael Brinkenhoff.
- Connect with City of Hope Corporate Partnerships and Philanthropy to learn about volunteer leadership needs and partnership options.
- Bring early detection, screening and prevention programs to your employees.
- Find out how to get involved with Walk for Hope near you!
- To learn more, contact Neysa Bowers, Director of Development, [email protected].