New York Social Diary - Party Pictures

The scene at Fountain Gallery's Mad About Art, the Gallery’s Annual Art Auction and Benefit

On Wednesday evening late last month, the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) hosted its 2013 Visionaries! Awards Gala celebrating five influential creators and leaders in the art, craft, and design industries, whose work personifies the Museum’s mission to explore and celebrate contemporary creativity across all media. The evening raised nearly $1 million for MAD.

The honorees were: Wilfried Vancraen, CEO and Founder of Materialise, an international additive manufacturing company started in Belgium; Frank Stella, legendary painter and printmaker, most noted for his Minimalist, Post-Painterly Abstract works has challenged ideas of abstraction and of painting itself by negating the evidence of brushwork and asserting the flatness of the canvas; Rick Kinsel, Executive Director, The Vilcek Foundation. For more than 10 years, the Vilcek Foundation, under Kinsel's leadership, has been an important philanthropic supporter of the arts and sciences. It is committed to honoring the contributions of immigrants to American society, and has founded several programs recognizing both emerging and established artists and designers; and David and Sybil Yurman, founders of David Yurman jewelers. The Yurmans were honored for their enduring contributions to the world of style internationally. David Yurman, long an innovator in the world of jewelry, will celebrate 30 years in the New Year.

Frank Stella and Glenn Adamson

Sybil Yurman and David Yurman

Lewis Kruger

This year’s Visionaries! Awards also celebrated MAD’s 5th anniversary at 2 Columbus Circle, and the dramatic growth of the institution, looking ahead to an exciting roster of exhibitions and programs for 2013-2014. Since moving in 2008, MAD has welcomed more than a million visitors onsite, tripled its membership and greatly expanded its exhibition and educational offerings.

Proceeds from the gala are directed to the support of MAD’s arts education program. This year they expect to serve nearly 10,000 children, grades K-12, and from mostly underserved communities. Each year, more than 500 guests, including arts patrons, artists, designers and noted corporate and civic leaders, attend the event.

Visionaries! Awards

This is a great museum for the little ones and children of all ages. It is the artists’ version of the American Museum of Natural History. Both museums offer exhibitions which arouse the infinite curiosity of fresh and creative minds. MAD does with Art what the AMNH does with nature and its worlds.

In the last five years, MAD has expanded its exhibitions program, underscoring contemporary creation and addressing the increasing cross-pollination of contemporary art, design, and craft.

Linda McNeal and Dan Dailey

Xenobia Bailey and Lowery Sims

Among this exhibition programming is Out of Hand: Materializing the Postdigital, opening this fall and including work by Frank Stella and from Materialise, as well as the Materials and Process series, which investigates how artists and craftspeople transform and approach specific materials as traditional as paper in Slash: Paper Under the Knife (2009),and wood in Against the Grain: Wood in Contemporary Art, Craft and Design (2013) to more unconventional ones such as everyday objects in Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary (2008) and organic materials that were once part of living things in Dead or Alive: Nature Becomes Art (2010). In that span of time, MAD has expanded its focus with the presentation of exhibitions that are international in scope—such as The Global Africa Project (2010) and the upcoming New Territories: Global Latin America (2014).

Violeta Venegas, Marica Vilcek, Lowery Sims, and Christina Strassfield

Nanette L. Laitman and Stuart Lasdon

Peggy Ayers and Barbara Tober

Helen Drutt-English and Richard Gaddes

Elliott Wolk and Barbara Tober

Fred Negem and Faanya Rose

Renaud Dutreil, Christine Dutreil, Angela Sun, and Ate Atema

Barbara Karp Shuster and Ron Labaco

Charles Cohen and Clo Cohen

Jan Vilcek, Barbara Tober, Marica Vilcek, and Glenn Adamson

Larry Miller, Kathy Chazen, Louise Chazen, and Sid Banon

Meera Gandhi, Barbara Tober, and Linda Plattus

On Monday, December 2, 2013, more than 500 guests were in attendance as Roger Hertog and General David Petraeus were presented with the New-York Historical Society’s distinguished 2013 History Makers Awards at The Pierre during the annual History Makers Gala. The theme of the evening was Strategic Leadership and Vision. The $3.1 million raised will benefit the programs of the New-York Historical Society, including major exhibitions and educational programs on American history.

According to Dr. Louise Mirrer, President and CEO of the New-York Historical Society: “We are pleased to present Roger Hertog with our History Makers Award. Mr. Hertog’s dedication to the power of ideas and the telling of the American story has left its mark on every nook and cranny of our institution. We are grateful that he agreed to accept this honor. We are also pleased to recognize General Petraeus for his groundbreaking work in Iraq, his dynamic approach to counterinsurgency, his advocacy of a comprehensive civil-military approach, and his encouragement of strategies that resolve problems through political processes rather than violence.”

General David Petraeus, Louise Mirrer, and Roger Hertog

Dr. Mirrer announced the establishment of Roger Hertog-General David Petraeus Lecture in Leadership and an annual New-York Historical Society/City University of New York Internship awarded to a student who exemplifies a commitment to excellence.

Notable guests included Helen and Robert Appel, Judy and Howard Berkowitz, Beth Dater, Kathy Doyle and Richard Ravitch, Patricia Dunnington, Lon and Hannah Jacobs, Patricia Kavanagh and Jim Grant, Ruth and Sid Lapidus, Tink Leefmans and Ernest Tollerson, Glen and Cheryl Lewy, Tarky Lombardi Jr., Cordelia and Carl Menges, Nancy and Morris Offit, Helen and Russell Pennoyer, Happy Rockefeller, Michelle Smith, Robert A.M. Stern, and Judy Zankel.

Pam Schafler, Roger Hertog, and Louise Mirrer

Dinner Chairs: Helen and Robert Appel, Lois Chiles and Richard Gilder, Diana and Joe DiMenna, The Lauder Foundation, and Irene and Bernard L. Schwartz.

Gala Co-Chairs: Norman Benzaquen, Franci J. Blassberg and Joseph L. Rice III, Len Blavatnik, Beth and Ravenel B. Curry III, Elizabeth B. Dater and Wm. Mitchell Jennings, Jr., Barbara and Richard Debs, Ahuva and Martin J. Gross, Helen and Edward Hintz, Patricia and John Klingenstein, Paula and Tom McInerney, Jennifer and John Monsky, Karen and Charles Phillips, Bonnie and Richard Reiss, Jr., Pam and Scott Schafler, Paul Singer, Sue Ann Weinberg, Leah and Michael Weisberg, and Anita and Byron Wien.

Susan Hertog, General David Petraeus, and Allison Hertog Schachner

Patricia Kavanagh and Jim Grant

Happy Rockefeller, Henry Kissinger, General David Petraeus, and Pam Schafler

Roger Hertog with Henry and Nancy Kissinger

General Jack Keane and General Petraeus

Governor George Pataki

General Petraeus with students from CUNY's Macaulay Honors College

Ernest Tollerson, Tink Leefmans, and Harold and Edith Holzer

Laurie Tisch and Pam Sanders

Barbara Zalaznick, David Hidalgo, and Michelle Smith

On the third Thursday evening of November, Fountain Gallery hosted 500 guests at Mad About Art, the Gallery’s Annual Art Auction and Benefit. Held at Cedar Lake in Manhattan’s Chelsea gallery district, this year’s event was “A Black and White Affair” in theme and décor. The guests were attired in the same striking palette, which set off to dramatic effect the dazzling array of 100 multi-hued artworks offered at auction by the artists of Fountain Gallery, the premier venue in New York City representing artists living with mental illness. Art sales topped those of any previous Fountain Gallery event.

