Bruce Gordon, Kenneth and Kathryn Chenault, Vernon Jordan, and Rev. Butts

Corwin Breedin

Darline Lalanne and Vanessa King Two weeks ago, the Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC), generated a record-breaking $1.2 million in philanthropic contributions at its annual Leadership Breakfast.  The event, attended by nearly 1,000 of New York’s most influential business, civic and political leaders, was part of ADC’s celebration, the 13th Annual Harlem Renaissance Day of Commitment® (HRDC®). Held in the Great Hall of Shepard Hall, on the campus of City College in the Hamilton Heights section of Harlem, the breakfast surpassed fundraising goals. Proceeds will go towards the continued socioeconomic revitalization of Harlem. In particular, programmatic themes this year are focusing on arts and culture initiatives within the community. ADC has led this charge with the redevelopment of The Renaissance Complex, which when completed, will provide much needed rehearsal and performance space for Harlem’s community and professional arts organizations.  Contributors to Taste of Harlem Amy Ruth's Restaurant Annie Mae's Cheesecakes & Moore Aunt Ni Ni's Kitchen Baton Rouge Beeing Blue Smoke Restaurant Creole Restaurant Drew Estates Edible Arrangements Etro EXPERIENCE: HARLEM Five Boro Flag Banner & Sign Ginger Harlem Lanes Harlem Tea Room Harlem Vintage Hats by Bunn IHOP Restaurant Lenox Lounge Londel's on Strivers Row Make My Cake Maroon's Miss Mamie's Spoon Bread Too Mo'Bay Uptown Montgomery My Secret Garden Enterprises Nike Nubian Heritage Pan-Pan Restaurant/Catering Services Piatto D'Oro I & II Rack & Soul Revival Restaurant Bar & Lounge Sheba Tej Honey Wine Co. SLAM Magazine Society Coffee South Beach Café Sugar Hill Harlem Inn Sylvia's Restaurant The Den The River Room Tonnie's Minis Uptown Juice Bar & Vegetarian Café Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, Pastor of The Abyssinian Baptist Church and ADC Chairman, hosted the leadership breakfast. Ms. Sheena Wright, ADC President and CEO, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg kicked off the festivities.  ADC presented Renaissance Awards to Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase James Dimon and Kathryn C. Chenault, Esq.  The event was chaired by Senior Managing Director of Lazard Freres & Co., Vernon Jordan, Jr., Chairman and CEO of BET Networks, Debra L. Lee, President of ING Foundation, Rhonda Mims, and honorary chairs Spike and Tonya Lee. ADC’s community development work spans from affordable housing to education, from civic engagement to supporting small businesses. “It touches every member of our community from the youngest to the oldest,” said Rev. Butts.  “An investment in the bricks and mortar development of a community is worth nothing without a parallel investment in the people, the spirit, and the culture of the community.”  Established in 1995, HRDC highlights the year’s many accomplishments, programs and services and showcases the electrifying and continuous Harlem revival.  Guests and dignitaries were given a tour of historic neighborhoods, including Strivers Row, Sugar Hill and Astor Row, and had the opportunity to see first-hand ADC developments. The tour concluded at Odell Clark Place and 138th Street, where participants visited the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church.  In the afternoon, ADC hosted a Street Fair on West 138th St. between Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. and Malcolm X Boulevards, complete with free food, music, games and amusement rides.  The culminating event of the Harlem Renaissance Day of Commitment was an evening reception—“A Taste of Harlem®”—at The Great Hall. The popular evening event featured acclaimed songwriter and performer, Angie Stone, dancing and a sampling of food from some of Harlem’s leading restaurants and caterers. Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC) is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit comprehensive community development corporation dedicated to improving the quality of life in Harlem.  For almost 20 years, ADC has helped to strengthen and rebuild the socioeconomic fabric of the Harlem community by developing housing, spearheading commercial development, stimulating the local economy, fostering education, strengthening families and building community capacity through civic engagement. ADC has grown into a $300 million, 135+ person agency with significant accomplishments, playing a key leadership role in the current “Harlem Renaissance.” ADC established the Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social Change, a public intermediate and high school, and its successor, opened in September of 2005, the Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School. www.adcorp.org.

Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School Students and their Artwork

Mayor Bloomberg

ADC Intern Melissa Sierra and her mother

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Patricia Butts

ADC Staff Member presents gift bags

Samuel L. Jackson Silent Auction Package donated by Samuel L. Jackson

Silent Auction Mets Package donated by Shawn Morrissey

James Dimon, Vernon Jordan, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Kenneth Chenault

Kenneth Chenault and James Dimon

Rei Perez and friend

Angie Stone, Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, and Sheena Wright

Elaine Hancock, Kathryn Chenault, and Saundra Parks

Tonya Lewis Lee and Vernon Jordan

Ed Lloyd and his wife with Kathryn Chenault and Kenneth Chenault

Tiffany Ellis Butts and Tai Foster with a friend

Larry Dais and Dr. Gregory Williams

They celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Library of America at the Morgan Library. Among those attending were Philip Roth, Tom Wolfe, E.L. Doctorow, and Scott Berg.

