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Notes
from a friend on the Bal de Berceaux
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Anne
Cohen
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The
Children's Storefront Chorus
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The
Bal de Berceaux is a deb ball and a fundraiser, but for people
of all ages, including the most sober of dignitaries and financiers,
who arrive from near and far dressed rather fancifully and to
the hilt, and it never fails. They allow, and even welcome, a
trace of camp.
The 63rd Annual Bal des Berceaux 2004, held on April 30 at the
Plaza Hotel, honored philanthropist and newly published author
Elsie Aidinoff for the creativity and energy she has devoted
for over 25 years towards developing educational programs and
funding for The Children's Storefront, a remarkable tuition-free
independent school in Harlem. Mrs. Aidinoff, who has maintained
lifelong ties to France, thanked the French-American community
in New York for supporting her effort. Then, the school's chorus
serenaded her with a rock 'n' roll a capella rendition of Amazing
Grace that had the whole ballroom clapping along in time. |
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Escorts:
Jean Marie Mussat, Frederick Bronstein, Christopher Boensch,
Henry Ballard Terepka, Trent Swift, Tristan Serge Leclère,
Spencer Biddle Milius, Garret Ienner. Débutantes: Caroline
Elizabeth Chappell, Alexa Elizabeth Broida, Carina Saary, Hanna
Rebecca Lundqvist, Anne-France de la Mothe Karoubi, Talia Alexiane
Leclère, Julia de Peyrony Foster, and Anais Merle pos
with the MVAgusta 750 Brutale, 2004.
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The
Parade in the ballroom of the Plaza Hotel
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To
arrange this signal event every Spring, French-American Aid for
Children relies on corporate support from multiple sources
(generously provided in 2004 by Air France, Altria, American
Airlines, BNP Paribas, Cartier, Chanel, Christie's, Crédit
Lyonnais, Dassault, Fred, Frédéric Fekkai, Hachette
Filipacchi, Hermès, L'Oreal, McCann-Erickson, Payard,
Société Générale, Stribling, and
others), and upon a wide circle of devoted friends - and of course
our ravishing débutantes - to celebrate and help support
the resilience of children who are offered a fresh chance to
improve their lives.
This year, interior designer Odile de Schietère Longchampt and Stanley
Weisman filled the Grand Ballroom with cherry tree branches in full
bloom, for a magical backdrop to a colorful evening. In addition to honoring
Mrs. Aidinoff, the evening's proceedings included solo renditions of both national
anthems, a newly choreographed presentation of the débutantes, and a live
auction of luxury items, including the 2004 MV Agusta Brutale motorcycle which
raised a record $97,500.
Bal des Berceaux 2004 itself raised a total of $400,000, which will be distributed
in its entirety to six beneficiary organizations dedicated to the care and rehabilitation
of needy children: The Children's Storefront, The Children's Village at Dobbs
Ferry, The Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club in the Bronx, Le Centre Français
de Protection de l'Enfance, Le Centre Augustin Grosselin; and La Societé de
Charité Maternelle de Paris. |
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Madeleine
Douglas and Victoria Chappell
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Christine
and Jean-Jacques de Saint-Andrieu
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Douglas
and Florence von Erb
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Béatrice
and Didi Pei
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Auctioneer
George McNeely and Ball Chair Marie-Louise Quéré-Messing
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Douglas
and Anne Stone
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Mrs.
and Mr. Joerg
Klebe
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Leonard and Sharon Zack
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Edith
de Montebello and Pierre-Louis Roederer
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xJean-Marc
de La Sablière and Richard Duqué
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Stanley
Weisman with Katharina and Jacques Bouhet
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Elsie
Aidinoff
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Lorenzo
Weisman and Stanley Weisman
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Odile
de Schietère Longchampt and Diane Ackerman
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Charles-Henri
Mangin and Emmanuel Merle
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Michelle
de La Mothe Karoubi and her daughter Claire
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Françoise
Gamet and Patricia Ratut-Willemetz
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Richard
Duqué, Marguerite Mangin, and Elsie Adinoff
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Maribel
and Daniel Quintero
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Sylvie
de La Sablière (center) and friends
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Caridad
Duqué and Jean-Marc de La Sablière
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Walter
Ptice and Catherine Moriani
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John
Chappell, Elizabeth Stribling, Guy Robinson, and Catherine
Chappell
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Barbara
Brookes
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Livia
Sylva and Bernard Aidinoff
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Virginia
Fox and Jacques Léviant
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FAAC
Presedient Marguerite Mangin and Béatrice Dupont
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Eric
Kronstadt, Morgan Swett, and Jeremy Hersch
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Pierre
and Caroline de Ravel d'Esclapon
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Keiko
and Rocky Aoki
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Agnès
Thierry and Alix Shearer
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Dennis
and Huguette Hersch
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Ted
and Tania Davis
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