NYSPCC Food & Wine Gala
On the evening of November 14, 2016, guests dined at the annual Food & Wine gala hosted by the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The event was held in the lavishly designed Metropolitan Club in Manhattan. Celebrated Chef Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern and Untitled at the Whitney Museum of American Art prepared his signature dish mushroom lasagna. Dinner was paired with a carefully selected variety of wines from Tournesol and Caymus Vineyards.
Fox News Anchor and Analyst, Kimberly Guilfoyle, hosted the event in light of the NYSPCC and their philanthropic involvement with abused children. She shared her personal connection to the organization, explaining that her work as a district attorney's office prosecutor this past year further encouraged her efforts in aiding endangered children.
Adam Rapoport, Editor in Chief of Bon Appetit Magazine, took the stage as the evening’s guest speaker. Lydia Fenet, auctioneer of Christie’s, facilitated this year’s reverse auction to fundraise proceeds for the NYSPCC’s Trauma Recovery Program. This program offers specialized therapies for children who have endured physical or sexual abuse, traumatic grief, and family violence.
Executive Director of the NYSPCC, Dr. Mary L. Pulido, also took the stage to share with guests the importance of protecting children from harm. Her heartfelt message explained that they are the go-to agency of New York City and emphasized the need to help their children recover.
The NYSPCC has earned worldwide respect for their commitment to protecting and reshaping the lives of neglected children. Their welfare services have investigated more than 650,000 cases in regard to more than two million children. Through research, communication, and training, they have been able to grow their services to provide counsel and prevent abuse nationwide. The organization’s unique services are instrumental in responding to the needs of children who have been abused.
Photos courtesy of NYSPCC
Whitney Art Party 2016
Reeling from the post-election slump, NYC finally awoke this week as a series of late-night parties and galas popped up inside New York City’s most beloved institutions of art, like the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Guggenheim.
On Tuesday night, the Whitney Museum of American Art’s annual Art Party was the place to see and be seen. The Whitney has always been known to be thought provoking and promoting avant garde, and its guest list seems to reflect that. This party is one of the most high-profile, celeb-heavy gatherings with a collective of luminaries from across New York’s iconic creative industries such as fashion, art, and music.
Karlie Kloss, Common, Brandon Maxwell, Micaela Erlanger, and Michael Carl were co-chairs for the evening. Before the party kicked off, the co-chairs hosted a pre-party dinner for over a hundred artists, celebrities, and Whitney supporters including Victor Cruz, Brooke Neidich, Ian Cheng, and Rachel Rose. Following dinner, guests joined the rest of the Art Party downstairs.
Upon entering the Museum, guests were blinded by camera flashes due to the beautiful crowd turning up in their flashiest outfits. A long line led up to the red carpet, as everyone carefully strutted their intricate outfits. The normally modern furnished lobby of the Museum was transformed and adorned with Christmas lights hanging from the ceiling as if something straight out of Stranger Things. Wandering around the floors were two people covered in red paint doing some sort of performance art, with their bare butts exposed to the world as they plotted their way in dance-like form throughout the lobby level. People looked on nervously, as they were unsure whether to take photos because they themselves, would become pornographers.
Entertainment and music was in no short supply as music flowed steadily thanks to DJ Mia Moretti, Lion Babe, and Questlove. Guests also had the opportunity to check out the Whitney’s fall exhibitions including Dreamlands: Immersive Cinema and Art 1905-2016, RED IN VIEW, and Virginia Overton: Winter Garden. Celebrities and Whitney supporters alike made their way around the lobby up to the expansive 5th floor show, the “Dreamlands” video art exhibition. As if the exhibits were not instagrammable enough, Karrueche Tran was seen on the exhibition floor with her stylish Bermuda inspired outfit taking fun selfies with her friends.
Overall, the evening was a grand success, full of champagne glasses clinking and amazing works of art. One of the most amazing parts about the evening was seeing how many young people came out to support the Museum. With the hefty price tag of $500 at the door, these young men and women are probably in line with the millennial mindset of giving back early. With the recent presidential election nearly splitting the country into two sides, it’s good to see that art can always bring people together. Whether you were a Trump or Hillary supporter, you will always be an art supporter. All proceeds from tickets sales will go to support Whitney’s educational initiatives.
Photos courtesy of Neil Rasmus/BFA
2nd Annual Serving up Smiles
On the evening of October 24th, CURRENT, Chelsea Piers welcomed the 2nd annual “Serving Up Smiles” Tasting Event hosted by the enCourage Kids Foundation. Sought-after restaurants and chefs of New York City prepared their famous recipes offering samples for guests to taste-test. More than 250 guests attended in support of the enCourage Kids Foundation whose dedication and passion has inspired children and families for 31 years. NFL Legend Tony Richardson, retired NY Giants player Christian Peter, Olympic Medalist Sasha Cohen, and Z100 Host Shelley Rome were among guests showing their support for the organization. Prizes from Broadway show tickets to a meet-and-greet with Eli Manning were auctioned throughout the night as a contribution to the cause.
EnCourage Kids aims to unify families with similar circumstances, easing the day-to-day difficulties with the encouragement of a community. The foundation brings smiles and excitement to children facing life-threatening illnesses with opportunities to enjoy family outings and programs. Every program is developed with the specific and individual needs of the children in consideration, to ensure a fun but safe environment.