Welcoming remarks by Fountain Gallery Director Jason Bowman were followed by presentation of the Esther Montanez Award, established in memory of Fountain Gallery’s founding director. This year’s recipients were: Bart McDade– Vice President, Director of Operations,NY, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank; and Faith Ringgold– artist, author and activist.

Ms. Ringgold, known for her painted story quilts and the much-honored children’s book Tar Beach, contributed one of her original pieces to the auction. Also donating works for auction were William Wegman, a past Fountain Gallery honoree perhaps best known for pieces spotlighting his soulful Weimaraner dogs; MJ Levy Dickson, who expresses in a variety of mediums the unity she finds in the natural world; and Federico Castelluccio, a renowned visual artist and actor recognized by countless television viewers for his role as Furio Giunta in the HBO series “The Sopranos.”

Julian Ungano

Fountain Gallery artist Rivky Grossman

Seven-time Grammy Award nominee Suzanne Vega was the special musical guest. She held her audience rapt with voice and guitar, performing songs ranging from familiar to yet-to-be-released. (Ms. Vega’s eighth album, her first studio recording of new material in seven years, is scheduled for release in February.)

The electronic art auction, curated by Sasha Nicholas, hummed along throughout the evening. Guests moved about the elegant and vast space, festooned with large artworks hung high and smaller-scale pieces presented in eye-level gallery style. While quaffing cocktails and sampling delicacies (including postprandial black-and-white cookies and cupcakes), guests were assisted in placing bids by a band of “Bidding Valets” identified by the illuminated hats they donned for the occasion.

Suzanne Vega

The dedicated Chairs whose efforts were key to the evening’s success were: John P. Casaly, Rick Froio, Carmel and Brett Fromson, Dario Gristina, Leslie Harwood, Rich Hiler, Louis J. Mantia, Bonnie and Frank Pratt, Jerry Schumm,and Gabriel Stefania. Ms. Harwood and Messrs. Froio, Gristina and Schumm are past Fountain Gallery honorees.

Attendees included: John Ambrosini, Jason Bowman and Chris Adasiewicz, Federico Castelluccio and Yvonne Maria Schaefer, Harriet and Richard Demato, Peter DiCapua, Nancy Farrell, Elizabeth Fiore, Lorna Hyde Graev, Jeremy Hu, Guinevere Johnson and Jason Rohlf, Emmanuel Lemakis, Frank Maresca, Todd Masters, Bentley Meeker, Amanda Meigher, Sasha Nicholas and Steven Caputo, Pauline Nicholls and Kenn Dudek, Mary Pontillo, Ann and John Pyne, Elizabeth Pyne, Betsy Seidman, Sue Stoffel, and Ronnie Wiener.

Honoree Bart McDade

Founded by parent organization Fountain House in 2000 as a not-for-profit exhibition space for artists living and working with mental illness, Fountain Gallery sells original artworks and collaborates with a wide network of artists, curators and cultural institutions. Embracing artists who are emerging or established, trained or self-taught, Fountain Gallery cultivates artistic growth and makes a vital contribution to the New York arts community.

For more information about Fountain Gallery, please visit: www.fountaingallerynyc.com.

Martin Crook, Guinevere Johnson, and Jason Rohlf

Carol Farris, Penelope Farris, Ellen Fine, Lynn Frielinghaus, and Judy Steinberg

Alison Lang and Rich Hiler

Fountain Gallery artist Rivky Grossman and Honoree Faith Ringgold

Christine Morena and Lee Bryant

Fountain Gallery artist Bernard Stote

Fountain Gallery artist Julio Mendoza

Fountain Gallery artist Mercedes Kelly

Frank Maresca and Alejandra Russi

Owen Clancey and Jenna Sakolsky

Sasha Nicholas, Steven Caputo, and Jason Bowman

Susan and David Schwartz, and Ann Rothschild

Carol Farris, Takayo Ishikawa, and Susan Hartley-Coll

Ines Elskop and Pam Perkins

Harriet Sawyer and Richard Demato

Louise M. Parent and John P. Casaly

Fountain Gallery artist Paula Isaac

Fountain Gallery Artist Alyson Vega

Fountain Gallery artist Gail Shamchenko

Dawn Reinholtz, Rick Froio, Joe Primiano, and Jessica Randazza

Fountain Gallery artist Anthony Newton

Fountain House President Kenn Dudek, Honorees Faith Ringgold and Bart McDade, and Fountain Gallery Director Jason Bowman

Event Co-Chairs Dario Gristina and Lou Mantia

Yvonne Maria Schaefer and Federico Castelluccio

Suzanne Vega

This past Tuesday night at Stella McCartney's flagship store in SoHo, Liv Tyler celebrated the launch of her new book,"Modern Manners: Tips to Take You to the Top," which she co-wrote with her beautiful grandmother Dorothea Johnson. Carolers greeted guests with joyful singing outside the holiday-decorated SoHo shop.

Among the many guests were Man Repeller's Leandra Medine, Charlotte Ronson,Elle Magazine Creative Director Joe Zee, Hanneli Mustaparta, Andrew Saffir, Daniel Benedict, and President of Neiman Marcus Jim Gold; all sipping on Beluga Noble Russian Vodka rosemary cocktails.

Liv, as always, was her gracious self taking plenty of iPhone selfies with fans and friends.

Liv Tyler with her grandmother and co-author Dorothea Johnson

Charlotte Ronson

Elizabeth Gilpin and Hanneli Mustaparta

Liv Tyler takes a break between book signings and sings a few holiday favorites with the carolers

Alexandra Richards and Liv Tyler

Jim Gold

Andrew Saffir and Daniel Benedict

Leandra McGee

The Neuberger Museum of Art of Purchase College, SUNY celebrated its Ruby Anniversary – 40 years of great art and education – at the Museum, which opened in 1974 with a donation of 108 works of 20th century American art from financier Roy R. Neuberger, founding patron. Today, the museum’s permanent collection contains more than 6,000 works of African, Latin American, modern and contemporary art. The Neuberger Museum of Art is considered a teaching and learning museum for the twenty-first century that nurtures and supports the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

At “Celebrating 40 Years,” a hugely festive event that drew close to 300 people, the Museum honored three outstanding individuals for their contributions to the community: Agnes Gund, noted philanthropist, modern and contemporary art collector, and civic leader, who received the Passionate Collector Award; William M. Mooney, Jr., former banking executive and current president of The Westchester County Association, the Passionate Civic Leader Award; and Lynn Straus, pioneer in early childhood education, the Passionate Educator Award.

Susan Dubin (co-chair), Ellen Chassin, Jamie Gordon, Helen Stambler Neuberger (co-chair), Jeannine Starr, and Lynn Halbfinger (co-chair)

"Celebrating 40 Years" was chaired by Susan and James Dubin of Harrison and Manhattan; Lynn and Martin Halbfinger of Manhattan; and Helen Stambler Neuberger and Jim Neuberger of Manhattan and Cortlandt Manor. There were cocktails, a silent auction, followed at 8 p.m. by dinner, then dancing in the Ruby Lounge.

All proceeds from Celebrating 40 Years support the Neuberger Museum’s 40th Anniversary exhibitions and educational programs.

