12.31.12: The last of the parties for 2012

The last of the parties for 2012

The Children of Armenia Fund's Ninth Annual Holiday Gala in The Temple of Dendur attThe Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), a non-profit organization working to improve the living conditions for village children in Armenia, hosted its Ninth Annual Holiday Gala on Thursday, December 13, 2012 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in The Temple of Dendur in The Sackler Wing. The event was a huge success as more than 300 longtime friends and supporters gathered for an unforgettable evening and raised $1.3 million to support of COAF's programs. Special guests in attendance included Nathan Lane, Sean Hayes, Victor Garber and Patricia Field.

For the sixth year in a row, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress, Andrea Martin was the master of ceremonies for the evening. She was also honored for her longtime commitment to the organization with the COAF Humanitarian Award. Martin has been a longtime advocate of COAF's mission in creating and sustaining opportunities for growth and progress among children in impoverished rural Armenia. The COAF Humanitarian Award was created to recognize individuals doing outstanding work in advocacy and awareness both inside and outside the organization.

Diana Haggerty and Daneilla Baydar

Both Sam and Sylva Simonian and Nathan Lane were also honored for their philanthropic accomplishments. Sam Simonian, President and CEO of INET, also founded the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies in Armenia. TUMO is a state-of-the-art digital technology center that serves as a precursor for teens wanting to pursue careers in animation, video games, web development, and digital video and audio. Nathan Lane, notably known for his work in film and television, was also honored for his philanthropic work. Lane sits on the Board of Trustees for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights Aids, one of the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations.

The evening also featured performances by children who traveled to New York from the villages of Armenia where COAF works. They played traditional Armenian musical instruments and shared their success stories with those in attendance. Brian Stokes-Mitchell captivated the crowd with a performance of "What a Wonderful World" and evening came to a close after singer Lauriana Mae delivered her rendition of "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)".

Children who traveled to New York from the villages of Armenia where COAF works

Diana Mkhitarian, Charles Mkhitarian, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, and Sylvia Adjamian

The Gala was co-hosted by celebrated artist Michael Aram. The event also featured both silent and live auctions conducted by Sotheby's auctioneer C. Hugh Hildesley. The money raised from these auctions will support the expansion efforts of COAF's programs to additional villages. For more information, please visit http://www.coafkids.org

Cosima Spender, Andrea Martin, Nathan Lane, and Devlin Elliott

Sean Hayes and Scotty Icenogle

Patricia Field and Fares Rizk

Astrid Mkhitarian, Diana Mkhitarian, Shake Nahapetian, Sylvia Adjamian, and Charles Mkhitarian

Nathan Lane

Victor Garber

Gerry Post, Victor Garber, Rainer Andreesen, and David Duchemin

Dede and Armen Keteyian

Paul and Jeanette Wagner

Dan Mushegian, Heddy Leiberman, Max Teicher, and Sara Mushegian

Anna Afeyan and Noubar Afeyan

Matias and Jennifer Radencrantz

Vrej Markarian, Anna Kazanchyan, and Marian Markarian

Alice and Artoun Festekjian

Cindy and Larry Feinberg

Sahan Arzruni and Carol Haggerty

Ara and Heddy Kervandjian

Helen and Jeff Acopian

Sonja and Ota Hacet

William Herrick and Grada Fischer

Gabriella Kula, Alex Teicher, Max Teicher, and Heddy Leiberman

Nazaret and Nela Festekjian

Ambassador John and Donna Evans

Sirarpi Hacatoglu and Oscar Tatosian

Dr. Nazaret and Lena Derkevorkian

On Monday, December 10, 2012, St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters held its Thirteenth Annual "Doodle for Hunger" Celebrity Art Auction. Colorful and original signed works of art, or "Doodles", created by celebrities such as Paul McCartney, John Travolta, Donald Trump, Peter Max, LeRoy Neiman, Cher, Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Betty White, Mariano Rivera, Martin Sheen, Yoko Ono, Mort Kunstler, Yogi Berra, Glenn Close, and many more were auctioned off at Pier Sixty/Chelsea Piers in New York City.

The event, which was presented once again by Margo and John Catsimatidis, featured a tribute to the late LeRoy Neiman, legendary sports artist, with a special presentation to his wife, Mrs. Janet Neiman. The evening's Guest of Honor was Tony Danza, actor, teacher and author, and hosted by Fox 5 News Anchor, Ernie Anastos.

Macy's wrote out a check for $400,000 in support of St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters

Over 600 guests enjoyed a cocktail party, Doodle preview, silent auction and live auction led by acting great Tony Lo Bianco and Kathleen Guzman, professional Auctioneer and Managing Director of Heritage Auctions New York. It was a wonderful evening that raised over $600,000 in support of St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters – which serves over 10,000 poor families in New York and New Jersey each week.