A. Scott Berg and Tom Wolfe

E. L. Doctorow and Phillip Lopate

Philip Roth and Nancy Crampton

Cheryl Hurley and Tom Wolfe

The speakers for The Library of America's 25th anniversary gala program at the Morgan Library and Museum: (standing, l to r) Max Rudin, E. L. Doctorow, Margo Jefferson, Garrison Keillor, Judith Thurman, A. Scott Berg, Tom Wolfe, Bruce Cole. (seated, l to r): Ariela Rotenberg and Cheryl Hurley

J. D. McClatchy and Chip Kidd

Lynn Nesbit and Elizabeth Rohatyn

David Benioff, Amanda Peet, Jean Vallely Graham, and A. Scott Berg

Garrison Keillor, Tom Wolfe, Judith Thurman, Margo Jefferson, and E. L. Doctorow

Richard L. Feigen and Isabel Harnoncourt

Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Lynn Nesbit, and Elizabeth Rohatyn

L. to r.: Tom Wolfe and John Simon; Philip Roth and Joel Conarroe; Garrison Keillor and Cheryl Hurley.

Richard E. and Mary Oldenburg

John Ashbery and J. D. McClatchy

Garrison Keillor

Margo Jefferson speaks about Charles Chesnutt

Jean Vallely Graham, A. Scott Berg, David Benioff, and Amanda Peet

The Library of America's 25th anniversary gala program at the Morgan Library and Museum featured Margo Jefferson, E. L. Doctorow, Judith Thurman, Tom Wolfe, A. Scott Berg, and Garrison Keillor

Amy Sedaris with fellow Girl Scout The Girl Scout Council of Greater New York celebrated its 32nd Annual Tribute Dinner at the Grand Hyatt New York by honoring seven remarkable women: Madelyn Antoncic, Ph.D, Diane M. Aramony, Patricia Fili-Krushel, Carol J. Hamilton, Kay Koplovitz, Elizabeth D. Moore and Marsha P Roth. Deborah Norville served as Mistress of Ceremonies. Amy Sedaris performed at the dinner. Alyssa Moeder was the Dinner Chair. Funds raised from the event help fund leadership development programs for the more than 21,000 Girl Scouts throughout the five boroughs. For additional information:  www.girlscoutsnyc.org

Lydia Fenet

Deborah Norville and Amy Sedaris

Eddy Bayarelle, Alyssa Moeder, and Claudia Kahn

Deborah Norville, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Phipps, Jr., and Margaret Seider

Eddy Bayarelle and Board President Carmen Dubroc

L. to r.: Nina McLemore and friend; Pat Fili-Krushel and Kay Koplovitz; Diane Aramony and Alyssa Moeder.

Marsha Roth and guests

Girl Scout Council of Greater New York CEO Dolores Swirin, Kenneth Arroyo Roldan, Elizabeth D. Moore, and Betty Spence, Ph.D

Deborah Norville, Carol Hamilton, and Michael Trese

Sheri Wilson-Gray, Lisa Strickland Harris, and Patrice Tanaka

The New York kickoff for this year’s Alzheimer’s Association Rita Hayworth Gala took place  at 995 Fifth Avenue, formerly the Stanhope Hotel.  The evening feaetured the couture designs of Naeem Khan in anticipation of Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered, this year’s Alzheimer’s Association Rita Hayworth Gala, which will place on Wednesday, October 10 in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel.  Princess Yasmin Aga Khan is General Chair, and Louise Kornfeld is the Gala Chair.  Nurit Kahane Haase is the 2007 Rita Hayworth Award Recipient and John K. Castle is the 2007 Corporate Honoree.  Rolex Watch USA, Inc. is the gala underwriter.

John, Margo, and Andrea Catsimatidis

Somers Farkas and Ranjana Khan

Cornelia Bregman and Susan Hess

The annual Rita Hayworth Gala which was founded by the late film legend’s daughter Princess Yasmin, is one of New York City’s most successful fundraising events. Last year, they raised more than $3.1 million at the annual gala. Over the past 23 years, the Rita Hayworth Galas have raised more than $47 million for Alzheimer’s Association research, services and programs. The Alzheimer’s Association is the first and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to finding prevention methods, treatments and an eventual cure for Alzheimer’s.  For more than 25 years, the Association has provided reliable information and care consultation; created services for families; increased funding for dementia research; and influenced public policy changes. For information about Alzheimer's disease, contact the Alzheimer's Association at 1-800-272-3900.  For Gala ticket information, contact the Gala Benefit Office, at (212) 843-1712, fax to (212) 843-1730 or e-mail alz@hgnyc.com.