While the night showcased the tremendous dedication of enCourage Kids, the spotlight was shared with the Amodeo Family whose dedication to their family is uniquely inspiring. Frank and Bendetta Amodeo are parent ambassadors who have been a part of the foundation’s bonded community for five years. One of their two sons, Nicholas, is blind, developmentally challenged, and often undergoes seizures, but above all, he is brave. Frank spoke to guests, highlighting the strength of the families within the organization and how much they truly appreciate the programs offered by the foundation. In our interview, Frank and Bendetta described that when their son is happy, there is no greater joy to them as parents, “when he laughs and smiles and is dancing, that’s all we want.” Their hope for the next five years of enCourage Kids is that it doubles in size. “It’s about growth, support,” Frank concludes.
Chef Chris Nirschel, otherwise known as “Culinary Bad Boy”, also prepared a speech, emphasizing the impact enCourage Kids has made in the lives of the families they benefit. He was honored to be a part of the evening and has been inspired by the organization’s efforts. Nirschel has been a partner of enCourage Kids for six years and explains that the tremendous turnout and generous donations are because people truly care about the organization. “When I see the parents and some of the kids that have been through surgeries, going to Jets’ Games, Giants’ Games, met by celebrity chefs, it’s touching,” Chris explained.
The evening raised $225,000, an inspiring total that will benefit children and their families directly. Executive Director, Michele Hall-Duncan said, “Our goal for tonight… is three-fold. We want everybody to have a fantastic time, enjoy all of the offerings of the chefs and specialty drinks. We want to raise their awareness about enCourage Kids and raise funds in support.” Michele was thrilled the night was an overall success. She explained how enCourage Kids supports families at a time that is overwhelming and challenging, “When you receive a diagnosis that your kid is sick, you’re plunged into this world of chaos and confusion.” EnCourage Kids, as Michele also explained, is not specific to a particular illness, something she believes sets them apart from other organizations.
The individuals who have given their time and opened their hearts to the organization have truly brought joy to so many families. Passion has always been at the core of the organization. EnCourage Kids is excited about the future, with plans to expand their reach to many more families faced with medical challenges.
We want to personally thank Frank and Bendetta Amodeo, Chris Nirschel, Tom Murro, and Michele Hall-Duncan for their time in speaking with us.
Photos courtesy of Elizabeth Veneskey
Golden Hearts Awards 2016
On October 17th, Spring Studios welcomed guests and the stars involved with “God’s Love We Deliver” in celebration of the Golden Heart Awards. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the dinner, a decade of milestone achievements, honorable leaders, and dedicated volunteers. “God’s Love We Deliver” strives to serve the urban community of New York by providing meals and counseling to individuals distressed with the urgency of hunger and who also face crippling illness. The past 10 years have allowed “God’s Love We Deliver” to provide beyond their initial vision of servicing those confronted with HIV/AIDS. Today, the organization prepares and supplies meals that are diet-specific to over 200 different illnesses. Individuals and families receive home-cooked meals free of charge that are nutritional and sustaining to accommodate dietary restrictions from treatment.
The generous contributions donated to “God’s Love We Deliver” support a community of individuals faced with extraordinary challenges and encourage awareness for their circumstances. The Golden Heart Awards recognize the exceptional charitable work and influence of individuals from the year. Co-Chairs of the deciding board include members with their own outstanding achievements; including John D. Idol, Michael Kors, Blaine Trump, and Anna Wintour. Attending the event and red carpet were a long list of industry influencers such as Kate Hudson, Neil Patrick Harris, Priyanka Chopra, Chrissy Teigen, and Lily Aldridge. This year, the Michael Kors Award for Outstanding Community Service was presented by Kors to activist, model, and entrepreneur, Karlie Kloss. Danny Meyer was chosen to receive the Golden Heart Award for Lifetime Achievement and Wing Tat Leung received the Golden Heart Award for Outstanding Volunteerism. Neil Patrick Harris and Priyanka Chopra both prepared speeches for the dinner.
A notable member of the board, Michael Kors, began a partnership with the United Nations World Food Program in 2013 to further encourage the end of world hunger. The partnership, “Watch Hunger Stop”, has provided more than 13 million individuals with meals in the past 3 years. Kate Hudson has recently joined Kors in his collaboration as an ambassador, also seeking a world without hunger.
The 2016 Golden Heart Awards raised over 2 million dollars for God’s Love We Deliver. They will prepare and provide more than 1.5 million meals to 6,600 individuals within the next year. One night, along with the generosity and tremendous support of contributors, will enable “God’s Love We Deliver” to continue their volunteer work and service to those left vulnerable to hunger.
Photos courtesy of God Love We Deliver.
Brighter Children Benefit Gala 2016
On the evening of October 13th, Brighter Children held its annual benefit gala at the Astor Center here in New York City. Guests and friends gathered in celebration of the past year’s success to raise money and awareness for the many deserving students Brighter Children hopes to support. Specifically, the night was intended to raise enough funding for, at least, 250 children to be offered education by the end of the year. Partners and ambassadors of Brighter Children were honored throughout the night for their tremendous efforts and dedication to seeing the rise in educational opportunities for children in poor economies.
The benefit began with cocktails and friendly conversation, allowing guests to make their way to various tables of raffles giving away luxury prizes in exchange for their donation. Midway through the evening, a panel of representatives from their partner schools offered their individual experiences within the organization as well as the overall impact Brighter Children has made. They explained the impact the organization had on their students and the schools they attend.