William Mooney (Honoree) and Joan Mooney

Benefit co-chairs: Lynn Halbfinger, Helen Stambler Neuberger, and Susan Dubin

Marvin and Donna Schwartz

Daniel McPhee, Jamila Willis, Courtney Willis Blair, and Andrew Huff

Robert and Christina Weisz

Jacqueline Bates with Rachel Stern

Jim Neuberger and Helen Stambler Neuberger with Krytzia and Eugenio Minvielle

Artist Ursula von Rydingsvard and O. Anthony Maddalena

John and Janet Rodgers

David and Laurie Weiner

Steven and Lisa Tananbaum, Rachel Stern, and Stephen and Ann Shapiro

Barry Shapiro and Barbara Blank

Ellen Chassin, Judith Zabar, and Sandra Zabar

Fred Wilson, Eileen Bloom, and O. Anthony Maddalena

Gilbert Bassin , Jacqueline Walker, Keiran Fox, Thomas Schwarz, and Doreen Bassin

(seated) Jacques d'Amboise, Denise Mullen, Fred Wilson, and Whitfield Lovell
(Standing) Jon Fassberg and Stanley Zabar

Louis Klein, Linda Singer, and Mary Beth Buck

Paola Morsiani, Director of the Neuberger Museum of Art

Helen Stambler Neuberger with Jacques d'Amboise

Martin and Lynn Halbfinger, Jim and Helen Stambler Neuberger, and Susan and Jim Dubin

Photographs by Annie Watt (MAD); Saskia Kahn (Fountain Gallery).

Matthew Bauer, Courtney Arnot, and Muffie Potter Aston kicking off The 27th Annual Miracle on Madison Avenue festivities with the 2nd annual "Light Up The Holidays."

The 27th Annual Miracle on Madison Avenue festivities kicked-off with the 2nd annual Holiday lighting ceremony "Light Up The Holidays" on Madison Avenue. Muffie Potter Aston and Courtney Arnot, Miracle on Madison Avenue Chairmen, along with The Society of MSKCC president, Martha Vietor Glass, had the honor of flipping the switch to ignite Madison Avenue's "shooting stars" specially designed for the street lamp poles of the BID between 57th and 86th Streets, where 34 illuminated decorations have been installed. The Hewitt Carolers, a choir of second graders, performed holiday songs at the lighting.

Courtney Arnot, Martha Vietor Glass, and Muffie Potter Aston

After the lighting ceremony, a private kick-off reception was held in the Lee Mindel designed apartment at The Marquand, hosted by HFZ Capital Group.

In attendance were, Miracle Chairmen Muffie Potter Aston and Courtney Arnot, MSKCC President, Martha Vietor Glass, Madison Avenue BID President Matthew A. Bauer, Town&Country Publisher Jennifer Levene Bruno, HFZ Capital Group Julie Dannenberg, Judith Ripka, Alice Aquilino, Ippolita, Natasa de Luca, Adriana Der Calousdian and Barbara Fuller.

Hewitt Carolers singing

After the lighting ceremony, a private kick-off reception was held at The Marquand

This past Saturday, December 7th, over 80 of the world's most prestigious brands and retailers between 57th and 86th Streets welcomed shoppers who joined them in giving back with each retailer donating 20% of sales (with a maximum contribution of $15,000 per retailer) to The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. This represents a 45% increase in store participation over 2012.

Miracle Host Committee members and Town&Country magazine editors greeted shoppers in participating boutiques and in-store events. Up and down the Avenue, seven Holiday Choirs were singing the holiday favorites.

Matthew A. Bauer and Julie Dannenberg

Erin Einhauser and Alice Aquilino

Barbara Fuller, Matthew Talomie, and Helene Schlein

Julie Dannenberg and Jennifer Levene Bruno

Liza Kaymin and Anna Asatiani

Adriana Der Calousdian and Greg Der Calousdian

Natasa De luca and Nolan Fitzgerald

NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital celebrated over a century of world-class pediatric care and the 10th birthday of the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital at a Birthday Bash benefit dinner on Wednesday, November 20 at The Pierre in Manhattan. 200 guests attended the event, which raised funds to support the center's pediatric care programs.

The event, hosted by Dr. Steven J. Corwin, Chief Executive Officer, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, honored Morgan Stanley and its employees, and Dr. John M. Driscoll, Chair of the Ethics Committee of the NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, who has played an invaluable role in both research and leadership since 1971. Dr. Robert Kelly, President of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital; Colm Kelleher, President, Institutional Securities Managing Director, Morgan Stanley; and Sarah Nash were also in attendance.

Dr. Larry Stanberry, Dr. John M. Driscoll, Robert Scott, Colm Kelleher, Kristin Gervasio, Joan Steinberg, Kevin Hammeran, Sarah Nash, Dr. Robert E. Kelly, and Dr. Steven J. Corwin

and

Dr. Steven J. Corwin and Colm Kelleher

Dr. John M. Driscoll and Dr. Steven J. Corwin

A leader in research and patient care since it was established in 1887 as the Babies Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital officially opened in 2003 as an innovative facility with critical and neonatal intensive care facilities, providing the highest quality care for pediatric patients from around the region. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is ranked in all 10 pediatric specialties on the 2013-14 U.S.News & World Report "Best Children's Hospitals" survey -- more than any other New York metropolitan area hospital.

Dr. Steven J. Corwin, Dr. Herb Pardes, Dr. Michael Weiner, and Dr. Andrew Kung

Lauren Keifer Foley, Rob Foley , Ellen Corwin, and Dr. Steven J. Corwin

Dr. Anna Kelly, Dr. Robert E. Kelly, Dr. Larry Stanberry, and Elizabeth Stanberry

Lynne Roth and Kevin Hammeran

Juan Mejia, Dr. Patricia Hametz, and Sarah Nash

Clark Munnell, Esra Munnell, Kristin Gervasio, and Stuart Rabin

On Tuesday, December 3rd, New York City Mission Society’s Junior Society hosted holiday cocktails to benefit their annual holiday toy drive at Pilotage Fun & Hobby.

Comprising young professionals in the New York City Area, the Junior Society supports the mission, vision and values of New York City Mission Society through hands-on outreach, innovative networking and unique fundraising opportunities. As the next generation of philanthropists, including Melissa Berkelhammer, Brooke Laing, Antonella Lemos, Cole Rumbough, and Liz Shafiroff, they support the New York City Mission Society’s goal to improve the lives of children, youth, and families in the city’s most underserved communities.

Brooke Laing, Cole Rumbough, Melissa Berkelhammer, and Antonella Lemos

Allegra Rumbough, Leah Rumbough, and Antonella Lemos

With the toy drive event, this year sponsored in part by MarieBelle New York, Baked by Melissa, Insomnia Cookies, Bonito Mezcal, and Früzen Ice, guests had the opportunity to support the toy drive while holiday shopping, as 20-percent of each purchase made was donated to New York City Mission Society.

Joining the Junior Society in support of their annual toy drive were Martin Shafiroff, Roy Kean, Maggie Norris, and Stanley and Leah Rumbough, and many more.

Guests dressed in festive seasonal attire enjoyed holiday cocktails, cookies, chocolate, and cupcakes, while shopping and playing with the many interactive toys of pilotage, ranging from electronic helicopters, airplanes, and cars.

