6.16.11: Salute to Achievement | New York Social Diary

Salute to Achievement

The Silk Road Ensemble with Yo Yo Ma and students of the Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Journey of a Dream, performed at Boys & Girls Harbor’s 19th Salute to Achievement.

Prize4Life, a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the discovery of treatments and a cure for ALS, held a historic New York City gala at Sotheby's on Tuesday night hosted by Mayor Michael Bloomberg's daughter Emma Bloomberg, Jessie Tisch, and Sotheby's Auctioneer James Niven. The evening featured a dinner and auction honoring Prize4Life's one million dollar ALS biomarker prizewinner Dr. Seward Rutkove as well as special guest speakers including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts Governor Paul Cellucci.

The organization's founder Avi Kremer, who was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) at the age of 29 while attending Harvard Business School, was joined by supporters Rasheda Ali (daughter of Muhammad Ali), Robert Darnell, John Lechleiter, Leonard Tow, Harvey Krueger, Guy Yamen, Andrew Klaber, Nathan Hevrony, Cynthia and George Mazareus, and Sue Mingus (widow of legendary jazz man Charles Mingus, who passed of ALS) who led a performance by members of the Grammy Award Winning Mingus Big Band.

Guests enjoyed the evening's live auction, which included items like a Smart Car and a walk on role in Damages, speeches by Giuliani, Celluci and Emma Bloomberg and a video message from Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Prize4Life was founded in 2006. There are roughly 30,000 ALS patients in the United States, an estimated 600,000 globally and most people with ALS will die within 2 5 years. To date, there is no known cure for ALS. For more information on Prize4Life, please visit www.prize4life.org.

Jessie Tisch and Emma Bloomberg

Dr. Seward Rutkove and James Niven

Nicole Slezlak and Amy Yamner Jenkins

Rudy Guiliani and Paul Celluci

Avi Kremer and Rasheda Ali

Sue Mingus

Leonard Tow, Alicia Darnell, and Robert Darnell

Bessie Garber, Gail Yamner, Barbara Copeland, and Rani Garfinkle

Mingus Big Band

Nicole Slezlak and Mark Wetzel

Guy Yamen and Shaily Lipa

More than 400 donors, students, families and friends turned out to celebrate Boys & Girls Harbor’s 19th Annual Salute to Achievement and the presentation of a Journey of a Dream on Friday, June 10th. The event raised 1.3 million dollars, and proceeds will support Boys & Girls Harbor programs, including two new initiatives: Establishing a Boys & Girls Harbor Youth Orchestra in September 2011, and the enhancement of early childhood education efforts.

The evening was hosted by award winning NY1 anchor Cheryl Wills, and featured a special performance of Journey of a Dream, a wonderful multi disciplinary collaboration featuring the renowned Silk Road Ensemble with Yo Yo Ma and students of the Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts. The performance showcased music, dance and theater students of the Harbor Conservatory and poignantly conveyed the journey of a Harbor student to discover, develop, and aspire to excellence in pursuit of her/his dream for the future. The Silk Road Ensemble performed selections from their vast repertoire, and performed two shared pieces with Harbor musicians and dancers.

Dr. Thomas Howard, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Harbor; Harbor alumni Judge Edwin Padro, Anthony D. Duke, Founder, Boys & Girls Harbor, Stephen Dannhauser, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Boys & Girls Harbor, Awilda Penny, and Mrs. Edwin Padro

The evening’s highlights included the posthumous presentation of the 2011 Anthony D. Duke Founder’s Medal to Robert V. Tishman, in recognition of his visionary leadership, generosity and dedicated service as a long time member of the Harbor’s Board of Directors. In May 2011, Boys & Girls Harbor received a generous bequest from the Estate of Robert V. Tishman, which will help enable the Harbor to become a premier education institution in East Harlem. Accepting on his behalf was Boys & Girls Harbor founder Anthony D. Duke.

The R. Lonnie Williams Award was presented to Don W. Mabrey, Jr. Given in the name of one of the Harbor’s most beloved Executive Directors, the late R. Lonnie Williams, the award honors the recipient’s support of and commitment to children and their education.

Jerry I. Speyer, Chairman and Co CEO of Tishman Speyer; Rob Speyer, President and Co CEO, Tishman Speyer; Yo Yo Ma, Silk Road Project Founder and Artistic Director and Bill Ackman, Harbor Board President and Founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, LP

Special thanks for helping to make the evening’s event a success must go to Harbor founder Anthony D. Duke, the Harbor Board of Directors, chaired by Stephen Dannhauser, as well as Karen and Bill Ackman, and Presenting Sponsor Pershing Square Management, LP.

From early childhood to college admittance, Boys & Girls Harbor has been a partner in the journey of thousands of children and young people since its inception in 1937, now serving more than 1,300 students annually through education, cultural enrichment and social services.