Just this past summer, a team was able to visit a partnering school in Honduras and observe on-site the positive impact of Brighter Children. The children of Villa Soleada Bilingual School were all smiles and co-founder Suzy Peng was thrilled to see kids spending time in the library during recess.
Brighter Children is proud to allocate one hundred percent of all proceeds towards their cause and sponsoring children. Entrance ticket and raffle sales from the evening directly supported their goal of sending more than 250 students to school.
Brighter Children seeks to improve and prepare children for the future by partnering with schools to fund education for students. Kunal Doshi, Becca Wolin, and Suzy Peng founded the non-profit organization in 2013 in hopes to create a sponsorship that would transcend education limitations in impoverished areas. Since the founding of their organization, Brighter Children has touched the lives of over 225 students through their partner schools and teachers. Brighter Children has provided these children the chance to grow and develop intellectually, despite the financial restraints of the communities they live in.
The night was an overall success with lively spirits cherishing the hard work and dedication of Brighter Children’s team members as well as the inspiration they have been to their sponsored students. The team is especially thankful for the generosity of the foundation’s supporters and donors. Brighter Children will extend the proceeds from the benefit to offer more children educational opportunity, bright futures, and big smiles.
Photos courtesy of Brighter Children. Special Thanks to Kunal, William, Ben, and Kelly.
The Boxer Bowtie Club 2nd Annual "Cards for Camp"
Photo: Daniel Federowicz
On the first evening of October 2016, a new generation of philanthropists have emerged. Over 400 young professionals sailed off into the Hudson River on the Hornblower infinity for the second annual Boxer Bowtie Club gala.
Photo: Daniel Federowicz
The Boxer Bowtie Club was founded last year in Weston, Connecticut by a group of ambitious and successful young professionals. The goal of the organization is to be a philanthropic group that benefits specific charities in an united way. In the second annual “Cards for Camp” casino cruise, the club incredibly raised over $100,000. “We didn’t expect to reach our goal in just our second year,” says Luke Dudley, a club founding member.
Photo: Daniel Federowicz
All the proceeds from the event will go on to send 40 seriously ill kids to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. The camp was founded by Paul Newman in 1988 with one premise in mind: Every child, no matter their illness, should be able to experience and celebrate the transformational spirit and friendships built at camp.
Photo: Daniel Federowicz
During the casino cruise, we had the chance to speak with club co-founder, Andy, and captured his vision for the organization. Andy said, “The Boxer Bowtie Club aims to inspire new groups of young folks that are focused on doing good things, such as volunteering their time, and making a difference. We want to be ambassadors for this new generation.” The night reflects the organization’s ultimate goal: To go above and beyond just charitable events, and to encourage the younger generation to give back to the community and to help the less fortunate.
Photo: Daniel Federowicz
The motto, “Gather, Give, Grow,” described the night perfectly, as more than 145 millennials gathered together to give to those in need and strengthening the community while raising awareness. These young men and women had an incredible night of fun and also walked away with a new appreciation for what they do and the impact they are having on these less fortunate kids and their families.
Photo: Daniel Federowicz
The extravagantly stylish and altruistic night was made possible with great sponsors like David Fin Ties, who provided all the amazing custom bow ties for the club, and Trunk Club, who will also be hosting the club’s expansion event to Dallas Clubhouse in the Spring of 2017. We cannot wait to see what the Boxer Bowtie Club has in store for us next year. The younger generation should look at this great organization and be inspired to do something now. As the great Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s persistent and most urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’”
Photos courtesy of Boxer Bowtie Club
Making Music For a Cause
For many parents, dropping their kids off on the first day of school is a life changing and worrisome moment. This feeling was no different for parents, Robert and Carmit as they dropped off their autistic son, Danny, at Springbrook’s Golisano Center for Autism. The worrisome feeling was quickly subsided when, a week into the program, Robert and Carmit received photos from Springbrook showing their son Danny swimming, laughing, and just being a normal kid.
For Danny, finding the Goliasano Center really was love at first sight. Before enrolling Danny in Springbrook, Robert and Carmit visited, and inquired about many schools -none of which Danny liked. However, the moment Danny laid eyes on Springbrook, “he was all smiles, it was as if Springbrook found Danny” said Robert, Danny’s father. They knew right away that he had found a home away from home.
Jamey Novich Photography
Inspired by their son’s extraordinary experience living at Springbrook, Carmit Zori and Robert Rinehart hosted a touching evening of chamber music on September 28th at the Morgan Library and Museum. “After witnessing the outstanding care Springbrook provides to our son, Danny, Carmit and I were inspired to organize an event to give back to the agency, while raising awareness about its impactful programs and services for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities,” Rinehart explains. The chamber group made up of Robert and Carmit, and their colleagues Nancy Allen, and Edward Aaron, have donated all the proceeds made from the exclusive event to the Golisano Center for Autism as a thank you to Springbrook for its support of people with autism and other developmental disabilities. The Golisano program is a residential school program for children, whose primary diagnosis is an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Before the show, we had the privilege of speaking with Danny’s mother, Carmit. She shed light on how Springbrook changed her family’s life and how comforting it was to find a safe place for her son to stay. “If I passed away today, I would be happy, because I know my son will be in good hands” she said jokingly. Carmit’s face lit up as she spoke about the wonderful facility and the outstanding “angels,” as she described the people at Springbrook who care for her son like their own. It was moving to listen to her incredible experience.
