12.14.12: Holiday Galas | New York Social Diary

Holiday Galas

Joshua Norris, Jefferey NG, Abdul Zahid, Ricki Rupine, Raymond Perez, Craig Cogut, Todd English, Soledad O'Brien, Denise L Nappier, Tommy Hilfiger, Deborah Cogut, John Delucie, Harry Belafonte at The Children’s Defense Fund-New York's annual CDF Beat the Odds® Awards Dinner at the New York Athletic Club.

Recently, the Autumn Benefit Committee of New York City’s Hospital for Special Surgery hosted a cocktail reception and dinner at Guastavino’s. Guests enjoyed entertainment by The Unexpected Surfer Boys, featuring a musical tribute to the Beach Boys. More than 300 people attended. After dinner, the Benefit continued with “Late Night,” an evening of festivity and dancing, hosted by Young Friends of Hospital for Special Surgery.

“The Autumn Benefit is a wonderful opportunity for Hospital for Special Surgery to celebrate its ongoing commitment to superior medical education and teaching the latest techniques in orthopedics, anesthesiology, rheumatology, musculoskeletal radiology, rehabilitation, sports medicine and physiatry,” said Cynthia D. Sculco, chairperson of the Benefit Committee and wife of Thomas P. Sculco, M.D., surgeon-in-chief at Hospital for Special Surgery. “This event supports a variety of educational initiatives and underwrite the HSS Journal, The Muskuloskeletal Journal of Hospital for Special Surgery.”

Teddy bears sponsored by late night guests to be given to children involved in the Leon M. Root, M.D. Pediatric Outreach Program at HSS

Unexpected Surfer Boys perform

The peer-reviewed HSS Journal, published three times each year, features articles by the hospital’s faculty and alumni as well as independent contributors. In each edition, the journal presents innovative research, clinical pathways and the newest techniques of interest to physicians and surgeons across the country and around the world, furthering the hospital's broad-based education mission.

Philip D. Wilson, Jr., M.D., orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery, Thomas Sculco, M.D., Surgeon-in-Chief at Hospital for Special Surgery and his wife Cynthia Sculco, chairperson of the Autumn Benefit (Larchmont, N.Y.) with Vivian Cardia

Paula Root, Leon Root, M.D., Charlotte Ford, Cynthia Sculco, chairperson, and Thomas Sculco, M.D.

Sherry Jacobs, Renee Flug, co-chair of the Autumn Benefit, and Sandy Teitelbaum

Cynthia Sculco, chairperson, Sara Jane Sculco-Gibbons, chair of the Late Night event, and Kate Lavin Phillips

Mary Lee and Louis A. Shapiro, president and CEO, Hospital for Special Surgery at Hospital

Timothy Wright, Ph.D., Steven Goldring, M.D., Kathy Wright, Peggy Crow, M.D., physician-in-chief, Mary Goldring, Ph.D., and David T. Felson, M.D., visiting Chief Lecturer from Boston University Clinical & Translational Science Institute

Linda Russell, M.D., with her husband, Carl Triscari

Ona Lee and Steve K. Lee, M.D.

Priscilla Cornell, Anne Altchek, Charles Cornell, M.D., and David Altchek, M.D.

Matthew Roberts, M.D., Ann Roberts, and Leon Root, M.D.

Terri Windsor, left, and Dr. Russell Windsor, right (Larchmont, N.Y.), with Dr. Mathias Bostrom, center (Scarsdale)

Karen Su with Edwin Su, M.D., (Scarsdale)

Joshua Dines, M.D., Kim Strother, Eisley Tauganis, and Kat Dines

John P. Lyden, M.D.[, (Sleepy Hollow)], Jonathan Deland, M.D., Emme Levin Deland, Kendrick R. Wilson, III, HSS trustee, and Susan Rose, HSS trustee

Christopher Altche [(Rye, N.Y.)] with Perry Nagin [(Manhattan)]

James Beckman, M.D. and Stephanie Beckman

Scott Rodeo, M.D. and Christine Frissora-Rodeo, M.D.

Liza Sama with Andrew Sama, M.D.

The Children’s Defense Fund-New York hosted its annual CDF Beat the Odds® Awards Dinner on December 11th at the New York Athletic Club. With WCBS-TV’s Maurice DuBois serving as Master of Ceremonies, the evening celebrated the accomplishments and scholastic achievements of five New York City high school seniors.