Brooke Laing, Cole Rumbough, and Lynn Pyfer

Pilotage Fun & Hobby opened its doors in March 2012, under the watchful eye of Managing Director William Dickey, who envisioned a destination that offers entertaining, innovative, and most importantly, interactive products to satisfy the needs and stimulate the minds of consumers with discriminating tastes, from knowledge-seeking school kids to city dwellers and parents seeking more sophisticated outdoor activities to share with their children. Pilotage Fun & Hobby aims to introduce a more engaging, gratifying and traditional – though rapidly evolving – form of recreation to a younger generation that is overwhelmed by digital entertainment.

The NYC Mission Society will be accepting donations throughout the entire holiday season, and can be made online at: www.nycharities.org.

Alina Dickey, Renee Dickey, and William Dickey

Leah Lane

Maggie Norris

Thomas Bisceglie, Kala Jerzy, and Tess Rose

The Junior Council of the American Museum of Natural History continued its 2013–2014 season on Thursday, December 5, with a private viewing of the new special exhibition The Power of Poison and a cocktail reception in the Hall of Mexico and Central America.

For centuries, humans have marveled at the secrets of poisons and sought to harness their toxic powers. This exhibition explores both the biological basics of poison and the ways in which people have confronted its perils and potential, approaching poison from several different perspectives—as a dynamic defense system used by animals locked in evolutionary arms races with predators; as a compelling thread that runs through familiar legends, myths, and fables; as a promising source for powerful medical treatments; and as a series of mysteries visitors encounter and solve, including what suddenly poisoned Captain James Cook and two naturalists aboard his ship in the autumn of 1774. The Power of Poison brings into sharp focus this captivating topic.

Guests enter The Power of Poison

Co-chairs included W. Jameson McFadden, Holly and Martin Okner, Lori and Zachary Pomerantz, Robin and Brad Roberts, Gaelin Rosenwaks, Heather and Ross Schulman, Zoe and Iain Wilson.

The American Museum of Natural History's Junior Council is one of New York City's most stimulating membership groups for young philanthropists. Founded in 1994, the Junior Council supports the Museum's mission to discover, interpret, and disseminate—through scientific research and education—knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe. Each year, Junior Council members participate in special events that offer them an intimate view inside the Museum's collections, activities, and exhibitions. Junior Council members go behind the scenes at one of the world's preeminent museums, meet some of the nation's most distinguished and engaging scientists, and preview the latest exhibitions.

Co-chair Gaelin Rosenwaks, Museum curator Mark Siddall, and Nicole Mihnovets

Steering Committee members Elizabeth and Andrew Yanev with Julia Bosson

Dana Greenlee, Tyler Flint, and Jason Morganroth

Bree and Brian Candee with Steering Committee members Erin and Matt Ahrens

Steering Committee members David and Leslie Verbitsky

Shelby Pollard and Brent Belote

Katia, Ariella, and Alessia Menegon (Steering Committee member)

Roisin Ryan, Co-chair Zoe Wilson, and Alison Thompson

Ruthie Reisner and Nick Wolf

Live theater presentation

Guests discover the exhibition’s “enchanted book”

On November 20th at The Pierre, The Police Athletic League's Eighth Annual Real Estate & Construction Luncheon celebrated Columbia University, Fordham University & St. John's University for their commitment to New York City's children and their impact on the urban landscape.

A special recognition was given to PAL Graduates of Distinction along with a tribute to our Armed Forces. Proceeds will enable PAL to continue to serve 40,000 boys and girls, providing academic, artistic and athletic programming throughout all five boroughs.

David J. Arena with Master Sgt. Mary Kay Messenger

John J. Ryan, former Executive Director, Police Athletic League, with Jami Landi, Director of Development, Police Athletic League

John J. Osborn, President of Police Athletic League, with Raymond W. Kelly, NYC Police Commissioner & Honorary President of Police Athletic League

Robert J. McGuire, former NYC Police Commissioner & Vice Chairman of Police Athletic League, with Mitchell E. Rudin, PAL Director

John Delollis, Jami Landi, and David A. MacDonald

West Palm Beach, Fla.– The Ultimate Dinner Party, benefiting Children's Home Society of Florida, took place on Wednesday, November 20th, 2013 in Palm Beach’s most magnificent homes.

The evening began with a cocktail party at the beautiful Palm Beach home of Ramon W. Breeden, Jr. Following cocktails, guests divided into several groups and went to other homes where gourmet dinners were served. The meals were planned and prepared by professional chefs who are members of the Palm Beach County Chapter of the American Culinary Federation (ACF). This year’s hosts included Ted and Ruth Baum, Franklyn de Marco, Jr. and Betsy Fry, Michael and Annie Falk, Mark and Mary Freitas, Arij Gasiunasen, Ronald and Paulette Koch, Richard and Rita Lazzara, Robert and Mia Matthews, Stephen Myers and JoAnna Ballarini, Tom Quick and David and Elizabeth Wetherell.

Cassandra Appleman and Donald Sedley, Jr. with their team

The event was a sell-out. Guests included Keith and Linda Beaty, Trish Donnelley, Pam and Peter Dupuis, Linda and Ed Dweck, Jo Ellen and Mike Dyer, Rex Ford, Carol Jaeger, Michele and Howard Kessler, Mary McCourt, Sharon and Alton O’Neil, John Patten, Nancy and Bill Rollnick, Susan and Dom Telesco and Maureen and Orator Woodward.

This year’s Ultimate Dinner Party has been coordinated by Trish Donnelley, Pam Dupuis, Annie Falk, Lori Gendelman, Linda Salandra-Dweck, and Maureen Woodward. Tom Quick is Honorary Chairman. Platinum Benefactors are BMO Private Bank, Mr. and Mrs. Mark E. Freitas and Mr. and Mrs. Howard Kessler. Gold Benefactors are Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Butler, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin H. Davidson, Mr. and Mrs. Peter A. Dupuis, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Falk, Mrs. Mary McCourt and Mr. Thomas C. Quick. Media Sponsor is Palm Beach Illustrated.

Christopher Phillips and Trish Donnelley

Bob and Mia Matthews

The Ultimate Dinner Party is CHS’ signature event in Palm Beach County, and has raised more than $3 million since its inception 21 years ago. These funds have been used to assist children in Palm Beach County who are abused, abandoned and neglected.

Created in 1902, Children's Home Society of Florida (CHS) is the state’s oldest and largest statewide private not-for-profit provider of services to children and families. CHS is headquartered in Winter Park, Fla., and offers services in more than 100 locations by more than 1,900 staff members dedicated to providing child-focused, family-centered care. In Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach Division provides a variety of programs that focus on child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention, adoption and adoption support and help for troubled, runaway and homeless teens. During the past year, CHS touched the lives of more than 18,000 local children and families.

Mike Dyer, Sandra Fuentes, Marti La Tour, and John Patten

Megan Hunter and Daniel Brennan

Pam and Peter Dupuis

Hilary and Wilbur Ross

Madeleine Calder, Mary McCourt, Maryellen Mosca, and Carol Brophy

JoAnn and Mike Dyer

Eddy Taylor and Tom Quick

Tim and Christie Gannon, and Betsy and Wally Turner

Richard and Rita Lazzara

Carol Jaeger and Douglas Jencks

Orator and Maureen Woodward

Stephen Myers and JoAnna Ballarini

Norma Tiefel and Mark Freitas

Michael and Annie Falk

Deborah and Ramon Breedon

Michele Kessler and Bill Rollnick

Mary Freitas and Howard Kessler

Laura and Fred Tahne

Betsy Fry and Franklyn DeMarco

Photographs by Owen Hoffmann/PMc(Madison Avenue & New York City Mission Society); R. Mickens (AMNH); Howard Wechsler (PAL); Julia Duresky/Lucien Capehart Photography (CHS).