Joe Pontarelli, Larry Wohl, Colleen Rein, Jane Pontarelli, Richard Soloway, Leesa Rowland, and Donna Soloway

Tony Lo Bianco and Tony Danza

John Catsimatidis, Eben Bronfman, Margo Catsimatidis, and Rhea Grous

Curtis Sliwa and Ernie Anastos

Kim Thompson and Cal Ramsey

Liz Muskat, Allen Berk, and Marylou Berk

Theresa Gilligan, Father Francis Gasparick, and Frank Colluccio

Sarah Fitzgerald, John Farrell, Rod Gilbert, Raminta Massaro, and John Massaro

Rod Gilbert and Louis Siracusano

Amy Berman, David Hooker, and Mickey Heller

Joe Sano, Janet Neiman, and Father Francis Gasparick

Joseph Roberto, Craig Clausen, and Joe Sano

Dolores Gallo, Greg Gallo, and Debby Gallo

Shannon Pashcow, Allan Pashcow, and Louise Pashcow

Margaret Grioli, Mitch Leventhal, Valerie Leventhal, and Ellen Leventhal

Rhea Albert and Cheryl Benton

Faith Hope Consolo and Karen Dome

Suzanne Aquino, Joseph Aquino, Laura Walker, Kennetha Pettus, Faith Hope Consolo, Maureen Munroe, Karen Dome, and Joanna Capobianco

Tony Lo Bianco, John and Margo Catsimatidis, Tony Danza, and Ernie Anastos

Tony Danza and the FOX News team singing New York, New York

Nearly 400 guests raised $1.2 million at the 36th Annual Inner-City Scholarship Fund Award Dinner on Monday, December 3, 2012 at the Mandarin Oriental in Manhattan. His Eminence, Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of New York, was the event’s honoree. Inner-City Scholarship Fund (ICSF) is the city’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to providing tuition assistance for low-income students attending ICSF-supported inner-city Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of New York.

His Eminence, Edward Cardinal Egan, was presented with the Inner-City Scholarship Fund Award by His Eminence, Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York. Cardinal Egan was recognized for his dedication to Catholic education, the Catholic schools within the Archdiocese and their students.

His Eminence, Edward Cardinal Egan and His Eminence, Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan

CBS Sunday Morning correspondent and ICSF trustee, Mo Rocca served as the event’s Master of Ceremonies. The evening’s program showcased performances by the Saint Raymond School Choir;pianist Amir Small, a senior at Cardinal Spellman High School; and a rousing performance by operatic tenor, Marcello Giordani.

Inner-City Scholarship Fund (ICSF) was founded in 1971 by the late Terence Cardinal Cooke and a group of prominent executives of many religious beliefs. ICSF provides tuition assistance to nearly 8,000 students (93% minority and 36% non-Catholic) in 93 inner-city Catholic schools in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island. An astonishing 96% percent of graduates from ICSF supported schools pursue college at some of the finest universities in the nation.

Amir Small, His Eminence, Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, His Eminence, Edward Cardinal Egan, and Peter T. Grauer

Mo Rocca

Pianist Amir Small, a senior at Cardinal Spellman High School

Sr. Veronica Woods Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Small

Susan George, Executive Director of Inner-City Scholarship Fund, Christie de Nicola, and Tony de Nicola

Paul P. Wollard, His Eminence, Edward Cardinal Egan, and Ruth Woolard

The Saint Raymond School Choir

Down in balmy PB: Following the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, author and former Town and Country editor Pamela Fiori reminded a packed house of Palm Beachers exactly what they had to be thankful for at a lecture and presentation based on her beautifully illustrated new book "In the Spirit of Palm Beach." The lively presentation was followed by a cocktail tea and book signing, hosted by Steven Stolman and Scalamandre.

Fiori signed books and visited with the crowd, who gave the book a thumbs up for it's lush visuals and thoughtful prose- described as one guest as "a love letter to Palm Beach." The book draws upon Ms. Fiore's extensive experience in Palm Beach and is shaped by her unique access to the behind the scenes lifestyles of the island's wealthiest and glamorous residents.

Pamela Fiori signs for Kit Pannill and Melinda Hassen

There: Kit Pannill, Talbott Maxey, architect Tom Kirchhoff and his wife Carol, Peggy Moore, Melinda Hassen, Stephen Mooney, Brewer Schoeller, Ray Raymakers and scores more.

The Four Arts presents lectures, book signings and many other events from October through April. For more information, visit www.fourarts.org.