The five Beat The Odds recipients – Jeffrey Ng, Joshua Norris, Raymond Perez, Ricki Rupine and Abdul Zahid – have overcome tremendous adversity, demonstrated academic excellence and shown leadership in their communities. Facing such issues as homelessness, substance abuse within the family, clinical shyness and learning disabilities, all five have maintained GPAs at the top of their respective high school classes and have become true role models to peers in their schools and communities. Each student was presented with a scholarship to help them pursue their academic and life goals.

Raymond Perez, Jefferey Ng, Deborah Cogut, Craig Cogut, Abdul Zahid, Ricki Rupine, and Joshua Norris

More than 300 guests joined legendary civil rights leader and President of the Children’s Defense Fund Marian Wright Edelman to honor the Beat the Odds recipients.

“These five scholarship winners are but one handful of young people who are facing huge obstacles in reaching their potential, yet overcoming these daunting odds,” said Mrs. Edelman. “CDF’s supporters from all over the country and those in the room recognize that this year is even more critical for area youth, as the New York region works to overcome the physical devastation, financial stress, and psychological impact of Superstorm Sandy.”

The evening began with a beautiful and moving rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by renowned opera singer Joyce DiDonato.

Howard Watkins and Joyce DiDonato

Tommy Hilfiger honored Craig Cogut, philanthropist and Founder and Managing Partner of Pegasus Capital Advisors, for his work with The Polyphony Foundation. Founded in 2011, The Polyphony Foundation seeks to bring equal opportunity for music education and other innovative educational programs to Arab and Jewish Israeli youth and create channels for dialogue between the Jewish and Arab communities. Polyphony musicians Majd Machour of Nazareth and Uri Tibon of Tel Aviv performed a magical rendition of a Mozart piano piece for four hands.

The event was chaired by Deborah Cogut, CDF Board Member, and David Pollak, Director of Marketing and Investor Relations at Pegasus Capital Advisors, and more than $700,000 was raised to support CDF programs that focus on creating policy and pragmatic changes that will level the playing field for America’s children. CDF’s research, public education, policy analysis, community organizing and advocacy is primarily focused on juvenile justice, health, early childhood learning, child welfare education and youth development.

Denise L Nappier, Todd English, and Tommy Hilfiger

Stephanie March and Bobby Flay gave their support to the event as Honorary Co-Chairs, while the roster of presenters included: philanthropist and activist, Khaliah Ali; activist and actor, Harry Belafonte; model and founder of the Georges Malaika Foundation, Noella Coursaris; chef, John Delucie; world-renowned opera singer, Joyce DiDonato; model, actress and founder of the Women’s Coalition for Empowerment, Selita Ebanks; chef, Todd English; Connecticut State Treasurer, Denise Lynn Nappier; CNN anchor, Soledad O’Brien; Contributing Editor at Vogue Magazine, André Leon Talley. Actress, comedienne, and CDF Board Member Ali Wentworth motivated the guests during a special auction to increase scholarship funds for the five recipients.

Deborah Cogut, Denise L Nappier, Craig Cogut, and David Pollak

Harry Belafonte and William Lynch Jr

Marian Wright Edelman and Andre Leon Talley

Richard Greene Jr and Diane Greene

Craig Cogut, Uri Tibon, and Majd Machour

Maurice DuBois

Maurice DuBois, Marian Wright Edelman, Marcella Maxwell, Richard Greene Jr, Deborah C Wright, and Emma Jordan Simpson

Ali Wentworth

Craig Cogut and Tommy Hilfiger

Noella Cousaris, Abdul Zahid, and John Delucie

Todd English, Raymond Perez, and Soledad O'Brien

Teeba Jihad, Alenairam Otero, and Danielle Morerro

Selita Ebanks

Raymond Perez, Juana Beltre, and Daniel Beltre

Marian Wright Edelman and Geoffrey Canada

Leslie Cornfeld and Joan Hornig

Spencer Wertheimer, Khaliah Ali, Noella Cousaris, Deborah Cogut, and Jonny Cogut

On Friday, November 30, the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller, the Commandery of New York, hosted its Holiday Gala at the Yale Club of New York City, benefiting the Center for Food Action, Double Discovery Center, Highbridge Community Life Center and Terence Cardinal Cooke Hospital. The ecumenical organization is one of Orders of Chivalry in existence.

Members of the Commandery of New York and their friends and guests gathered to raise proceeds for the organizations. Welcoming chairs were Grand Councillor Vincent Bonagura, MD, Dame Judy Gates and Dame Barbara Gross.

