Here’s how Denise Rich’s love of fantasy plays out in reality: She once flooded the terraces of her New York apartment to create temporary ice skating rinks so that professional figure skaters—covered in gold glitter—could entertain her dinner guests; She outfitted the dock next to her 157-foot luxury yacht, Lady Joy, with a revolving dance floor for one of her famous, celebrity-studded St. Tropez summer soirees; In less than ten years, she has, through her foundation, helped award more than $10 million in medical research grants to junior investigators in blood cancer research.

When many a strong woman would have crumbled after the immeasurable loss of her daughter to leukemia, compounded by the earlier deaths of her mother and sister, also to cancer, Rich, a songwriter, socialite and frequent boldface name in the New York society pages, pulled herself out of the hole of grief to help organize a research foundation in her daughter’s memory. It was, after all, one of Gabrielle Rich Aouad’s final wishes.

“She believed very much in research,” says Rich of her daughter Gabrielle, an Oxford graduate who lost her battle with acute myelogenous leukemia at the age of 27, “She said, promise me you will focus on giving money to research.” Together with Gabrielle’s husband Philip Aouad and sisters Ilona Rich Schachter and Daniella Rich Kilstock, Denise Rich formed what is today called Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research.

This October, the foundation will hold it’s annual ball “Gabrielle’s Gala” at Cipriani Wall Street in Manhattan. In years past, the event has drawn the likes of Jessica Simpson, Ivana Trump, and Marc Anthony.

As a Grammy-nominated songwriter for artists including Diana Ross, Celine Dion, and Mary J. Blige, Rich is known to call in favors. “All of my worlds collide,” she says, “So I ask some of my artist friends to perform and they do it for charity.” This year’s lineup includes host Denise Richardson performances by Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle. In the event's brief history, high-wattage artists including Natalie Cole, Joss Stone and Stevie Wonder have all taken the stage.

The spectacular gala, also called the Angel Ball, is an appropriate venue to honor Gabrielle, says Rich, because, “She believed in music and laughter and was always so positive.” Rich recalls that Gabrielle often reminded her mom to live up to her middle name, Joy. To that end, “Life is a celebration,” says Rich. “I don’t take for granted one day that I’m on this planet.”

A woman with many passions, Rich is also an avid skier. She spends much of the winter at her home in Aspen where she loves to decorate and throw parties.

“That’s where Amen comes in,” says Rich whose idea of a fun après ski event is to go browse Amen Wardy Home and snack on cookies and other sample treats. “Going into the store is like going into a fantasyland.”

A serious shopper—she shares with us that she’s bought between eight and 10 sets of china from Amen Wardy—Rich always stocks up on chocolate-covered nuts, candy dishes, reindeer candles and various silver objects including picture frames. “Whenever I buy gifts for people there, they always love them,” she says recalling a fur apron she bought for Patti LaBelle.

Rich’s favorite thing to do in the store is have Amen set up an entire table for her. “I write down all of the details and then recreate the table back on my boat.” Adding to the spread her collection of seashells, of course. “As much as you can dream,” Rich says of their decorative collaborations, “Amen is right there with you.“ May the fantasies continue.