On Wednesday, September 20th, the Women’s Committee and Playground Partners of the Central Park Conservancy kicked off the fall season with their annual Play for the Park round-robin tennis tournament.
In support of the daily upkeep and ongoing care of Central Park’s 21 playgrounds, the sporty fall benefit raised over $151,000 crucial to providing New York children and families with safe and accessible areas to play. Participants of all skill levels joined spirited matches on Central Park’s Tennis Center’s Har-Tru courts and enjoyed a light breakfast during the two sessions. The event gathered over 100 players and spectators, with many dressed in head-to-toe tennis gear from the event’s new presenting sponsor for 2023, Tuckernuck.
A floral arch by Popup Florist welcomed guests as they entered the courts, where round- robin games were played in an exciting, friendly competition. Prizes and gift bag items were generously donated by Tuckernuck, Dear Annabelle, Le Closet New York, Renwick, Stocked by Three Owls, Supergoop!, and USTA Eastern.
“The Women’s Committee is thrilled to bring back our Play for the Park fundraiser this fall to celebrate our love of tennis and Central Park,” said Jenny Price, Women’s Committee President.
“Central Park’s 21 playgrounds are cherished by so many children, families, and New Yorkers,” said Betsy Smith, President and CEO, Central Park Conservancy. “The support provided by the Playground Partners ensures that the playgrounds will remain safe and accessible to all who enjoy them for generations to come. I am grateful to Jenny and the entire Women’s Committee for their steadfast support of the Conservancy and our work to ensure the long-term care of Central Park.”
This year’s event Co-Chairs were Sarah Gallant Kurita, Lara Marcon, Caroline Meade, Erin Nance, and Katie Peek Tochilin, with Yesim Philip as the Honorary Chair. The Co-Chairs were joined by Playground Partners Chairs Kate Lauprete and Stephanie X. Stamas, along with Women’s Committee President Jenny Price and Central Park Conservancy President & CEO Betsy Smith. Guests included Michèle Brazil, Sugie Hong Bruttomesso, Kate Davis, Jocelyn Gailliot, Tracey Huff, Brooke Kelly Murray, and Michelle Madonna.
The first session’s top winners were Mimi Ritzen Crawford and Fraser Maloney, while victory in the second session was celebrated by Juliana Diaz and Kat Dines.
The Women’s Committee is a community of Central Park philanthropists with a passion for preserving and enhancing Central Park. With a membership of 1,000 the Women’s Committee has provided invaluable support and raises critical funds for the general operations of the Park. Since its inception in 1983, the Women’s Committee has raised over $215 million and enables anyone to make a personal investment in the Park. For more information, visit centralparknyc.org/womenscommittee and follow them on Instagram @CentralParkNYCWomensCommittee.
A Little Bit Country, a Little Bit Rock ‘n’ Roll. Country Music Hall of Fame members Vince Gill and Emmylou Harris, along with Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce took the stage a couple weeks back at All for the Hall New York, a benefit for the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s education programs.
The All for the Hall concert is modeled after a Nashville tradition known as a “guitar pull,” a casual affair in which songwriters take turns performing while their fellow artists listen or add accompaniment. This one-of-a-kind evening at New York’s Irving Plaza unfolded with Gill, Harris, McBryde and Pearce swapping stories and music.
In addition to the guitar pull, the evening also showcased the museum’s flagship education program, Words & Music. The program pairs students with professional songwriters to help them develop language arts skills as they learn how to write songs. The song “”When Hearts Come to Life,” written by first-grade students from PS32 in Brooklyn who participated in Words & Music with Songwriters Hall of Fame member Liz Rose and Phil Barton, was also featured during the All for the Hall event via video.
Peytan Porter kicked off All for the Hall New York festivities with a special performance at a patron party on Monday, Sept. 11, at the home of Jamie Tisch.
The All for the Hall campaign began in 2005 when Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill suggested country music artists contribute the proceeds of one annual performance to benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Launched in 2007 in New York, the series has alternated between New York and Los Angeles in succeeding years, with Gill and fellow Country Music Hall of Fame member Emmylou Harris as hosts. With Keith Urban, Gill also co-hosts a recurring All for the Hall concert in Nashville at Bridgestone Arena. All for the Hall concerts have raised nearly $6 million in support of the museum’s educational initiatives, which directly serve more than 130,000 people annually.
Hamptons Rewind. Sergio Nicolosi, Greg Matthews and Bradford Rand, of RAND Luxury, hosted the annual “Hamptons Concours” at a private estate in Bridgehampton. The invitation-only Concours benefitted the Southampton Animal Shelter, the leading “No-Kill” shelter on Long Island, and The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which is dedicated to finding cures for cancer.
Guests, including animal advocate Georgina Bloomberg, writer/editor Devorah Rose, plastic surgeon Dr. Lyle Leipziger, Consuelo Vanderbilt, attorney Daniel Stock, Sunny Akhtari and dermatologist Dr. Ken Mark, checked out the perfectly preserved vintage and new luxury motorcars.
The collection of vehicles was estimated to be worth over $100 million. The event featured new cars from the top manufacturers, including Ferrari, Aston Martin, McLaren, Porsche, Lamborghini and Bentley.
A select group of automotive connoisseurs and judges, led by chief judge Glenn Simon, reviewed nearly 80 handmade Italian masterpieces during the contest. The Best in Show went to a lime green 1992 Porsche 964 Turbo.