During the night, Chief Executive Officer of Springbrook, Patricia Kennedy, reiterated that all of Springbrook’s programs have at their core a commitment to community integration and a lifetime of support. With offices in Oneonta, Norwich, and Binghamton, Springbrook serves over 850 individuals and families all over the New York State, with many students and residents coming from the New York metro area. Springbrook provides residential, educational, therapeutic, and community support for people with developmental disabilities. The organization’s services touch the lives of many different people with a variety of needs across an entire lifetime. One quality that helps make Springbrook so special is that it grows with the evolving needs of the people they support.
After speaking and meeting just a few of Springbrook’s many employees, you can tell that the people who work there are so passionate and knowledgeable. They understand fully that they are making a huge impact on the lives of those they are caring for. It is truly the support system that our community needs.
World-renowned musicians, Carmit Zori, Robert Rinehart, Edward Aaron, and Nancy Allen performed an outstanding show. Sitting in the stunning Morgan Library and listening to spectacular musical selections of Camille Saint-Saëns, Gabriel Fauré, and Ludwig van Beethoven was unforgettable. It was a beautiful way to raise awareness for autism and to bring support for Springbrook.
The evening was full of beautiful music, inspiring stories, and engaging conversation. We were so lucky to be part of such a wonderful event. With 1 in 68 children in the U.S. affected by autism, it’s truly wonderful to know that there are good people like those at Springbrook dedicating their lives to such an amazing cause.
The more events we have that raise awareness and funds for organizations like Springbrook, the better. As Carmit Zori said, “We can, and we should.”
Rosie's Theater Kids 13th Annual Gala
On September 28th, guests gathered at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square in support of Rosie’s Theater Kids, an organization dedicated to providing a nurturing environment for kids from underserved communities who love the performing arts.
Since its founding in 2003 by Rosie O’Donnell and Lori Klinger, RTKids has served and enriched the lives of students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to participate in and experience theater. This particular event gives the teens a chance to show off all they’ve learned in the program and perform in front of hundreds of people.
Besides offering personalized training in the arts, RTKids also invests in the students’ academic future by providing academic tutoring and college application guidance among other things.
In addition to giving these kids an amazing opportunity to show off their skills, this year’s gala also honored philanthropist John Catsimatidis and his wife, Margo, as well as seven-time Grammy award winner Gloria Estefan. Other celebrities in attendance included Tony award winning actor BD Wong, On Your Feet! actress Ana Villafañe, business mogul Randi Zuckerberg, and many more.
Even if you didn’t have a chance to go to the gala, you can still help raise money to support Rosie’s Theater Kids by bidding on items from their online auction. Experiences you can bid on include two orchestra tickets to Hamilton and a chance to meet Javier Muñoz after the show, two tickets to School of Rock and a backstage tour from bass guitarist Evie Dolan, and the opportunity to see On Your Feet! with Gloria Estefan and meet the cast backstage after the show.
Photos courtesy of Rosalie O’Connor.
World Childhood Foundation ThankYou Gala
Photo by Michael Stewart/Getty Images
On the evening of September 16th, guests gathered in the Cipriani ballroom to honor the World Childhood Foundation (WCF) USA and celebrate yet another year of inspirational achievements. Since the founding of the organization in 1999 by Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden, efforts have touched the lives of families in over 20 countries with thousands of projects implemented to defend against childhood sexual abuse worldwide. The night, aimed to fundraise and build awareness for children’s rights, also honored activists Forest Whitaker, Andrea Bocelli, and Paul Polman for their individual contributions among education and prevention.
Maestro Andrea Bocelli, HRH Princess Madeleine, Actor Forest Whitaker Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images
The WCF believes in challenging adults to acknowledge their duty in helping to protect innocence in the face of abuse. Her Royal Highness Princess Madeleine, has previously launched a campaign initiative, #EyesWideOpen, to give users the resources needed to understand how they can implement change within the issue of children’s rights.
Malin Akerman and HRH Princess Madeleine Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images
Tessa Chermiset, Johan Ernst Nilson, Christine Mack Photo by Michael Stewart/Getty Images
Miss Sweden Louise Camuto Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images
This past year, HRH Princess Madeleine has been devoted to the development of a modernized tool enabling the world of technology and it’s users with resources to protect the children in their own lives. The collaboration with non-profit organization Darkness to Light and telecommunications expert Ericsson announced the launch of this mobile app titled the “Stewards of Children Prevention Toolkit.” It is the hope of those involved with the invention that the world will not remain blind to the issue so consequently affecting today’s youth. Child sexual abuse is a global issue and today technology reaches more civilizations worldwide than ever before. Thus, individuals have the power to become an integrative step in educating and ending child exploitation and trafficking.
Veronica Berti and Andrea Bocelli Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images
The subject of child sexual abuse is public, and therefore cannot be ignored. Leaders involved in the project believe it is not a challenge, but a duty for organizations as well as individuals to work together to influence these children’s lives. The night celebrated a year of immense strides to reach advancement and look forward to a future of influence.
HRH Princess Madeleine Photo by Michael Stewart/Getty Images
This year, Childhood USA will support nine projects within the country as well as continue to extend their support globally to further open the eyes of the world.
To help or donate please visit: http://www.childhood.org/
Photos courtesy of World Childhood Foundation
Rémy Martin Circle of Centaurs with Jackie Cruz
On August 17th, Rémy Martin launched its 2016 Circle of Centaurs mentorship program with actress, singer, and photographer Jackie Cruz, who is most well known for her role as Marisol “Flaca” Gonzales on the Netflix hit series Orange is the New Black.
