Celebrating its 140th year, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals held its 9th Annual ASPCA Bergh Ball — “Happy Paws for the ASPCA Cause” on the Thursday before last at the Mandarin Oriental in Manhattan. Among those who attended were: Lake Bell and “Miami Vice” co-star Colin Farrell; Kristin Bell; Kate and Andy Spade; Dylan Lauren; Somers and Jonathan Farkas, and more — including a surprise visit by Robin Williams and New York Knicks player Stephen Marbury.

The event included a live auction with artwork by William Wegman, Peter Beard and Eric Fischl. Enthusiastic bidding for these items brought the amount raised at the event to $1 million.

Chopard sponsored the evening, and also created an exclusive jewelry line of limited-edition watches and pendants with floating diamond paws, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the ASPCA. The line is available at Chopard’s Madison Avenue boutique.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was founded in 1866. It was the the first humane organization established in the Western Hemisphere and today has one million supporters. The ASPCA's mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA provides national leadership in humane education, government affairs and public policy, shelter support, and animal poison control. The NYC headquarters houses a full-service animal hospital, animal behavior center, and adoption facility. The Humane Law Enforcement department enforces New York's animal cruelty laws and is featured on the reality television series Animal Precinct on Animal Planet. Visit www.aspca.org for more information.

The Food Allergy Initiative held its 7th Annual Spring Luncheon at Cipriani 42nd Street. All proceeds benefited the Food Allergy Initiative’s research activities and educational programs aimed at finding a cure and effectively treating and raising awareness of food allergies.

Abbey Braverman and Roxanne Palin were this year’s Co-Chairs. The Guest of Honor was Dr. Scott Sicherer from The Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Food Allergy Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Lori Stokes, Anchor, WABC-TV, was the Mistress of Ceremonies. Harriette Rose Katz organized the luncheon gratis, and on a personal note, her granddaughter Lexi suffers from food allergies.

The Food Allergy Initiative is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for life-threatening food allergies. Through research and clinical activities, FAI’s goal is to develop a cure by 2010. FAI supports public policy initiatives to create safer environments for those afflicted with food allergies. They have also created educational programs for schools, health and child care workers and members of the food service and hospitality industries to increase awareness about food allergies. 

The New York Philharmonic held its annual Spring Gala two weeks ago at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. The evening’s concert, entitled Lights! Camera! Music!, featured a selection of the greatest film scores ever written, including some by the conductor of the concert, the multi-Academy Award-winning John Williams. The concert will be hosted from the stage by Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.
Gala Chairpersonsincluded Robert H. Benmosche, Katherine Farley and Jerry I. Speyer, and Alan and Sandra Gerry.

Among the guests: Mr. and Mrs. Paul B. Guenther (NY Philharmonic chairman), Mr. and Mrs. Williams Beinecke, Mr. and Mrs. Timothy M. George, Mr. Alan Gerry, Joanne and Roberto de Guardiola, Mr. Gilbert Heatherwick, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Laskawy, Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. LeFrak, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry W. Levin, Mr. and Mrs. Alan MacDonald, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Mercy, The Honorable Frank Newman and Mrs. Newman, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Petschek, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Leon Rennert, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Reyni, Dr. and Mrs. Leon Root, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin M. Rosen, Mrs. Frank Savage, and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Soros.

Last Friday night CHANEL, the official sponsor of the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival hosted a dinner celebrating their collaboration at the new Mr. Chow’s in Tribeca at 121 Hudson Street (at North Moore). Also hosting were the Tribeca Film Festival’s co-founders Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, Craig Hatkoff and Jennifer Maguire Isham, President of the Tribeca Film Festival.

The evening honored the artists who have contributed original art work to the award-winning filmmakers as well as well as honoring the Festival’s 5th anniversary. This year’s contributing artists attending included Julian Schnabel, Ann Chernow, Jeff Koons, Sophie Matisse, Shirin Neshat and Lorna Simpson.

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