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House's Associates Committee Chairs at its Fall Benefit.

A couple of weeks ago, the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House held its Fall Associates Committee Benefit. There were cocktails and prizes to be won at Asprey on Madison Avenue, followed by dinner and dancing at the Knickerbocker Club.

Leslie Heaney, a supporter of the Neighborhood House with her husband Andrew for over a decade, was honored at the benefit, along with Michelle Smith, founder and designer of the fashion line Milly.

Close to 250 attended – all looking quite glamorous.

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House helps 20,000 people in need each year, ages 3 to 103, on the East Side of Manhattan. Widely recognized as one of New York's premier nonprofit organizations, it was founded 119 years ago and provides an extensive array of effective human services—social, educational, legal, health, housing, mental health, nutritional and fitness.

Honorees Michelle Smith and Leslie Heaney

Chiara Ferragamo and Victor Geraci

Board Member and Event Chairs Margot and Randy Takian

Board Member and Chair Christopher Spitzmiller with Sam Allen

Mark Gilbertson with Lisa and Chris Errico

Kemp and Mike Steib

Erik and Jennifer Oken

Meredith McCue and Kim Simons

Chairs Richard and Emily Leonard with John Sargent

Marcie and Jordan Pantzer

Andrew Oshrin and Michelle Smith

Barbara and Peter Regna

Shirin and Kasper Christoffersen with a friend

Chair Cindy Ketchum, Mark Gilbertson, and Libby Fitzgerald

Kathy and Andrew Thomas

Michael McGraw and friend

Terry and Libby Fitzgerald

Amy Connor and Missey Condie with a friend

Paige Hardy with Doug and Meg Braff

Alberto Villalobos, Mercedes Desio, and Alex Papachristidis

Ashley Tischer, Lindsey Harper, David Duncan, and Lilse Rodgers

Chair Kamie Lightburn and Jennifer Cacioppo

Jessica Lapin and Andrew Wuertele

Burwell and Chip Schorr

Emily Leonard, Leslie Heaney, and Meg Braff

Rafael Gill and Yliana Yepez

Kathleen Kocatas and Lara Trafelet

Allison Aston and Ferebee Taube

Amy Hoadley and Geoffrey Bradfield

Amanda Taylor, Jill Ross, and Ashley Whittaker

Laura Harris and Eugenie Niven Goodman

Leslie Heaney with John and Heather Sargent

Stephanie and James Loeffler

Mary Van Pelt and Leslie Heaney

On Wednesday, November 20, 2013, Silver Hill Hospital held its fourth annual fall gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. This year's Gala honored longtime supporter and Board Director, Peter Busch Orthwein, and his wife, Beverly, and CNBC anchor, Lawrence Kudlow. The 400 guests enjoyed a very special performance by Grammy and Tony-winning musical artist, Cyndi Lauper. Ms. Lauper opened with her song "Fearless" and went on to play her classic ballad "True Colors".

Peter Orthwein, the Co-Founder and Chairman of Thor Industries, has been a Silver Hill Hospital board member since 2005 and chair of the Planning and Finance Committee. His dedication and brilliant leadership has been instrumental in guiding the Silver Hill through a significant financial turnaround, and his conscientious approach to this work is exemplified by its excellent financial condition. Beverly Orthwein serves as an active volunteer visiting the Acute Care Unit regularly to deliver compassionate support and hope to patients. Her loyal support of Silver Hill and numerous non-profit organizations is laudable and indicative of her generous spirit. She served as one of the evening's speakers sharing her personal experience at Silver Hill Hospital.

Lawrence Kudlow, anchor of CNBC's "The Kudlow Report," has a powerful story of recovery, and is a tireless advocate for promoting greater understanding and acceptance for those with addictions or mental illness. He delivered an impassioned speech to the crowd about his journey to recovery. Silver Hill Hospital shares Mr. Kudlow's passion to eliminate stigmas surrounding these illnesses, and to inspire more patients to seek treatment.

Co-chairs for the 2013 Gala are Sigurd Ackerman, MD and Cecelia McCarton, MD, Michael Cominotto and Dennis Basso, Frederick Feiner, MD, and Vicki Feiner, Kirk Henckels and Fernanda Kellogg, Todd Hollander, DJ Cassidy, Jonny Podell, and Brittany Podell.


	Cyndi Lauper

A live auction was led by Sotheby's, Hugh Hildesley. The evening raised close to $850,000 for financial assistance for individuals who need Silver Hill's long-term residential treatment programs but are without adequate resources to cover the costs.

Notable attendees included: Cyndi Lauper, Peter Busch Orthwein and Beverly Orthwein (honorees), Lawrence Kudlow (honoree and CNBC anchor "The Kudlow Report"), Hugh Hildesley, Sigurd Ackerman, MD and Cecelia McCarton, MD, Michael Cominotto and Dennis Basso, Frederick Feiner, MD, and Vicki Feiner, Kirk Henckels and Fernanda Kellogg, Todd Hollander, DJ Cassidy, Jonny Podell, and Brittany Podell, Amy Fine Collins, Nina Griscom, Valesca Guerrand-Hermes, Lisa Jackson, Michele Herbert, Dana Taylor, Shelley Goldberg, Michael Kellen, John and Nonie Sullivan Jr, Thomas J. Moran, Charles Revson, Hendrik Hartong, Marlene Hess, Richard Zinman, Charles Schorin, Baird Ryan, Daman and Sant Chatwal, Jamie Gleicher, David and Danielle Ganek.

In 1931 renowned psychiatrist Dr. John Millett was searching for a setting close to New York to open a small residential mental health clinic. A picturesque farmhouse on a pastoral site in New Canaan, Connecticut proved irresistible for what he envisioned. In just a few short years, Silver Hill achieved national recognition as a top tier psychiatric hospital, revered for expert and compassionate treatment for patients struggling with mental illness or addiction. A steadfast adherence to mission – "to provide the best treatment for mental illness and addiction; and to offer continuing support, counseling and education to patients and families in every phase of illness and recovery" – has shaped the hospital's growth over time. Today, Silver Hill, a not-for-profit hospital, provides comprehensive inpatient, residential and outpatient programs for adolescents and adults covering the full spectrum of psychiatric diagnoses.

Dennis Basso, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Cominotto, and Jonny Podell

Beverly Orthwein and Peter Orthwein

Daman Chatwal and Sant Chatwal

Alex Hitz, Amy Fine Colins, Mark Gilbertson, and Nina Griscom

Amanda Fial, Jamie Gleicher, and Cary Meer

David and Danielle Ganek

Mark Locks and Michele Herbert

Jessica Crenshaw, Hugh Hildesley, and Beverly Orthwein

Hugh Carey and Kate Gibson

Dori Cooperman, Velesca Guerrand-Hermes, Dana Taylor, and Inga Rubenstein

Jonny Podell, Britney Podell, and DJ Cassidy

Central Park itself took center stage as the Central Park Conservancy celebrated the beauty of the fall season at its annual "Autumn in Central Park." Held under the Naumburg Bandshell, Autumn in Central Park was launched in 2011 with great success, rising over $1.1 million for the care and preservation of the Park. Over five hundred attended this year's celebration of New York City's most treasured green space.