The Circle of Centaurs, which is an extension of Rémy Martin’s One Life/Live Them campaign, aims to celebrate an individual’s many talents. In each session a different mentor shares their unique life experience and helps one lucky person reveal their own talents so that they can enjoy life in new and exciting ways.
While Cruz is best known for her acting skills, she is also a talented musician and will serve as a singing mentor for one lucky winner. The winner is chosen through an online competition where participants submitted a 30 to 60 second video of an original song showcasing their vocal skills. Besides receiving a one-on-one mentoring session with Cruz, the winner will also receive a cash prize to help further their singing interests.
In addition to the chance to hear Cruz perform, Rémy Martin offered specialized cocktails.
Naturally, Cruz’s friends came out to support her, including quite a few of her co-stars from Orange is the New Black, such as Diane Guerrero, Selenis Leyva, Yael Stone, Adrienne C. Moore, and Karina Oritz. They were all incredibly supportive, making sure Cruz’s microphone got turned up loud enough while she sang and Guerrero yelling “She’s my friend!” at one point.
Before taking the stage, Cruz gave a quick speech saying, “I don’t have one dream, I have many, and I believe everyone should cultivate their many talents to live a rich and fulfilling life.”
he performance was truly spectacular and an effective way to show that people are never just one job, one personality trait, or one talent, but rather multifaceted beings who have so much to offer the world.
The online contest to be mentored by Cruz is open until September 23, so be sure to share your video either on your Instagram with the tag @remymartin and #circleofcentaursjackie or on Facebook by posting on the Rémy Martin brand page along with #circleofcentaursjackie. Also keep an eye out for the next Circle of Centaurs mentor opportunity with Samantha Barks.
Photographs courtesy of 5th Column PR.
Special Olympics Summer Social
On August 10th, Special Olympics New York's Leadership Council hosted its tenth annual Summer Social at Marquee in order to raise funds for this year’s Special Olympics New York, with honorees Kimberly Guilfoyle and Ainsley Earhardt from Fox News.
Kimberly Guilfoyle and Ainsley Earhardt
Special Olympics New York is an organization that provides training and competition in 22 Olympic style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. It is the largest Special Olympics program in North America, with over 67,000 athletes that are able to partake in the games at no cost to them or their families.
Special Olympics Athlete and Ambassador, Anthony Hasan
This year’s event was a silent auction that boasted all inclusive destination getaways as well as various NFL memorabilia, tickets for exclusive NYC events, and items from esteemed designer brands. Even with such tempting fare, it was heartwarming to see so many guests willingly open up their wallets to donate to the cause.
In addition to the chance to contribute to a worthwhile charity, the Summer Social offered its guests an open bar, sets by DJ Calvin Riggs, and a stunning performance by electronic violinist, Timothee Lovelock.
Dj Calvin Riggs
Other special guests included the world’s first supermodel with Down Syndrome, Madeline Stuart, and singer Meredith O’Connor. Madeline even took the time to hand out bracelets with her facebook page on them so her fans could find her on social media.
Madeline Stuart and Meredith O'Connor
Overall, the Special Olympic's Summer Social was a huge success. Between tickets and the auction, a record breaking 101,000 dollars was raised by the event’s attendees to help bring new athletes into the Special Olympics program and continue to train the ones already involved. Thanks to the generosity and kindness of all the sponsors and donors, the Special Olympics New York will continue on even stronger and greater than before.
All photographs provided by the Patrick McMullan Comapany.
Special thanks to Kaitlin from NYSO
Save a Child's Heart Casino Night
People view New York City’s cardiology and heart surgery hospitals as some of the top in the nation. However, many children around the world are not fortunate enough to receive the help they need. Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) is a non-profit organization, which provides life-saving cardiac surgery to desperately ill children from developing countries in their medical facilities in Israel. The organization has been extremely successful in raising the $10,000 donation required to cover the costs of each patient. Currently, they have operated on more than 3,400 children from over 48 different indigenous countries worldwide.
Over the last three years, Lucosky Bookman, LLP and Spartan Capital Securities, LLC have made it their mission to help a worthy cause. Senior associate at Lucosky Bookman, LLP Lawrence Metelista, has been involved with SACH for over 5 years and eagerly introduced the charity to Managing partner of the firm, Joseph Lucosky.
Lucosky states, “When the Firm adopted SACH as its charity of choice, it did so knowing that SACH provides an immediate impact on the lives of children from all over the world and that we wanted to help as much as possible.”
This year’s event was essentially a guys night out, with an elegance that set the tone of an upscale charity event, welcoming to everyone in attendance. In the swanky venue of Capitale, attendees partook in casino games, a silent auction for sports memorabilia, and even played around in a photo booth. Among the crowd were members of the firm, and their friends and family, all of whom enjoyed cocktails and bar food like sliders and short ribs that deliciously fell off the bone. I sipped on my glass of Cabernet and mingled with the rest of the guests
The main event was the poker tournament appropriately named #Holdem4Hearts. Although I did not personally participate, guests engaged in continuous poker playing for the first hour, while the next hour began the real competition without the safety of more buy ins. Those who did not excel in the game had their choice of playing a variety of casino games on the 30 different tables at the event. The lucky winner of the evening, Jared Zeflackt, received the grand prize of a Datejust 2 Rolex, what a magnificent watch!