The evening began with cocktails and a silent auction, which was followed by dinner and dancing. There was a special performance by the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. The event was a successful effort to raise support for the organizations.

Chevalier Reverent Stephen Fichter

Paul Hunter and Chevalier Reverent Stephen Fichter

Dan Finnegan and Patrick Murphy

Barbara Gross and Mary K. McDonnell

Tom McDonnell and Frank Hughes

Brian Doran, Sally, Dorothy Doran, and JJ Doran

Sandra Caruso, Michael Caruso, and Jacqueline Rohrscheidt

Marisa and Jason Bibens

George Stathes and Liza Vachon-Coco

Gigi Fisdell

Evelyn Berry and Dr. Duncan Carpenter

Claire Burke, Alexandra Grzesik, and Peggy Donovan

Susan Hockmeyer, Carol Bastek, and Debbie Murphy

Deeann Devnie Turek, Donna Soloway, Carla Vigue, Patricia Cossutta, Diana Frankel Judy Gates, and Sydney Reynolds-Raniere

Mary Elaine Morris and David Morris

Dr. Alfred Kaltman and Bunny Grossinger

Kevin Matthews and David Barren

Donatella Graffino and Grand Councillor Vincent Bonagura

Karen Deinzer and Kristen Lorello

Linda Hoffman, Bill Van Ness, and AnnVan Ness

Dewayne Naylor, Joanne Naylor, Fred Hoff, Patrick Tuohy, and Susan Tuohy

The 3rd Annual Santa Project Party & Auction benefiting United Cerebral Palsy of New York City (UCP of NYC), one of the largest disability nonprofit organizations in the U.S., was held Monday December 3rd at Chelsea enoteca Bar Baresco.

Beyond the core programs and services UCP of NYC delivers year round, proceeds from the Santa Project Party and Auction help fund special needs equipment requests and purchase holiday gift cards for children with disabilities in UCP of NYC’s programs.

For the third year in a row, the event was hosted by supermodel & entrepreneur Camilla Barungi of Project Runway fame and for the first time the event was co-hosted by Mike Woods, meteorologist for Fox 5’s Good Day New York. The party, co-chaired by U.S Olympic Silver Medalist and author Tim Morehouse and Rachael Kun of “60 Minutes," was held at Chelsea’s Bar Baresco, the Italian wine bar run by seasoned New York restaurateurs the Malta brothers.

Kerry Drew, Tim Morehouse, Rachael Kun, and Mike Woods

In addition to a strong showing of support from a diverse young professional crowd, the event drew celebrity guests from fashion, film, television and Broadway. In addition to Camilla Barungi, Mike Woods, Tim Morehouse and Rachael Kun, other VIPS attending the event included: Isiah Whitlock, Jr., Lauren LoGiudice, Nick Ayler, Timothy Mandala, Kerry Drew, Josh Folan, Javier Gomez, Jonathan D. Lovitz, Dr. Lori Sokol, Christopher Laul, Zachary Schmahl, Louis Coraggio, Jermaine Brown, Kesha Nicole, and Nathan Spiteri.

The Santa Party Host Committee included W. Scott Allen, Nikki Azeez, Dr’s Raj & Jaishree Capoor, Ashley Diaz, Mykel Dicus, Tawny Cumming Fitzpatrick, Josh Folan, Hugh Fox, Paul Giardina, Javier Gomez, Leigh Gray, Daniel Harrison, Candice Horman, Samantha Kelly, Pauline Kim, Timberly Leite, Lauren LoGiudice, Jonathan D. Lovitz, Michelina Mandarano, Joseph Marazzo, Chantal McLaughlin, Alan Oyugi, Shante Pumphrey, Michael Putis, Michele Quigley, TJ Sengel, Paris Sepulveda Smith, Dr. Vincent Siasoco, Mark Testa, Megan Tuite, Marta Willgoose, Isiah Whitlock, Jr.

Shaniqua Freeman, Mike Woods, and Queen Davis

The event featured a silent auction with a range of luxury goods and services, that included Pittsburgh Steelers VIP experience, Equinox VIP memberships, David Letterman tickets, products from Global Goods Partners, deluxe Laura Mercier package, UCP of NYC Program Participant art, private group Tuscan dinner with Italian wines at the NY Italian Wine Merchants with actor Isiah Whitlock, Jr., various electronics, VIP tickets to ABCs The Chew, Dry Bar hair blowout packages, and jewelry by Abena Adjel.