Chairmen included Kitty and Tom Kempner, Gillian and Sylvester Miniter, Deborah Roberts and Al Roker, and Fiona and Eric Rudin

Sarah Arison, Elizabeth Kurpis, Julia Loomis, and Julianna Simmons served as Young Associates Chairmen.

Corporate Chair: Angelo, Gordon and Co.; Sponsorship by: Valentino and Van Cleef and Arpels; Event Décor: Van Wyck and Van Wyck; Catering: Abigail Kirsch; Music: Starlight Orchestra.

Guests included: Ashley Baker and Davin Staats, Lisa and Jeff Blau, Barbara Cirkva, Kathryn Chenault, Suzanne and Bob Cochran, Stephanie and Philippe Dauman, Jr., Stacey Bendet Eisner and Eric Eisner, Andre Fry, Trisha Gregory, Lise Evans, Fe and Alessandro Fendi, Anne and Bill Harrison, Stephen Henderson, Star Jones, Eleanora and Michael Kennedy, Judith-Ann Corrente and Wim Kooyker, Coco and Arie Kopleman, Alexandra Lebenthal and Jeremy Diamond, Kamie and Richard Lightburn, Marcia and Richard Mishaan, Beth Nash, Elyse and Michael Newhouse, Lorry and Mark Newhouse, Liz and Jeff Peek, Avis and Bruce Richards, Sandra Ripert, Jacqueline and Mortimer Sackler, Angel Sanchez, Didi and Oscar Schafer, Marva Smalls, Margaret and Ian Smith, John Stossel, Anita and Stuart Subotnick, Tonya Lee, Carol Sutton Lewis, Patsy and Jeff Tarr, Yilana Yepez, Danielle and Tom Walker, Laura and William Zeckendorf.

Suzanne and Robert Cochran

Fiona and Eric Rudin

Doug Blonsky, Fiona Rubin, Gillian Miniter, Thomas Kempner, and Deborah Roberts

Kristy and Jonathan Korngold

Julianna Loomis, Sarah Arison, and Elizabeth Kurpis

Mark Badgley and James Mischka

Gillian Miniter, Deborah Roberts, and Fiona Rudin

Agenia Clark and Deborah Roberts

Van Cleef and Arpels models

Anne Harrison and Kamie Lightburn

Anne harrison, Lise Evans, Gillian Miniter, and Alexandra Lebenthal

Star Jones

Liz Atwood

Last month, Princess Katherine of Serbia was in New York for a luncheon held at Le Cirque for her beloved charity, Lifeline. Lifeline works with the many impoverished Serbians still suffering the ravages of that country's war. The Princess' special attention is given to helping blind children.

Organized by Lifeline board members Cheri Kaufman, David Hryck and Susan Gutfreund, Le Cirque's dining room was overflowing with guests supporting this important cause. Prince Alexander of Serbia introduced his wife Princess Katherine who gave a touching account of her work in Serbia. Cheri Kaufman followed and introduced former Governor David Patterson who spoke of his life struggles and later accomplishments due to being blind.

Guests included Margo Catsimiitidis, Sharon Bush, Bonnie Lautenberg, Dr. Ruth, Cece Black, Bill Sclight, Judy Missoni, Diana Feldman, Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, and Madam Yoo Ban Soon-Taek, wife of the Secretary General of the U.N.

HRH Princess Katherine of Serbia, honoree Governor David Paterson, Kerry Kennedy, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Cheri Kaufman, HRH Prince Alexander of Serbia, and David Hryck

HRH Princess Katherine of Serbia, Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, and Kerry Kennedy

Michel Witmer and Kamie Lightburn

CeCe Black, Cheri Kaufman, and Donna Soloway

Ambassabor of Cypress Mr. and Mrs. Jacovides with Kip Forbes (middle)

Honoree Governor David Paterson

Madam Yoo (Ban) Soon-taek

Sool Wool, Nana Lee,Bob Dudley, David Paterson, Margo Catsimatides, HRH Princess Katherine of Serbia, and Kyle Wool

Jean Shafiroff, Tamie Lightburn, Sharon Bush, and Cheri Kaufman

Dr. Ruth Westheimer and Peter Pizzino

HRH Prince Alexander of Serbia and HRH Princess Katherine of Serbia

Madam Yoo (Ban) Soon-taek, HRH Prince Alexander of Serbia, and HRH Princess Katherine of Serbia

David Paterson, Diana Kashan, Bill Schlight, and Cheri Kaufman

Royce Pinkwater, Bob Dudley, and Soo Wool

Karen Goulandris and HRH Princess Katherine of Serbia

Bob Dudley, Branko Bojovic, and Kyle Wool

Jana Bullock and Lucia Hwong Gordon

Wendy Federman, Diana Kashan, and Karen Klopp

Judith Missoni and Gabi Garzoni

Joan Standish and Donna Soloway

Maria Vlestis, Dinos Vlestis, Gregory Roumeliotis, and Betty Roumeliotis

HRH Princess Katherine of Serbia, HRH Prince Alexander of Serbia, Madam Yoo (Ban) Soon-taek, and Sirio Maccioni

Nana Lee, Sool Wool, and Jody Jones

Jennifer Gelia and Nick Raynes

Terry Mullins, Manon Lachan, and Michael Franklin

Maria Medicovic, Sofija Milosevic, and Bictoria Shubayva

Three weeks ago on a Thursday, the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) celebrated its 16th annual Collaborating for a Cure dinner and auction at the Park Avenue Armory, hosted by Michael and Elin Nierenberg.

They honored Arthur Imperatore, President of NY Waterway with the Humanitarian of the Year Award and Tadashi Shoji with the Fashion Cares Award. Chris Wragge, Co-Anchor of CBS2 News This Morning, was emcee. Hugh Hildesley of Sotheby's conducted the auction.

The evening raised close to $3 million to support the Foundation's research efforts.

Andrea Powell, Arthur Imperatore, Tadashi Sojhi, Ruth Finley, Dr. Samuel Waxman, and Chris Wragge

Dr. Samuel Waxman and Dena Weiner

Alec Waxman and Sarah Waxman

Dr. Samuel Waxman, Marion Waxman, and Spencer Waxman

Elin and Michael Nierenberg

Martina Arroyo

Photographs by Cutty McGill (Lenox Hill); Rob Rich(Lifeline); Cindy Ord Getty (Waxman).

Suzy Biszantz, Coralie Paul, Chelsea Leyland, Lydia Fenet, Allison Aston, and Julie Macklowe at a holiday cocktail event hosted by La Perla to benefit New Yorkers For Children.

The Dubin Breast Center of The Tisch Cancer Institute at the Mount Sinai Health System held its third annual benefit on Monday, December 9th at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel at Columbus Circle.

The evening, for the first time sponsored by Harry Winston, Inc., honored Sonia Jones and Ramon E. Parsons, MD, PhD. Among those in attendance were Eva and Glenn Dubin, Patty Smyth and John McEnroe, Sonia and Paul Tudor Jones II, Allison and Howard Lutnick, Alice and Lorne Michaels, Jamie Niven, Perri Peltz, and Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan.