At the end of the night the event raised an impressive net total of $135,000, which will help support SACH’s mission. Lucosky proudly exclaimed, “What we didn’t realize at the time was the overwhelming outpouring of support that would be provided by friends and colleagues. We are truly humbled by everyone’s extraordinary generosity.”
John Lowry, Founder & CEO of Spartan Capital Securities stated, "Spartan Capital was honored to be a part of this special night to help raise money for such a deserving cause. SACH's dedication to providing medical care to children, regardless of race or religion, is not only saving lives around the world, but also building bridges."
Next year’s event is expected to build off of the success of this one by bringing in additional corporate partners, featuring more unique and fun experiences for guests, and of course saving more lives!
Congrats on an incredible turnout! It was such a wonderful event filled with even more wonderful people coming together to support a worthy cause.
Photos provided by Save a Child’s Heart
Bleeding On Broadway
My first experience with hemophilia occurred years ago when a good friend of mine relayed the story of how a relative had died from the disease. According to her, you knew you had hemophilia when a cut just wouldn’t stop bleeding. That little piece of information came flooding back years later, during an unfortunate incident in which I cut my leg shaving. Unable to quell the flow of blood after a minute or so, I burst into tears, and had to be reassured by my amused sister that I did not, in fact, have hemophilia.
This story came back to me on June 13th, when Believe Theatrical held their fourth annual fundraising event to benefit the Hemophilia Association of New York (HANY). This year’s performance, titled Bleeding on Broadway, featured the adapted stories of real life people whose lives have been touched by various bleeding disorders.
Photo: Russ Rowland
Among these works were Sean Michael Welch’s Nophilia, Brother Beach by Ryan Gielen, both of which were incredibly entertaining and moving.
The Cast of Nophilia Photo: Russ Rowland
The actors of Nightingale Photo: Russ Rowland
The cast of Brother Beach Photo: Russ Rowland
Patrick James Lynch Photo: Russ Rowland
Patrick James Lynch, in addition to appearing in Brother Beach, co-hosted Bleeding on Broadway, and brought a more personal note to the event, as he himself has hemophilia and even lost his brother to the disease.
Despite the heavy content and purpose of the event, the atmosphere of the room was lively and positive, with many light hearted moments in between stories. It was easy to see how much everyone involved cared about the cause and wanted to do their best in helping to make a difference. Even I, not knowing much about hemophilia and the havoc it wreaks, was inspired to learn more about the disease and hear stories about those who live life with it. Hopefully, moving forward, HANY will be able to gain more support and do more to help those who are afflicted with the disease.
Special thanks to Ryan Gielen
G.H. Mumm New Champagne Bottle Launch
Photo by G.H. Mumm
A sleek, innovative new champagne bottle has just arrived in New York City. This bottle, designed by Ross Lovegrove for G.H. Mumm, changes the game for what champagne bottles should look like while still being the epitome of luxury.
Photo by G.H. Mumm
G.H. Mumm hosted a party to celebrate this new design where guests got to sample this new champagne and view a special video. The video depicted Kellan Lutz racing against the clock to deliver the new bottle to the celebration venue. The film shifted from on screen to real life as the doors to the venue opened and Lutz walked in carrying the bottle of champagne triumphantly.
Photo by G.H. Mumm
Lutz said “it was an honor, especially when they said we’d be driving speedboats, sports cars, motorcycles, skydiving, parkour in New York City. I was like ‘Yeah, mission accepted.’” All of this action packed into a short film was certainly true to Mumm’s motto “Dare Win Celebrate.”
Photo by G.H. Mumm
Along with Lutz the celebration was full of celebrities, including model Chanel Iman, DJ/model Alexandra Richards, DJ Chelsea Leyland, and other famous VIPs. As if this didn’t increase the hype, glamour, and excitement enough, the Grand Cordon champagne wasn’t served until Lutz arrived.
Photo by G.H. Mumm
G.H. Mumm has always been a leader in creative design. Their champagne bottles are know for the red sash around the bottle, which was an ingenious choice made in 1876 – 140 years ago! – that is not unlike this modern one. While the original sash was an actual ribbon, this new bottle features a red sash that is molded into the glass of the bottle.
Photo by G.H. Mumm
The evening was full of the unexpected and extraordinary, and was the perfect way to unveil this revolutionary bottle of champagne.
Photo by G.H. Mumm
“The Daring Delivery” starring Kellan Lutz is now available on YouTube.
Special thanks to Rebecca and Victoria from M&C Saatchi
Youth INC 8th Annual Chips for Change
When people think of New York City they tend to associate it with the city's more positive aspects, however, nearly 1 in 3 children here are living in poverty. A family of four that makes an income of $24,000 or less is considered to be in poverty. This obviously has a negative effect on the children living in these households which leads to some ghastly statistics. On a daily basis in New York City, 1 in 4 kids go to bed hungry, 20 kids are arrested, and 55 teenage girls become pregnant.
Photo by Gary Franco
There are many organizations that are playing their part to help mitigate this problem but they are not all equal in impact. That’s where Youth INC comes in. Youth INC, is a nonprofit based in New York City with a mission to improve the lives of youth through a unique venture philanthropy model that empowers, develops, and educates nonprofit organizations serving young people. Youth INC identifies and partners with over 60 of the most effective nonprofits, which impacts 300,000 youth in NYC annually.
