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| Michelle Swarzman, Michele Sweetwood, Diana Williams, Lizzy Noble, Ellen Crown, and Elyse Newhouse at The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America's Eighteenth Annual Women of Distinction Luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria. |
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| Last Thursday evening, Solving Kids’ Cancer held their second annual Spring Celebration in the ballroom at 583 Park Avenue in New York City with a total of $400,000 raised for the charity. Big Apple Circus Founders Paul Binder and Michael Christensen were honored for their Clown Care Unit which brings the joy of the circus to the bedside of children in treatment for serious diseases, like cancer, in 16 pediatric facilities across the United States. The Young People’s Chorus of New York City, whose members are children ages 7-14, provided a special performance for the evening under the direction of Elizabeth Núñez. |
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| Celia Babini and Gigi Ashkenazy |
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| Solving Kids’ Cancer founders John London and Scott Kennedy along with Donna Karan hosted the benefit. Co-hosts Debra Ashkenazy, Gabby Karan DeFelice, Lyss Stern, Yvonne Force Villareal and Bonnie Young along with committee members Alina Cho, Carolina Herrera, Nanette Lepore, Alexandra Lind Rose and Amy Sacco were joined by guests Chelsea Clinton, Donna D’Cruz, John Demsey, Karen Duffy, Veronique Gabai-Pinsky, Seth Herzog and Tom Silverman. The evening’s co-sponsors included Credit Suisse and Paul Hastings. |
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| The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), Greater New York Chapter, hosted their Eighteenth Annual Women of Distinction Luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria. This year's luncheon was hosted by WABC Channel 7’s Eyewitness News Anchor Diana Williams. CCFA Board Member Michele Sweetwood received the Woman of Distinction Award. Michele has been a dedicated member of the CCFA Board since 2000, and for the past 12 years she has co-chaired the Women of Distinction Luncheon and has been a driving force in raising funds in the hopes of finding a cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Lorraine Schwartz was honored with the Woman of Distinction In Business Award. Lorraine is an internationally renowned jewelry designer whose iconic designs have been worn by some of the most fashionable women in the world. She has created unforgettable red carpet looks for the who's who of Hollywood stars including: Blake Lively, Heidi Klum, Angelina Jolie, Barbara Streisand, Elizabeth Taylor, Jennifer Lopez and her muse, Beyonce Knowles. She credits her mom's style and elegance for her creativity and designs. |
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| The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), Greater New York Chapter, hosted their Eighteenth Annual Women of Distinction Luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria. |
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| This year’s Rising Star Award was presented to 16-year-old Lizzy Noble, who after being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in her freshman year of high school, has faced her disease with courage, humor and strength and is committed to helping others with the disease. This year’s luncheon featured a fashion show presented by Bergdorf Goodman, featuring the Evening Collections of Alexandra Vidal, Andrew GN, CD Greene, J. Mendel, Kaufman Franco, Naeem Khan, Oscar de la Renta and Zuhair Murad; Jewelry by Sister Act, Lorraine Schwartz and Ofira; Evening bags by Judith Leiber; and Makeup by Trish McEvoy. The mission of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America is to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases. Since 1967, CCFA has been the leader in research, advocacy, and patient support for those suffering from these diseases. |
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| Michele Sweetwood, Nancy Brown, Marilyn Rosen, and Erica Rosen |
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| Approximately 80 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to research and support. It is estimated that 1.4 million Americans suffer from Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, approximately 150,000 of whom are children under the age of 18. Since its inception, the Foundation has funded over $136 million dollars in direct research grants and as a result, has seen the development of important new medications and improved surgical procedures. CCFA currently supports more than 150 grants at some of the finest research institutions in the world. Proceeds from the monies raised at the Women of Distinction Luncheon will be used to fund mission-critical programs, including a variety of pediatric programs and initiatives. Nancy Brown, Co-Founder of the Women of Distinction Luncheon eighteen years ago and Jim Gold, President and CEO of Bergdorf Goodman served asHonorary Chairs. Luncheon Chairs Ellen Brown, Jill Heller, Elyse Newhouse and Michelle Swarzman have all personally been touched by Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Over the past 18 years the chairs have helped to raise over $13 million to help find a cure for these diseases. |
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| Steven Sweetwood, Michele Sweetwood, Amanda Sweetwood, Madeline Redstone, Melissa Sweetwood, and Ed Redstone |
