Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), the world’s largest private source of funding for food allergy research, held the 21st Annual Food Allergy Ball on Dec. 3, 2018, at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City. The Ball, which attracted 370 supporters, raised over $2.1 million which will benefit FARE, a national nonprofit organization with the mission of improving the quality of life and the health of individuals with food allergies, and providing them hope through the promise of new treatments. Broadway and recording star Jessica Vosk, who is personally affected by food allergies, gave a special performance.
The evening honored Kimberley Yates Grosso for her leadership and advocacy on behalf of families seeing life-changing therapies for food allergy. James R. Baker, Jr., MD, former CEO of FARE, received the Food Allergy Changemaker Award for his leadership at FARE, including the creation of the FARE Clinical Network, a bold collaborative that is changing the face of clinical care and accelerating food allergy research. Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, Iron Chef and Food Network Celebrity Chef, was honored for her commitment to keeping diners with food allergies safe and setting an example for chefs across the country.
Additionally, Lisa Gable, FARE CEO, announced the kickoff of a $200 million fundraising and awareness campaign, Contains: Courage™. The campaign is a five-year effort to highlight the “ingredients” that make children living with food allergies extraordinary, raise historic funding in support of families managing food allergies, and educate Americans about the disease.
Karen and Lianne Mandelbaum and Diana Riklis and Talia Day were the Gala Dinner Chairs. Joseph Ianniello, President and Acting CEO of CBS Corporation, was the Corporate Dinner Chair. Liana Silverstein Backal and Arthur Backal, Nina Rennert Davidson and Mitchell Davidson, Kathy Franklin, Abby and Robert Goldstein, Kim and Alan Hartman, Helen and David Jaffe, Rebecca and Sacha Lainovic, Nicole and Marc Lenner, Roxanne and Dean Palin, and Stacey and Marc Saiontz were the Vice Dinner Chairs.
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) works on behalf of the 15 million Americans with food allergies, including all those at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis. This potentially deadly disease affects 1 in every 13 children in the U.S. – or roughly two in every classroom. FARE’s mission is to improve the quality of life and the health of individuals with food allergies, and to provide them hope through the promise of new treatments. Our work is organized around three core tenets: LIFE – support the ability of individuals with food allergies to live safe, productive lives with the respect of others through our education and advocacy initiatives; HEALTH – enhance the healthcare access of individuals with food allergies to state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment; and HOPE – encourage and fund research in both industry and academia that promises new therapies to improve the allergic condition. For more information, visit www.foodallergy.org.
On Thursday, November 15, 2018, The Fresh Air Fund held its Annual Fall Benefit and Silent Auction, “A Night in Wonderland,” at Chelsea Piers in New York City. Over 400 supporters and friends enjoyed cocktails, dinner, dancing and a silent auction and raised over $450,000 to benefit The Fresh Air Fund, a nonprofit organization.
The Benefit Chairs were Isabelle B. Krusen, Courtney Alexis Langer, and Tamie Peters Thomas & Richard D. Thomas. Vice Chairs were Ashton Abbot & Evan W. Uhlick, Billy & Melanie King, Amelie Lonergan, Marjan Mehrkhast and Frank A. Zimbaro.
Silent Auction highlights included: tour of Michter’s private distillery in Louisville, KY, with roundtrip airfare and a hotel stay for two; round of golf for three with lunch at Fisher’s Island; tickets to Broadway’s newest show, American Son; VIP Chef’s Tasting Dinner for 8 at VANDAL, followed by a VIP night out at VANDAL Nightclub and more.
The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.8 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. Each summer, thousands of children visit volunteer host families along the East Coast and Southern Canada and at The Fund’s five overnight camps in Fishkill, New York. Fresh Air children also participate in year-round leadership and educational programs. For more information, visit www.freshair.org.
The ninth annual Silver Hill Hospital Giving Hope Gala honored Emmy Award-winning talk show host Dick Cavett with the 2018 Visionary Award on Monday, November 12th at Cipriani 42nd in New York City. The award honors an individual who, through personal contribution and action, has inspired others and helped remove the stigma of mental illness or addiction. In addition, professional golfer, author and mental health activist Michael Wellington was the evening’s guest speaker. Award-winning comedienne Mina Hartong served as emcee and led the paddle raise.
The evening included dinner, dancing and a live auction conducted by Lucas Hunt. Approximately 325 guests attended the event that raised money for the Patient Financial Aid Fund that serves individuals who benefit from the hospital’s long-term residential treatment programs but are without adequate resources to cover the costs.
Cavett, a legendary, three-time Emmy winner and author, hosted late night talk shows over several decades. Cavett became known for his provocative interviews and lively debates. He has openly discussed his bouts of clinical depression. In 1980, he experienced what he characterized as his “biggest depressive episode,” and later underwent electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Following his therapy, Cavett became a strong advocate for ECT, calling it “a magic wand” in his treatment for depression.
Attendees included: Dick Cavett (honoree), Michael Wellington (author and guest speaker), Mina Hartong (emcee and auctioneer), Jonny Podell, Chad Coleman (actor), Dr. Andrew Gerber (incoming President and Medical Director), Dr. Sigurd Ackerman (President Emeritus)
Silver Hill Hospital Board of Directors: Lance Lundberg (Co-Chair, Board of Directors), Peter Orthwein (Co-Chair), Linda Autore, Nora Bailey Bass, Amy C. Bauman, Richard Canning, Ward F. Cleary, Esq., Sperry A. Decew, Richard Gannon, Hendrik J. Hartong, Jr., Theodore Herman, Todd Hollander, David L. Hunt, Claudette H. Kunkes, PhD., Paul Lambdin, Deann Murphy, James Perakis, Deborah Shabecoff, David Stifelman, and Cheryl Wiesenfeld.
On Monday, December 4th, the 61st annual Dance Magazine Awards at the Ailey Citigroup Theater honored Ronald K. Brown (his award presented by Arcell Cabuag), Lourdes Lopez (presented by the Ford Foundation’s Darren Walker), Crystal Pite (presented by Sean Curran), and Michael Trusnovec (presented by Patrick Corbin). A special Leadership Award was presented to Nigel Redden by Dance Media CEO Frederic Seegal.
An emotional Misty Copeland opened the program, “I’ve just come from Arthur Mitchell’s memorial service. Celebrating a life of such incredible impact, puts so much into perspective … and a stronger understanding of my responsibility as a human, as an American, as a black woman, and as a black ballerina! We all in this room and in the dance world hold a responsibility to use what we love for good. To move the art form forward, to move and motivate one another, to transcend race, religion, and politics! Dance unifies us.”
The evening included performances by Evidence, Miami City Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Gallim Dance.
Proceeds from last year’s ceremony created a new grant, The Harkness Promise Award, for emerging young artists and the promise of their artistic work. The Harkness Foundation For Dance’s vice president, Joan Finkelstein, announced the inaugural awardees; Raja Feather Kelly and Ephrat Asherie. The pair accepted the award together saying in unison, “we promise… not to let you down!” Proceeds from this year’s Dance Magazine Awards will be applied to next year’s Harkness Promise Awards.
To donate to next year’s Harkness Promise Award, click here.
Since 1954 the Dance Magazine Awards have recognized outstanding men and women whose contributions have left a lasting impact on dance.
Photographs by Jerry Speier (Fresh Air Fund); Julie Skarratt Photography (FARE); PatrickMcMullan.com / Sylvain Gaboury and Owen Hoffman (Silver Hill)