Sonia Jones, Honoree, Dr. Eva Andersson-Dubin, Dr. Ramon Parsons, Honoree, Perri Peltz, Emcee, and Dr. David Reich, President & COO of The Mount Sinai Hospital

The guests were greeted by Mount Sinai Hospital president Dr. David Reich. As has become the tradition of the event, there were several musical performances by up and comers. This year’s slate of singers included Jonas Myrin, Beatrice Miller, Caroline Jones, and Angela Hunte. Eva Dubin, founder of the center and Elisa Port, MD, the Center’s Director introduced the award winners.

Perri Peltz, Emcee, Dr. Eva Andersson-Dubin, Michael J. Fox, Tracy Pollan, and Dr. Elisa Port, Director, Dubin Breast Center

Laura Dowling, Dr. Eva Andersson-Dubin, Laurie Adorno, and Federica Boido

The Dubin Breast Center offers the latest, most innovative approaches available for breast health and the treatment of cancer under one roof. The 15,000-square-foot facility is located on the campus of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, and houses a range of services from prevention to survivorship. The Dubin Breast Center represents Mount Sinai’s bold new vision for patient-centered breast cancer treatment and research—one that focuses on the emotional as well as the physical health and wellness of people who have, or may be at risk for, cancer. Patients receive personalized, comprehensive, and integrative care in a welcoming, private, and reassuring setting. The Dubin Breast Center’s extraordinary physicians and scientists actively collaborate, enabling our clinical teams to apply leading-edge knowledge and the newest, most sophisticated techniques and technologies.

Lise Evans, Gabrielle Bacon, and Katherine Cohen

Stacey Pashcow and Marc Caputo

Stephan Solomon, Todd Builione, Karen Builione, Lynn Solomon, and Glenn Dubin

Peter Henkel, Sonia Jones, Honoree, and Eleni Henkel

Nina Wexler and Iris Dankner

Caroline Jones and Paul Tudor Jones

Michael and Lise Evans

Lisa and Mark Bezos

Lili O'Malley, Thomas O'Malley, and Susannah Prout

Dr. Eva Andersson-Dubin, Dr. David Reich, and Sonia Jones

Gary Wexler, Nina Wexler, and Tomomi Arikawa

Eaddo, Peter, and Mareill Kiernan

Donna Karan and Tania Higgins

David Saltzman, Carolyn Schenker, Michael J. Fox, and Tracy Pollan

Curtis Schenker and Glenn Dubin

Chris Mack and Dr. Eva Andersson-Dubin

Bob Pittman, Sonia Jones, and Michelle Bennett

Allison Lutnick, Howard Lutnick, Iris Smith, and Michael Smith

On Tuesday, December 10th, New Yorkers For Children (NYFC) and La Perla hosted a holiday cocktail event to benefit youth in foster care at La Perla's Madison Avenue flagship. In honor of the event, La Perla will offer a 10% discount on merchandise, with an additional 10% of sales benefitting NYFC, until Sunday, December 15th. Cocktails were provided by Atlantico Rum.

Guests included Kelly Rutherford, Chelsea Leyland, Cristina Greeven Cuomo, Suzy Biszantz, Allison Aston, Lydia Fenet, Julie Macklowe, Adelina Wong, Somers Farkas, Killian Hennesy, Vanessa Cornell, Marisa Brown, Susan Burden, Chris Del Gatto and Veronica Webb Del Gatto, Elisabeth Noel Jones, Alison Harmelin, Rory Hermelee, Lauren Kenny, Natalie Echavarria, Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Susan Magazine, Amy McFarland, Clare McKeon, Gillian Miniter, Edward Barsamian and Coralie Charriol Paul, among others.

Chelsea Leyland and Suzy Biszantz

Christina Cuomo and Marisa Brown and

Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos

Marisa Brown, Julie Macklowe, and Coralie Charriol Paul

Jennifer Creel

Kelly Rutherford

Lydia Fenet and Edward Barsamian

Veronica Webb Del Gatto

Pamela Ludwick and Adelina Wong

Susan Burden

Susan Magazine, Lydia Fenet, Suzy Biszantz, and Paige Hardy

The Decorators Club's members, colleagues and industry friends gathered last week at the Colony Club for their annual holiday fundraiser to benefit the DC Education Fund. Over 200 guests attended to celebrate and to toast a trifecta of honorary chairmen -- Gary Crain, founder of Crain & Ventolo Associates, Inc., Harry Hinson, chairman of Hinson & Company, and John Rosselli, impresario of John Rosselli Antiques and John Rosselli & Associates -- for their generous support, impeccable style, and innumerable contributions to the design community. Each was presented with a certificate framed by J. Pocker & Son.


	Nancy Boszhardt and John Rosselli

Nancy Boszhardt, President of the Decorators Club, hosted the evening, along with Event Chair Ann Lind Bowers and co-chairs Amy Lau and Katie Leede.

Among the guests were design luminaries Cristina Azario, Leslie Banker, Stacey Bewkes, Debra Blair, John Brewer, Bill Brockschmidt, Chester Burley, Libby Cameron, Catherine Cleare, Suysel Cunningham, Joanne DePalma, Jim Druckman, Ann Fairfax, Maureen Wilson Footer, Carolyn Engelfield, Susan Forbes, Alana Frumkes, Jane Gaillard, Judy Girod, Mariette and Brooke Gomez, Jacqueline Gonnet, Victoria Hagan, Eric Hilton, Elizabeth Howard, Young Huh, Diana and Mark Jacoby, Peggy Kennedy, Sheila Kotur, Carey and Lisa Kravet, Janice Langrall, Betty Landreth and Jim Lebenthal, Jennifer Matthews, Pauline Metcalf, Renee Meyers, Alex Papachristidis, Peter Pennoyer, Robyn Pocker, Carol Prisant, Ann and Elizabeth Pyne, Jennifer Post, Paul Rankin, Scott Sanders, Gil Schaefer, Richard Sammons, Katherine and Dennis Scully, Betty Sherrill, Katherine Stephens, Matthew Patrick Smyth, Carolyn Sollis, Ann Sonet, Steven Stolman, Cheryl Tague, Priscilla Ulmann, Kenneth Wampler, Grey Watkins, Patricia Webb, Ilene Wetson, Marilyn White, Veronica Whitlock, Ashley Whittaker, Bunny Williams and Rebecca Vizard.

Gary Crain, Harry Hinson, and John Rosselli

Founded in 1914, The Decorators Club is America's oldest women's organization dedicated to the interior design profession. The membership includes women in all areas of the field of decorative arts who are committed to furthering interior design education through a variety of programs. The DC Education Fund Inc. was established in 1960 and through its Holiday Celebration and lecture series has raised funds to support an annual portfolio competition for six New York colleges that offer BFA programs in Interior Design. Monetary Grants are awarded to the winners of this competition. Next year, the Decorator Club will celebrate its 100th Anniversary at the Museum of the City of New York. For further information, visit www.thedecoratorsclub.org.