Photo by Gary Franco
Every year, Youth INC's Young Professionals Board hosts a casino night to raise critical funds for their capacity building programs. On this evening, professionals from across the city put bring their casino skills to the test and enjoy a premiere silent auction, cocktails, networking.
Photo by Gary Franco
All proceeds from the event help Youth INC. break the cycle of poverty and positively impact thousands of NYC children. This year, Youth INC.’s 8th Annual Chips for Change Casino Night hosted by the Young Professionals Board took place in the Grand Ballroom of the Yale Club of New York City on May 13th.
Photo by Gary Franco
I was fortunate to be a part of the casino night had a blast. When I arrived at the Yale Club ballroom, I was greeted right away by Brandon Espinosa, Associate Director of Development at Youth INC. We chatted about the program and he ensured me that Youth INC is an incredible organization tackling and improving the business layer of the nonprofits in their partner network.
Photo by Gary Franco
After a few glasses of Prosecco and light bites, I wandered to the Blackjack table. All guests were given $20 dollars in complimentary chips with the option to re-buy with cash. I put $100 in chips on a blackjack table and lost it in the first hand. House always wins.
Photo by Gary Franco
With the other $100 in chips I decided to try my luck against people at the Hold em table. After about half an hour, my measly $100 dollars had grown to $400 in chips!.
Photo by Gary Franco
You can see me actually winning a hand in the picture above. However, as usual, luck never lasts, and a- few hands later I was left without chips. Afterwards I just walked around and met some really interesting people and just enjoyed the night.
At the end of the night the event raised $100,000, which will help support Youth INC's programs. I am honored and grateful to have been a part of this celebration. It was overall a great event with beautiful people coming together for a wonderful cause.
Special Thanks Brandon Espinosa and Youth INC
No Kid Hungry Kickoff Party
When people hear stories of kids going hungry, they tend to immediately think of third world countries. However, that is the far from the truth. Did you know that 1 in 5 kids in America go to school hungry in the morning? In fact, more the 16 million kids in the United States struggle with hunger every day.
Childhood hunger detrimentally affects children both short and long term. These kids tend to have trouble learning and are more susceptible to emotional and behavioral problems. We cannot just stand by and let this happen. Just imagine how you would feel if your kids went to school every day with a half empty stomach. An amazing Organization called No Kid Hungry wants to make sure bright kids will not go to school hungry again. No Kid Hungry is a non-profit campaign devoted to ending child hunger in America by promising that all children get the healthy food they need. The organization hopes to achieve that goal by launching school breakfast programs, recruit summer meals sites, and empower families to shop for and prepare healthy meals.
Photo by: Henry Oh
On Monday March 28th, Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign kicked off with a campaign party at Bagatelle. The high-end French restaurant located in the heart of cobbled stoned meatpacking district provided an elegant décor with impressive chandeliers. The party was already started when I arrived with my plus one, Sarah. We checked our coats and headed for the bar in which we both settled for some specialty bourbon drink Ol Buddy by Virgil Kaine . It was my first one of about 4 or 5 that night.
Photo by: Henry Oh
Amazing selections of food were also being passed around, my favorite was definitely the tartar fish, and Sarah really enjoyed the meatballs.
Tartar Fish Photo by: Henry Oh
Meatballs Photo by: Henry Oh
After meeting some people in the room, we decided to sit down and chat. The amazing food never stopped coming to us.
Photo by: Henry Oh
Casual Photo by: Henry Oh
We casually drank and listened to the presentation. It was Sarah's first event, so she was just taking everything in. There was also a photo booth which is a must do at any party event.
Photobooth amusement
After all that, they still provided some delicious desserts. It was a magical night full of food, fun, and good causes.
Photo by: Henry Oh
Special Thanks to Colu Henry for the invite and Henry Oh for the photos.
NYC Taste of the Nation
No Kid Hungry Campaign has a culinary event coming up called "NYC Taste of the Nation" which will take place April 25, 2016. Guests will mix, mingle, and enjoy food and drinks prepared by more than 50 top chefs and bartenders. To donate or purchase tickets for this event please Purchase Tickets
The Orphaned Starfish Foundation Gala
Being an orphan is challenging no matter where you are in the world, but in Latin America, Orphans have less than a 2 percent chance of being adopted. Most of these kids spent their young adulthood in institutions, and without any help they eventually leave with grim futures. For the past fifteen years, Starfish Orphaned Foundation has been trying to give these kids a better opportunity to succeed. By providing English language skills, vocational training and computers, Starfish Orphaned Foundation is trying to give these kids a better chance at life.
Inside the gala
Once a year, every year, an extraordinary gala is held in order to raise funds to support the organization as it continues improving lives. Almost 90 percent of The Orphaned Starfish Foundation’s operating income for the year is raised during this annual gala. This year, the affair took precedence at Cipriani Wall Street, located just a few blocks away from the bustling stock market exchange. A red carpet welcomed all the guests into the colossal building. The venue was historical, glamorous, and big enough to fit large groups of beautiful people. Although I have been to many gala places, I was still taken back a bit by Cipriani. To this day, it is my second favorite event venue to only The Plaza.
There was a cocktail reception before the dinner, so everyone was up and about looking at auctions. The silent auction had many wonderful items including celebrity signed items and lifetime trips. After walking around, I saw a crowd around some people taking photos. I got closer and noticed that everyone was looking at Miss USA, Olivia Jordan, and Miss Universe, Paulina Vega. Surrounding around these two beautiful ladies were a bunch of cute kids who I later found out were orphans who had participated in the foundation’s program.
