Hoda is a 2011 Red Dress Award winner

11:39am, EST

Hoda is a Mulberry Men Wallets 2011 Red Dress Award winnerTODAY's very own Hoda Kotb was honored at the Woman's Day Red Dress Awards last night, held at New York City Jazz at Lincoln Center, for her significant impact in the fight against heart disease in women. Those commended along with Hoda were Barbara Walters, cardiologist Rita Redberg, Delores Covington and Denise Morrison, who was presented with a "Healthy Heart award.

The star-studded gala also featured performances by Cee Lo Green, Natasha Bedingfield, Charice and gospel ensemble Broadway Inspirational Voices.

TODAY's Hoda Kotb talks to co-host Kathie Lee Gifford about her honor and having to write her speech on the back of Al Roker's Christmas card because she didn't have any paper.

In a feature on the 2011 honorees in Mulberry Bayswater Bags Woman's Day magazine, Hoda Kotb speaks about her dad's dying of a heart attack being a wake-up call for her and tells why her motto is "You have to be selfish in order to be selfless."

For the past three years, Kotb has been an ardent AHA supporter. In addition to hosting the Go Red Mulberry UK For Women special on NBC, she served as a guest speaker at several Go Red events and has advocated for women heart health in her role as coanchor of the fourth hour of the TODAY show.

My wakeup call was. When my dad died of a heart attack at age 53. I don live in fear, but it made me more mindful of my own health habits.

My motto is. You have to be selfish in order to be selfless. I exercise every single day. It easy to say, can I spend one hour on me when other people need me? But it the only way you be around to continue helping other people for a long time to come.