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| Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are lifelong painful and debilitating diseases that attack the digestive system. Crohn's disease may attack anywhere along the digestive tract and is incurable, while ulcerative colitis inflames the large intestine (colon) and can only be cured by surgically removing the entire large intestine. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever and weight loss. Many patients require hospitalization and surgery. These illnesses can cause severe complications, including colon cancer in patients with long-term disease. Most people develop the diseases between the ages of 15 and 35. Some 1.4 million American adults and children suffer from Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, with as many as 150,000 under the age of 18. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation's mission is to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases. The Foundation ranks third among leading health non-profits in the percentage of expense devoted to research toward a cure, and 80 cents of every dollar the Foundation spends goes to mission-critical programs. The Foundation consistently meets the standards of organizations that monitor charities, including the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance (give.org) and the American Institute of Philanthropy (charitywatch.org). For more information, contact the Foundation at 800-932-2423 or visit www.ccfa.org [1]. |
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| Robin Modell, Rosanna Scotto, and Ellen Crown |
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| Howard Swarzman, Danielle Swarzman, and Michelle Swarzman |
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| Gayle Fiume, Robin Modell,Christina Greenfield, and Barbra Forem |
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| Marian Sussman, Jodie Epstein, Iris Schwartz, Jane Pontarelli, Dr. Howard Sobel, and Debra Wasser |
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| Justin Cohen, Lorraine Swartz, Ofira Sandberg, and Ilan Sandberg |
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| Denise Rich, Lorraine Schwartz, and Tina Knowles |
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| Andy Greenberg, Jim Vomvassei, Carl Folta, and Steven Fleetwood |
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| Carol Goldenberg, Debbie Goldstein, Chapdelaine, and Beverly Shorin |
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| Barbara Berger, and Molly and Dorothy Katz |
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| Ron Rodgers, Jane Pontarelli, and CD Greene |
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| Claudia Morse, Elyse Newhouse, and Karen Buckley |
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| Lois Robbins, Missy Lubliner, and Donna Davis |
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| Ofira Sandberg, Ciara, and Marnie |
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| Gloria Gottlieb,Jean Baraf, and Midge Howard |
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| Cori Goldfarb |
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| Laura Geller, Jane Pontarelli, Liana Siverstein Backal, and Lisa Konsker |
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| On Saturday, May 7th, the Alan T Brown Foundation to Cure Paralysis (ATBF) hosted its 2nd Annual Kickin’ It Old School Cocktail Party Fundraiser at the Prince George Ballroom in NYC. |
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Marc Banker, Beth Banker, Alan Brown, Benjy Brown, Fran Brown, Chrissy Oliva, Kate Kaschenbach, and Anna Oliveros |
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Alan Brown, Pam Newman, and friends |
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Marc Mukasey, Jessica Barkoff, Jennie Baumberger, and friends |
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Alan Brown and supporters |
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| The theme of the event was Saturday Night Fever and ATBF supporters danced the night away to 70’s disco music spun by DJ Ani Quinn. The fun was contagious with bellbottoms and jumpsuits on those brave enough to get into character – some lucky participants won prizes for the best disco outfit. Just as importantly, amidst all the fun – funds were raised for the ATBF Outreach and Peer Mentoring Program. |
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Last week, French artist Julien Marinetti debuted his monumental DOGGY JOHN sculpture in The New York Palace hotel's courtyard at 455 Madison Avenue. The installation, which will be in place through September 2011, was the subject of contemplation and avid supposition as guests debated whether the mysterious DOGGY JOHN was guarding the gates or welcoming guests to the Madison Room, where luminaries in the fields of art, design, fashion, television, and more, joined hosts Nadia Rottger, The New York Palace’s Edward Mady, Geoffrey Bradfield, Erin Fetherston and Amy Sacco in honoring the artist.
Guests vied to pose with the DOGGY JOHNS while Erin Fetherston posed with a real-life Maltese peeping from the handbag of jewelry designer Tana Chung and Amy Sacco made do with petting a miniature DOGGY JOHN. Geoffrey Bradfield remarked that Marinetti's work “brings to mind the wonderful quotation by Diego Giacometti -- when asked about his choice, he said, you don't have to explain what animals mean." That didn't stop everyone from asking, “why a “dog?” – to which Marinetti remarked “it could be a dog, a duck, a skull – the shapes are experiments and a surface for my painting.” |
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| Photographs by ROB RICH (Crohn's and Colitis); PatrickMcMullan.com (Solving Kids’ Cancer). | Click here [2] for NYSD Contents
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