Miss USA- Olivia Jordan, and Miss Universe - Paulina Vega, poses with kids who participated in the program
When dinner time finally came, my hunger was dissolved by the generous portions of steaks flying out of kitchen. As the evening progressed, the Foundation honored a few people who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help disadvantaged children. Few of the honorees included Pittsburg Steeler’s legend Troy and his wife Theodora Polamalu. When Troy gave his speech, I honestly did not recognize him for about 5 minutes due to him having his hair in a ponytail instead of his famous Samoan flowing afro. One of the orphans also gave a speech about how the foundation has and continues to change his life every day. It was heartwarming to see the child personally talk about how he was able to overcome hardships with the help of the foundation and make a better life.
Troy Polamalu looking very different in a ponytail
One of the participating kids gave a amazing speech
I was seated at a table with a school principal. We started chatting and he asked me as press how we can promote this cause so that more people would support it. Without hesitation I answered that we have to look at the problem from a domestic point of view first. Do not get me wrong, I love and fully support what Starfish Orphaned foundation is doing, but I believe that it is a problem that needs assistance in our own country. Everyone had a wonderful time, and after dinner, a salsa band came out and got everyone on the dance floor. With the help of some drinks and a great mc, the live auction brought in about 1.1 million. When orphaned kids are involved, how can you not support such a wonderful cause?
To help or purchase tickets for 2016, please visit Starfish
Black Tie & Black Jack
The BTBJ Gala was such a fun night that even James Bond would have been envious. Everything you expect from a grand event was made available to the guests. The night consisted of an open bar, hor d'oeurvres, buffet style dinner, open bar, an ample selection of desserts, casino games, silent auction, raffle prizes, photo booth, as well as music and dancing. All the proceeds from the casinos games and auctions were going to benefit Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Every guest was given $15 in chips to start out the evening on the casino games. Being a casual poker player myself, I naturally found myself at the Texas Hold'em table. After an hour of holding and folding them, I found myself down about $100 dollars, and that's when I quit them.
I walked around and checked out the auction, and I saw a beautiful young women with a tiara on her head. I walked up and realized it was Miss New York.
Jamie Lynn Macchia Miss New York 2016
Jamie was such a sweet young lady; we chatted for a few minutes about her journey to become Miss New York. She told me a funny story about how she could not drink for a whole year because it would ruin the Miss NY image.
Customized Casino night cake
After endless desserts; came the icing on the cake, literally.
I am so glad I came to this event because it supported a cause that I truly believe in. Last year, someone very close to me in my family passed away from Leukemia. It was the first time I lost someone in my life and it was devastating. Charity events like this one really do save lives, so please do whatever you can to help fight blood cancer.
To go to next years gala or to donate please visit: http://events.lls.org/pages/nyc/btbj2016
Stepping on Anna Wintour's shoes for the Homeless
I want this to be my first entry because it is the event that inspired me to start this website. I remember it just like it was like yesterday. It was the night of the annual God's Love We Deliver gala, a star-studded charity event that pays tribute to an organization that delivers meals to ill and homeless families. The award ceremony was honoring Neil Patrick Patrick for his Outstanding Community Service. After accepting the Michael Kors Awards Neil gave an impeccable speech about how everyone of us should look out for the community. After the show, it was time to mingle with the celebrities. The event was hosted by Michael Kors, so naturally he brought all of his famous friends with him. A-listers included Kate Hudson, Emily Blunt, Diane Kruger, and tons of beautiful models.
Kate Hudson casually chatting with someone as Emily Blunt looks on. NPH drinking his glass of wine, as Michael Kors chats up with a guest.
As I squeezed my way through the crowds of photographers and guests, I arrived at the royal VIP table where all the A-listers sat. I was lucky to see NPH and got a quick picture with him.
Neil Patrick Harris
NPH is just as nice as you would expect him to be. He was a true gentlemen who even told a few jokes before I asked him for the picture. As I looked around frantically wanting to get a picture of the host (MK), I accidentally stepped on someone's shoe and nearly tripped. I turned around; and before I could even say the words "so sorry", my mouth shut in utter disbelief. The person's shoe I stepped on was none other than the fashion icon, Anna Wintour. I panicked, not knowing what to say, and before I could find the words, Anna looked at me and said "don't worry about it honey, have a good night." I was in dismay, the woman that was portrayed by Meryl Streep as a cruel boss in the movie The Devil Wears Prada, was such a sweet woman. After gathering the courage to look at her again, I asked for a picture, and she happily obliged. I hope this does not ruin her cool image, but she is not as mean as people put her out to be.
Anna Wintour
Oh, I eventually found the host himself.
Michael Kors
Emily Blunt and Diane Kruger share a picture
Overall, it was an amazing night of fun and the best part is that it was all for charity. The generous crowd raised over one million dollars for God Loves, We Deliver.
God Loves, We Deliver is a organization that provides nutritious individually-tailored meals to people who are not able to cook or shop for themselves. The organization was founded in 1985 when one woman began delivering food on her bicycle to a man dying from AIDS. Today, the program has grown tremendously and cooks 5,500 meals each weekday, delivering them to clients living with life-altering illnesses in all five boroughs of New York City. All of services and foods delivered are provided free of charge without regard to income.
To find out more about the organization or give a generous donation please visit: God Loves, We Deliever