The Boys & Girls Choir of Harlem Alumni Ensemble perform

Hale House Inc., the renowned childcare organization, raised more than half a million dollars at its 38th annual Mother Hale Awards for Caring Gala, which took place at the majestic Gotham Hall earlier in June.   In recognition of several individuals that exemplify the spirit of Clara “Mother” Hale, at the event Hale House paid tribute to House Ways & Means Chair Charles B. Rangel; philanthropist Valesca Guerrand-Hermès; Kimberly B. Davis, President of the JPMorgan Chase Foundation; and Michael D. Lappin, President of the Community Preservation Corporation and Hale House board member. Honoree Valesca Guerrand-Hermès with her award “Mother Hale was a unique spirit who gave selflessly of herself and each of the honorees exemplify her spirit and strength,” said Randolph McLaughlin, Executive Director of Hale House.  “These individuals are living examples of the good that can be done by simply giving back to the community and their support empowers us to continue the legacy that Mother Hale started 38 years ago.  We thank each of them and everyone who has helped make this evening a great success.” The event. which was hosted by Oscar-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden, provided an elegant evening with a cocktail reception, dinner,  award presentations and an auction offering wonderful items.  Among the 430 guests attending the event were: gala chairs Douglas Hannant, Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos and Christine Schwarzman; guests including New York Giants’Osi Umenyiora, Campion and Tatiana Platt, Lorenzo and Eva Lorenzotti, Geoffrey Bradfield,and Izak and Sarah Senbahar; as well as former mayor David Dinkins and WNBC-TV’sDavid Ushery, who each presented awards. Between both the silent and live auction—led by Lydia Fenet of the world-renowned auction house Christie’s—over $40,000 was raised from a variety of items and unique “experiences” including: a walk-on role in an upcoming film written by Richard Curtis (Bridget Jones’s Diary), which went for $3,500; a special VIP package for the Broadway hit Legally Blonde, that went for $3,500; a fantasy baseball clinic led by the New York Yankees’Derek Jeter, that was bought at $5,000; and the auction’s biggest purchase, a chance to talk business one-on-one during lunch with New York City’s Chief Financial Officer, Comptroller William Thompson, which went for $7,500.

Laili Moyshch, Valesca Guerrand-Hermès, Susan Barton Murray, and Lydia Fenet

Cindy Goldberger and Mario Genrich

The spectacular evening also included performances by the Boys & Girls Choir of Harlem Alumni Ensemble, the Pink Diamond Steppers Association and DJ Will. Proceeds from the benefit will go toward supporting Hale House programs including the early childhood learning center, supportive transitional housing program, family stabilization efforts and community outreach programs which have helped hundreds of children and families. Hale House Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to building better futures for children and families.  Founded in 1969 and incorporated in 1972, Hale House’s flagship program, the Mother Hale Children’s Residence, grew out of the commitment of Clara McBride Hale, affectionately called Mother Hale, to nurture disadvantaged children.  When Hale House began, it was the first institution of its kind in the nation to house and care for infants born to mothers who were addicted to drugs. For more information about Hale House, call 212-663-0700 or visit www.halehouse.org [1].

Lewis Rice, Lori Moon, and Tony Dandridge

Brooke Pietrzak, Nicole Gramigna, and Janet MacLeod

Annie Murphy, Mimi Krueger, Colleen Gisriel, and Elizabeth Mooney

Zachary and Rosalind Carter

Randolph McLaughlin and Debra Cohen

Melvin Washington, Charles B. Rangel, David Dinkins, Zachary W. Carter, Esq., and Randolph McLaughlin, Esq.

Rhonda Dauway, Fernando Farina, and Jeffrey Covington

Lee Shaw, Bobbie Silvera-Shaw, and Melvin Washington

Zachary W. Carter, Esq., Osi Umenyiora, and David Dinkins

Randolph McLaughlin, Valesca Guerrand-Hermes, and Zachary Carter

Kurt Phelps, Lior Shliechkorn, and Kate Post

David Dinkins and David Ushery

Steve Gobris, Rhonda Katz, Marguerite Sillen, Marty Sillen, Lawrence Khudee, Harold Sanchez, and Lauren Cuneo

Marcia Gay Harden and her daughter Eulala

Zachary Carter, Elizabeth Holtzman, and Lloyd Kaplan

Jasmine Myrick, Venus Malkolm, Lillian Mancebo, and Jaqueline Hand

Amanda Dreyer, Melvin Washington, and Valesca Guerrand-Hermes

Tatiana and Campion Platt with Valesca Guerrand-Hermès

Pink Diamond Steppers

Deborah Carroll and Emily Maldonado

David Dinkins and Eulala Gay Harden

Charles B. Rangel, David Dinkins, and Randolph McLaughlin, Esq.

The launch of Diane von Furstenberg's Swim and Beach Collection 2008 at the Delano in Miami Beach last Friday.

Chantal Rosen, Jennifer Dominguez, and Bronwen Peach

Elizabeth DiPace, Jose Ramon Reyes, Deborah Slack, and Peter Herink

Jean and Barbie Dunlap

Julian Horan, Chantal Rosen, and Paige Licklider

Luisella Meloni, Alexis Rodriguez, and Abigail Klen

Luisella Meloni, Susan Earle, and Kristen Cetrulo

Annie Kadre, Michelle Thomas, and Mercy Dorta

Joanna Pronk and Grace Clements

Barbara Gretsch, Michael Sheldon, and Gabby Smith

Essene Wolf, Jacquelynn Powers, and Eric Newill

Modeling DVF's latest

Heather Berry and Sonia Vera

Ali Samek, Jilian Sanz, and Jacky Lewis

Photographs by ©PatrickMcMullan.com ( DVF); Shahar Azran (Hale House).	Click here [4] for NYSD Contents