Boys & Girls Harbor Board Member Sylvester Miniter with his wife Gillian

Harbor Boardmember David Knott with his wife Ginny

Boys & Girls Harbor Board Member Mark Axelowitz

Dr. Marlene Klyvert and NY 1 Anchor Cheryl Wills

Jane Ross and Tony Duke

On Monday June 6th, Hale House hosted its 42nd Anniversary Spring Gala at 583 Park Avenue. The evening honored Diandra Douglas, CNN’s Alina Cho and Alexandra Lebenthal. Oscar Nominated Actress Patricia Clarkson served as the gala’s host. Executive Director Annie Murphy and Chairman of the Board Zachary W. Carter, Esq. welcomed the 175 guests in attendance including designer Douglas Hannant, Muffie Potter Aston, Gillian Hearst and Christian Simonds, Valesca Guerrand Hermes, Jean Shafiroff, Gilles Bensimon, Alexandra Lind and Louis Rose and Somers Farkas to the gala.

Jean Shafiroff, Liliana Cavendish, Alina Cho, Muffie Potter Aston, Diandra de Morrell Douglas, Somers Farkas, Alexandra Lebenthal, Adelina Wong Ettelson, and Chele Chiavacci

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer presented The Mother Hale Award for Caring to his colleague Alina Cho and heralded her for her philanthropic work. Honorary Chair Frederick Anderson began to sing the praises of Alexandra Lebenthal but then surprised her by turning the microphone over to her husband Jay to present his wife with her award. Felicia Taylor told the audience, including Liliana Cavendish, Bettina Zilkha, Prince Dimitri, Maggie Norris, Chele Chiavacci and Hunt Slonem, about the work Diandra Douglas has done over the years to support Hale House before she accepted her Award for Caring. Bank of NY Mellon, Dorsey & Whitney LLP and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz were also acknowledged for their contributions to the cause.

Founded in 1969, Hale House Center is a nationally recognized non profit organization dedicated to building better futures for children and families in need. With a rich legacy of service established by co founder Clara McBride Hale, Hale House delivers child centered, family focused programs that are responsive to the unique circumstances of each family served and the evolving needs within the community and beyond. For more information about Hale House, you can visit them on the web at www.halehouse.org.

Douglas Hannant and Patricia Clarkson

Valesca Guerrand-Hermes, Frederick Anderson, and Muffie Potter Aston

Dr. Robert Grant and Jean Shafiroff

Muffie Potter Aston, Somers Farkas, and Gillian Hearst Simonds

Diandra de Morrell Douglas and R. Couri Hay

Christopher Salyer and Chele Chiavacci

Alexandra Lebenthal, Diandra de Morrell Douglas, Wolf Blitzer, and Alina Cho

Melissa Berkelhammer and Jeffrey Sharpe

Melanie Holland, Gigi Stone, and Alexandra Lind Rose

Hunt Slonem

Gilles Bensimon, Elizabeth de Kergorlay, and Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia

Felicia Taylor and Liliana Cavendish

Adelina Wong Ettelson, Mark Gilbertson, and Gillian Hearst Simonds

The Museum of Jewish Heritage —A Living Memorial to the Holocaust’s Annual Spring Women’s Luncheon took place on June 2 at the Pierre Hotel. The benefit event supports the Museum Community Fund which provides Museum admission to those that cannot afford it.

Event co-chair Kathy Gantz, luncheon committee member Marilyn Rosen, Museum trustee Rita Lerner, event co-chair and Museum trustee Patti Kenner, Stella Levi, event co-chair and Museum vice chair Ann Oster, and Museum Deputy Director Ivy Barksy

The luncheon at the Pierre

Over 275 guests listened to this year’s special guest speaker, Stella Levi, a Holocaust survivor from the island of Rhodes. Ms. Levi was interviewed by Museum Archivist Bonnie Gurewitsch.

Stella Levi (second from left) with her family members (far left) John Grunberg and (far right) Lynn Forest, and Primo Levi Center Director Natalia Indrimi (second from right)

Helen Shabas Melin with her daughter Charlette Klarfeld Jaffe, a member of the Spring Women's Luncheon committee

Gallery educator and Patron member Priscilla Grabino with her guest Kay Kalegerakis

Owner of "My Most Favorite Food" Doris Schechter with Primo Levi Deputy Director Alessandro Cassin and Stella Levi

Spring Women's Luncheon Committee Member Marilyn Rosen, her mother Angie Goldfeier, and Ayelet Rosen

Luncheon committee member Elyse Butnick, her daughter Francesca Butnick, and Museum Trustee Emeritus and luncheon committee member Rosa Strygler

June Feiss Hersh, author of Recipes Remembered: A Celebration of Survival, with Cynthia Perl

Author Lucinda Franks Morgenthau and Museum Chairman Robert M. Morgenthau

Museum Trustee Nancy Fisher with Director of Education Elizabeth Edelstein

Museum Trustee Fanya Gottesfeld Heller with Lucinda Morgenthau

Photojournalist, author, and humanitarian Ruth Gruber with author and professor Bel Kaufman, the granddaughter of Shalom Aleichem. Both women will celebrate their 100th birthdays next year.