John and Marianne Castle

Louise and Stephen Kornfeld

Karin Luter and Laura Hunt

Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, Ranjana and Naeem Khan, and Prudence Solomon

Andrea Stark, Dennis Basso, and Roberta Kozloff

Louise Kornfeld, John Castle, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, and Allen Brill

Nancy Corzine

Hunt Slonem and Ann Rapp

Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, Louise Kornfeld, and Nurit Kahane Haase

The Lenox Hill Neighborhood House’s annual spring gala, “The Time of Your Life” raised $1 million. The evening, sponsored by by their loyal and dependable supporter – like the product -- Rolex Watch U.S.A., helps those in need, who live, work or go to school on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The Gala Chair was Diana Quasha. Honorary Chairs were Sydney Shuman, Audrey Gruss and Elizabeth Rohatyn. Allen Brill, Rolex President and CEO represented the event’s underwriter. The Honorary Design Chairs were Bunny Williams and John Rosselli. The Design Co-Chairs were Albert Hadley and Harry Heissmann. The Dinner Co-Chairs were Sara and Charles Ayres, Lisa and Dick Cashin, Caroline and Tom Dean and LHNH Board President Thomas Edelman with his wife Ingrid. Other Chairs, Table Hosts, Board Members and guests included: Kathy Angele and Lorne Weil, Allen Adler and Frances Beatty Adler, Eva and Brendan Dillon, Jonathan Gargiulo and Stiles Colwill, Carl and Renée Landegger, Juan and Mariana Sabater, Helene and Hugh Tilney, Bernard and Benjamin Steinitz, Nancy and Harold Baker, Ann and Mal Barasch, Fernanda Kellogg and Kirk Henckels, Allison and Jay Aston, Mary and Ian Snow, Kristina Stewart Ward, Mark Gilbertson, Lisa and Philip Gorrivan, Amy Hoadley and Nancy and Joe Sambuco. The evening began with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres for almost 1,000 guests at The Seventh Regiment Armory where they previewed The Spring International Art and Antiques Show produced by Wendy Management.

Gregory and Alexandra Landegger

Mary and Ian Snow

Jamee Gregory

The splendid night continued with dinner at 40 highly stylized tables, with original table decorations created by top designers to reflect different interpretations of the evening’s theme. The Table designers included Andrea Stark for Stark Fabric, Meredith Waga Perez of Belle Fleur, Deborah Buck for Brunschwig & Fils, Dennis Rolland, Gay Hackett and Ingrid Edelman, Roric Tobin and Geoffrey Bradfield, Alan Wanzenberg Design, Amanda Nisbet Design, Chestnuts in the Tuileries, Larysa Sendich for Danielle Roberts Interiors, Lucca & Co. (Lisa Jackson), Brian J. McCarthy, Christopher Spitzmiller, Barrie Conner and Robert Couturier, David Beahm, David Kleinberg, JD Bell, Joanne DePalma, Peter Lentz, Philip Gorrivan, Richard Keith Langham, Sabin Patterson for Pamela Banker, Sherrill Canet, Stephen Elrod for Departures Magazine, Stephen Miller Siegel, Murphy and Company Florist & Decorators, Michael Whaley, Andrea Correale for Elegant Affairs and Michelle Marie. Among the guests enjoying the delicious Glorious Food banquet were City Council members Jessica Lappin and Dan Garodnick, Stephen Schwarzman, Mario Buatta, Jamee and Peter Gregory, Stephanie Krieger, Maurice Sonnenberg, Francine LeFrak, Sheri and Larry Babbio, Ella Krasner, Michèle Gerber Klein, Alison Minton, Michel Witmer, Jill and Andrew Roosevelt, Gillian and Sylvester Miniter, Brian Stewart, Margo Langenberg, Victoria Lindgren, Virginia Coleman, Martin Gruss, Christopher Mason, Alexandra Kotur, Franck Laverd, Rick Friedberg and a very happy Warren Scharf, Lenox Hill Neighborhood House’s Executive Director. Rolex’s Allen Brill announced that his company would continue their support of The Neighborhood House for future galas. As part of their ongoing support of Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, Rolex also gave two watches, one men’s and one women’s Oyster Perpetual Datejust stainless steel and white gold watch, valued at over four thousand dollars each for the evening’s raffle.

Dan Garodnick and Jennifer Lappin

Sara Ayres, Thomas Edelman, and Caroline Dean

Kirk Henckels and Fernanda Kellogg

John Rosselli and Bunny Williams

Brendan and Eva Dillon

Lisa and Phillip Gorrivan

Audrey Gruss, Allen Brill, and Sydney Shuman

Harry Heissmann and Albert Hadley

Alexandra and Sheila Kotur

Mark Gilbertson and Lise Arliss

Frances Beatty Adler and Allen Adler

Stephen Schwarzman

Table by Murphy and Company Florist & Decorators

Renee and Carl Landegger

Table by Dennis Rolland

Table by Harry Heissmann and Albert Hadley

Table by Gay Hackett & Ingrid Edleman

Photographs by Kenya Smith & Bob Gore (Harlem Renaissance Day); ©PatrickMcMullan.com (Lenox Hill).

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