The Women’s Committee Board of Directors of the Central Park Conservancy hosted its Annual Fall Luncheon at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Monday, October 28, 2019.
The sold-out event began with a welcome reception followed by a luncheon with picturesque views of Central Park serving as a backdrop. After lunch, the guests were treated to a lively conversation between celebrated interior designers Bunny Williams and Miles Redd that was moderated by Architectural Digest’s Editor-in-Chief, Amy Astley. The event raised $400,000 which will go towards the Conservancy’s mission to restore, manage and enhance Central Park.
“When I first got married, we lived on Central Park West and used the Park as our entertainment space,” said Bunny Williams. Now, I use the Park as inspiration for my garden in Connecticut.”
Alexia Leuschen, President of the Women’s Committee, was joined by Conservancy President and CEO, Elizabeth W. Smith, and Co-Chairs Heather McAuliffe, Marcia Mishaan, Yesim Philip, and Amanda Taylor. Additional notable attendees included Debra Black, Shelley Carr, Cristina Cuomo, Norma Dana, Kate Davis, Amandine Freidheim, Ainsley Earhardt, Tracey Huff, Sharon Jacob, Gillian Miniter, Margo M. Nederlander, Patricia Smyth-McEnroe, and Gigi Stone Woods.
“The fact that the Central Park Conservancy is 100% responsible for maintaining, preserving and enhancing the Park is what inspires us. We don’t take the beautiful condition of the Park for granted. The joy, health and wellbeing that so many people derive from this cherished outdoor space motivates our group of supporters,” said Alexia Leuschen.
The event was supported by United Airlines. The luncheon’s seasonal decor was complemented by tablecloths from Lulu DK and Duralee.
On October 29, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan raised $1.33 million at its annual Gala at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, this year honoring filmmaker and author Crystal McCrary and Citigroup Vice Chairman Raymond J. McGuire with The Laurie M. Tisch Award in recognition of their commitment to the arts and New York’s cultural institutions as powerful instruments to help children and families thrive at home, at school, and in the community.
In addition, the Museum paid tribute to Andy Ackerman, former Executive Director of CMOM, and the global design firm, IDEO was celebrated for its early work in helping create a new vision for the Museum’s future home, scheduled to open in 2023.
Attending the Gala were CMOM Board Co-chairs Shannon Bauer Aronson and Matt Messinger, Jackie Bezos, Laurie M. Tisch, Marcus and Maya Samuelsson, Cey Adams, Fairfax Dorn and Marc Glimcher, Halley K. Harrisburg and Michael Rosenfeld, Miyoung E. Lee and Neil Simpkins, Anne Pasternak, Diana Rhoten, and Manhattan Borough President Gail Brewer, City Council Members Mark Levine and Helen Rosenthal and NY State Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell.
Proceeds from the gala will help fund the programs and services the Museum delivers to 350,000 visitors annually at its West 83rd Street home and to tens of thousands more people through outreach programs at schools, libraries, homeless shelters, Head Start Centers and hospitals citywide, national touring exhibitions, and free online health and literacy resources.
The Fortune Society, one of the nation’s leading nonprofit reentry organizations serving 8,000 justice-involved individuals every year, hosted its annual Hope and Justice Gala on Tuesday, October 29 at Gotham Hall in Manhattan. The event, which attracted more than 480 people, raised a record-breaking $1.7 million to support Fortune’s vast array of services that support reentry and promote alternatives to incarceration.
As recipient of the Game Changer Award, Joshua L. Steiner, Co-Chairman of the Board of Castleton Commodities and a Senior Adviser at Bloomberg L.P., was honored for his long-standing support of The Fortune Society. At Bloomberg, he worked to design and implement an innovative fellowship program, offering a pathway to long-term employment and sustainable income for individuals with incarceration histories.
In recognition for mentoring countless individuals and empowering them to transform their lives over her 30-year career, Nancy Lopez, Fortune’s Director of Admissions, was presented with Fortune’s Reentry Champion Award.
Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder, Bloomberg L.P. & Bloomberg Philanthropies and 108th Mayor of New York City, presented the award to Mr. Steiner.
The Changing Minds, Building Lives Award was presented to Stanley Richards, Fortune’s Executive VP for his tireless service, leadership at Fortune’s David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy, and extraordinary advocacy on myriad issues, including closing Rikers Island.
JoAnne Page, Fortune’s President and CEO, said, “Our honorees are tireless advocates and strong voices for fairness, equity and meaningful reform. They have expanded opportunities for hope and justice for thousands served by The Fortune Society every year.”
Samaritan Daytop Foundation hosted its 4th Annual “Where Good Lives™ Gala” on October 16 to support Samaritan Daytop Village, one of New York’s largest health and human services non-profit organizations. Its services include health and mental health care, transitional and supportive housing, educational and vocational assistance, substance use disorder treatment, peer-assisted recovery, and specialized programs for adolescents, families and seniors.
More than 300 guests attended the festivities at the industrial chic Tribeca Rooftop to honor New York City Councilmember Diana Ayala and John Baldo, Senior Managing Director, Cantor Fitzgerald, for their extraordinary commitment to supporting New Yorkers in need.
The celebration raised over $440,000 to support the agency’s lifesaving programs for New York’s most vulnerable residents.
Among the evening’s highlights, The Eric D. Hadar Family Foundation made a commitment of $500,000 to support Samaritan Daytop Village’s housing initiatives. Mr. Hadar is the Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Allied Partners a privately held real estate investment, development and asset management company.
The result of last year’s $1 Million Matching Challenge, whereby Mr. Hadar’s Foundation pledged to match – dollar for dollar – up to $500,000 in donations, was also announced. That effort raised a record $1,028,642.
The evening also featured a poignant appearance by William F. B. O’Reilly, Newsday Columnist and Partner at The November Team, who shared memories from his time as a teen in the early 1980s when he was in treatment at Daytop Village, which merged with Samaritan in 2015.
Photographs by BFA (CPC); John Dalton & Howard Wechsler (Fortune); Nkosi Hamilton Photography (Samaritan)
