G. Thompson (Tom) Hutton was Geoffrey Beene’s laywer and the director of his company for over 27 years. The legendary designer passed away in 2004, and two years later, Hutton founded the Geoffrey Beene Foundation in 2006 to support critical causes—creating and funding, for example, the Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering and so many more important causes, as well as creating the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual CFDA Fashion Awards. Here, Hutton, the Foundation’s CEO, and his wife Mara, its Executive Vice President, share their work and memories of the designer with CFDA.

Tell us about the work you do through the Geoffrey Beene Foundation? What are its most important pillars?

Tom Hutton: I founded the Geoffrey Beene Foundation (2006) to support critical causes, the most critical of which I decided was creating and funding the Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering (2006). I also created a unique philanthropic business model (2009) for Geoffrey Beene, LLC which provides 100% of its net profits to fund revolutionary new cancer research in all cancers at the now world renowned Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center.  In addition to leading our cancer support, Mara and I have led the Geoffrey Beene Foundation’s funding of approximately $15 million in furtherance of education, including over $2.5 million to the CFDA for the Geoffrey Beene National Design Scholarships.  We also had the Foundation donate $2.5 million to the CFDA for other causes which helped lead the CFDA to create the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award (2007).  We also established the Geoffrey Beene Foundation Alzheimer’s Initiative (2007) which has supported research and brought greater awareness for the need to support research for the treatment of Alzheimer’s (for example, we co-sponsored the HBO three part documentary series “The Alzheimer’s Project”).  And finally, we support other health related causes such as heart disease, diabetes, children’s health issues as well as major support for veterans’ issues, feeding the homeless and protecting women and children. In furtherance of our scientific missions we created and produced multiple Rock Stars of Science™ campaigns promoting the world’s leading scientists, paired with high profile rock stars, together with the public message of the urgent need to support scientific research.  These campaigns were published in multiple Condé Nast publications and thousands of PSA’s were placed in airports and shopping malls across the nation.

How important are scholarships and cancer research to the Foundation, and why?

Tom Hutton and Mara Hutton: Saving lives through funding our Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center is our primary mission. Without new cancer research, there can be no new treatments for cancer patients who desperately are looking for a better outcome.  Between Geoffrey Beene, LLC and the Geoffrey Beene Foundation, we have been able to support the Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center with approximately $160 million in value, which has resulted in major research and treatment breakthroughs in multiple cancers, saving thousands of lives and helping establish Memorial Sloan Kettering as the preeminent cancer research facility in the United States.

Our scholastic mission is critical because education is the key to the future of any individual. We have supported PhD candidates for our Cancer Center, scholarships for orphans, scholarships for fashion and design students all over the country as part of our mission to give back to the fashion industry in recognition of the fashion industry’s importance to Geoffrey Beene. A key program for the past 10 years, in addition to the Geoffrey Beene CFDA Design Scholarships, has been supporting the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund with over $5.5 million for scholarships around the country to fashion and design students and underwriting the YMA FSF Geoffrey Beene National Scholarship Awards Dinner.  We have also supported scholarship programs for specific institutions as well.

Where do you see the intersection of fashion and philanthropy?

Tom and Mara Hutton: The establishment of the philanthropic business model at Geoffrey Beene, LLC, as well as the creation of the Geoffrey Beene Foundation, is our attempt to have the unique iconic brand “Geoffrey Beene” provide programs that give back to the industry as well as providing lifesaving research for people around the world. Fashion makes people look good on the outside and our Geoffrey Beene fashion also helps to ensure that people are healthy on the inside, as well.

How would you describe Mr. Beene’s impact on fashion?

Tom and Mara Hutton: Geoffrey Beene was a visionary – a fashion rebel.  He was an innovative artist, definitely marched to his own drumbeat, and remains an iconic presence in the fashion design world.  His impact is being continued through his company and the Geoffrey Beene Foundation.  His innovative and creative influence is reflected in how the Geoffrey Beene brand operates today.

What are your fondest memories of Mr. Beene?

Tom Hutton: My fondest memories of Mr. Beene were our weekly breakfast meetings before he went to his office. He had a keen sense of humor and wit and loved to discuss the issues of the day. Geoffrey was not shy about sharing his feelings about politics and the fashion industry and he had many, many humorous stories.