Earlier this week, Kate Donner hosted a dynamic group of animal lovers at a Chelsea loft to kick off the Morris Animal Foundation's arrival in New York City. Guests mingled while sipping cocktails and chatting about their love of animals, especially the ones who share their homes. It was a surprise to many when an NYPD officer from the canine unit showed up with his search and rescue German Shepard, who after greeting the room, had to return to duty.

Paul Raybould, Executive Vice President of the Morris Animal Foundation, gave an inspiring and heart felt presentation on the benefits of Creating a Healthier Tomorrow for Animals. Paul was born just outside of London and grew up in Australia and Africa, which fostered his love of animals, especially dogs and wildlife. He and his wife, Susan, have two Irish setters, Celia and Kobe. Animals of all kinds are a big part of their lives.

NYPD Officer, Search and Rescue Canine, and Ann Dee Goldin.

Brittany Wellinger and Ryan Westman with Search and Rescue Canine.

Morris Animal Foundation helps animals enjoy longer, healthier lives. They advance animal health and welfare through funding humane health studies that protect, treat and cure dogs, cats, horses and wildlife worldwide. Founded by a visionary veterinarian in 1948, Morris Animal Foundation today is a world leader in advancing veterinary medicine that helps animals on every continent. The Foundation has funded more than 2,200 studies, many of which have led to animal health breakthroughs in diagnostics, treatments, prevention and cures.

This cultivation event was planned by Kate Edmonds Events Ltd. and sponsored by the Blue Buffalo Co.

David Petrie and Paul Raybould.

David Petrie is Vice President and Co Founder of the Blue Buffalo Company, which makes a natural, healthy and holistic food for dogs and cats. David also serves as the President of The Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research, established to provide a source of funds for universities and clinics that have programs dedicated to gaining a greater understanding of the causes, treatments and prevention of canine and feline cancer. B.B.F.C.R has raised over $2.2 million and has sponsored over 32 studies with M.A.F. to Help Find A Cure.

In attendance: Barbara and Peter Regna, Alex Donner and Kate Edmonds Donner, Grayson Handy, Robin Reardon, Vicki Downey and Richard Rubinstein.

David Petrie and Vicki Downey.

Barbara and Peter Regna.

Kathi Westman, Caroline Jacobs, Ryan Westmann, and Kurt Westman.

Diana Eliose Levy and David Levy

Carol Taber and Peter Eldredge.

Robin Reardon and Norman Nelson.

Grayson Handy, Kate Edmonds, and Andy Pinning.

Susan and Paul Raybould.

Vicki Downey.

Lesley Cassis and Paola Tocci.

Caroline Jacobs and Ryan Westman.

Amanda Bowman.

IAnne Dee Goldin and Howard Yourow.

Barbara Regna, Paola Tocci, and Peter Regna.

Miles Messinger and Alex Donner.

Lana Gersman, Kate Edmonds, and Nancy Amling.

This past Monday night, The Lincoln Center Institute's Junior Spring Benefit was held on the rooftop bar of the Gramercy Park Hotel. The event, sponsored by Valentino, included a seated dinner for select guests followed by cocktails and a performance by Karen Elson.

The Event's hosts and guests, who included Zoe Kazan, Lily Rabe, Gigi Stone, Paul Dano, Rightor Doyle, Jamie Johnson, Consuelo Costin, Karen Duffy, Alexandra Kerry, and Cece Barfield, sipped specialized blood orange cocktails and struggled to navigate the dim and intimate (read: very full and very warm) alcoves of the bar. Only the adorable Carey Mulligan managed to breeze through the cocktail crowd with ease, sliding once through the venue before slipping into an elevator.

The rooftop bar of the Gramercy Park Hotel was the scene for The Lincoln Center Institute's Junior Spring Benefit.

Oppositely, Nina Freudenberger was followed around laboriously by a small film crew for an ongoing HGTV Show on Interior Design. Mamie Gummer, orbited by many and very generous with her time, looked glowing and authentically beautiful as she circulated the many rooms of the rooftop bar, eventually ducking into a small niche with a few friends.

Karen Elson gave a stirring performance with impressive, soulful vocals, while the rest of the evening's soundtrack was in the hands of DJ Chelsea Leyland: a mix that supplied the party with "Son of a Preacher Man" and (a crowd favorite) "These Boots Are Made For Walking." As one young woman was leaving the party, a friend pointed out a lipstick smudge on her cheek: "Oh, I'm sorry! I just got kissed by a Tony Award winner." Touched by the transitive property of lipstick: only in New York.

— Thomas Spry for NYSD