Ann Lind Bowers, Elizabeth Howard, and Amy Lau

Barbara Ostrom, Martha Siegel, Nancy Boszhardt, Phyllis Harbinger, Pamela Durante, and Judy Girod

Ashley Whittaker, Matthew Smyth, and Jennifer Post

Kenneth Wampler and Dennis Scully

Elizabeth Pyne, Ann Pyne, and Betty Sherrill

Barbara Sallick

Bill Brockschmidt and Paulline Metcalf

Chester Burley and Amy Lau

Cheryl Tague, Katie Leede, Katie Ridder

David Duncan and Virgina Cheney

Chester Burley and Veronica Whitlock

Debra Blair and Jane Gaillard

Eric Hilton

Jacqueline Gonnet, Marilyn White, Jim Druckman, and Cristina Azario

Elliot Johnson and Franklin Cogliano

Gary Crain and Margaret Kennedy

Courtney Coleman and Sarah Blank

Jennifer Post and Dale Cohen

John Brewer, Steven Stolman, Tom Shea, and Robert Ventolo

Joan Dineen and Robyn Pocker

Katherine Stephens and Priscilla Ulmann

Katie Leede, Stacey Bewkes, and Phyllis Harbinger

Leslie Banker and Renee Meyers

Judy Girod and Carol Prisant

Anne Fairfax and Richard Sammons

Andrea Brooke and Paul Rankin

Judy Girod and Joanne DePalma

Katerine Scully, John Brewer, Rachel Karr, and Paul Rankin

Katie Ridder, Jane Gaillard, and Catherine Cleare

Martha Siegel, Pamela Durante, Missy and Fahey

Katherine Scullyl, Jacqueline Gonet, and Carolyn Sollis

Maureen Footer and Sheila Kotur

Nancy Boszhardt and Chris Renzo

Missy Fahey, James Gomiela, Tony Bohem, and Martha Siegel

Pat Webb, Virginia Cheney, James Lebenthal, and Betty Lebenthal

Nancy Boszhardt and Harry Hinson

Pauline Metcalf and Jonathan Preece

Nancy Stout, Carey Karlan, and Beth Dempsey

Ann Sonet, Carolyn Englefield, and Cheryl Tague

Anthony Victoria, Libby Cameron, and David Duncan

Paul Ranki, Susan Thorn, Bill Thorn, and Betsy McAlpin

Rebecca Vizard and Molly Brennan

Robert Rich

Richard Matthews, Tom Shea, Steven Stolman, and Jennifer Matthews

Robert Wright, Flora Irving, and Carolyn Beinfield

Victoria Hagan, Pier Giorgetti, and Tom Robinson

Robert Ventolo and Diana Jacoby

Suysel Cunningham, Richard Sammons, and Anne Maxwell Foster

Steven Stolman and Scott Sanders

Susan Forbes and Dr. Mannuccio Mannucci

The 4th Annual Santa Project Party & Auction benefiting United Cerebral Palsy of New York City (UCP of NYC), one of the largest disability nonprofit organizations in the U.S., was held Tuesday Dec. 3rd at Bocca di Bacco in Chelsea.

Beyond the core programs and services UCP of NYC delivers year round, proceeds from the Santa Project Party & Auction help fund special needs equipment requests and purchase holiday gift cards for children with disabilities in UCP of NYC’s programs.

The 4th Annual UCP of NYC Santa Project Party

The Santa Project Party & Auction was co-hosted by Tamsen Fadal, Emmy-winning anchor of PIX 11 News, and Camilla Barungi, model/entrepreneur of “Project Runway” fame. This marks the fourth consecutive year Camilla Barungi has hosted the Santa Project Party. Scott Stanford, Emmy-winning PIX 11 News co-anchor, and Isiah Whitlock, Jr., new star of HBO series “Veep,” co-chaired the fundraiser.

In addition to a strong showing of support from a diverse young professional crowd, the event drew celebrities and guests from Wall Street, architecture and design, fashion, film, television, and Broadway.

Mike Woods, Katrina Hazell and mother, Tamsen Fadal, Scott Stanford, and Camilla Barungi

James Adler, Jamie Feuerborn, Scott Allen, Kristina Buller, Brandon Nygard, and Ashley Glass

In addition to Camilla Barungi, Tamsen Fadal, and Scott Stanford, other VIPs attending the event included: Rich Graziano, President & General Manager, PIX 11; Mike Woods, Meteorologist & Reporter, Fox 5’s “Good Day New York,” and past co-host of the UCP of NYC Santa Project Party; Ryan Asselta, Sports Anchor & Reporter, Fox 5 New York; Kipton Cronkite,; Sheila Lennon, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Development, United Cerebral Palsy of New York City; George Berry, Founder and Principal, PLAN architecture | design | strategy; Pierre A. Le Veaux, Goldman Sachs; Thomas P. Lane, Partner, Winston & Strawn; Antonello Patella, Creative Director, Laura Mercier; Sandro Patella and Robert Patella, Patella Brothers Studio; Martha Fling, Founder, Drake Libby; Steve Gold, producer; Brice Mousset, Founder & Artistic Director, Oui Danse; Tim Mandala, actor; Ron Roberts, actor; Lakey Wolff, agent CESD; Lori Sokol, Publisher, Work Life Matters Magazine, and Board Chair, Women’s eNews; and Carlos Anaya, Fox News Latino, Telemundo and MyLifeStyle Magazine.

The Santa Project Party Host Committee members in attendance included:Scott Allen, Perkins+Will; Jason Carlough, MassMutual Financial Group; Kimberly Dowdell, Levien & Company; Javier Gomez, noted fine art photographer; Cynthia Jones, Bank of America; Seth Kramer, Goldman Sachs; Lauren LoGiudice, actress/writer; Michelina Mandarano, Goldman Sachs; Elizabeth Norman, Gensler; Alan Oyugi, Alliance Limousine, LLC.

Michelina Mandarano, Sheila Lennon, Seth Kramer, and Elizabeth Norman

Cass Almendral, Camilla Barungi, and Alan Oyugi

Scott Stanford, Ojinika Obiekwe, Sheila Lennon, Tamsen Fadal, and Javier Gomez

This year’s generous Santa Project Party Event Sponsors were WorldQuant (Presenting); HOK and Pilot Benefits (Hope); PLAN (Joy); Goldman Sachs and JGPR (Peace); and Levien & Company (Cheer.)

The event featured a silent auction with a range of luxury goods and services, including items donated by Laura Mercier, Google, Vera Bradley, Patella Bros., Equinox, Sebastian Nicole, Javier Gomez, The Colbert Report, Kinky Boots, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, and Marquis Miami, among many other sponsored items.

Carlos Anaya, Jerry Flaxman, Camilla Barungi, and Javier Gomez

Alan Oyugi, Samantha Vasquez, Terry Lyon, Calcie Coope, and friends

Christopher Dean, Jade Dean, Natalia Diaz-Jackson, Pierre Le Veaux, and Kimberly Dowdell

Haya Joy Kramer and Seth Kramer

Kipton Cronkite

Cynthia Jones

Lakey Wolff and Dilia Jelen

Scott Allen

Mike Woods, Kimberly Asselta, Ryan Asselta, and Carlos Anaya

Photographs by Ann Billingsley (Dubin); Karina Robledo, Lois Silver, Americk Lewis, and Nick Sosin (UCP)

Park Avenue before the 2013 Tree Lighting ceremony

Sunday, December 8th marked the 69th year in a row that trees have been lit on Park Avenue to honor the men and women who fought in our nation's armed services, especially those who sacrificed their lives. Light snow fell on the large crowd gathered in front of the Brick Presbyterian Church as Rev. Michael L. Lindvall presided over a ceremony that was both a reminder of the original meaning of the lights and a celebration of the holiday season.

This tradition began after World War II when a few Park Avenue families put up trees in remembrance of their loved ones. Today the project is managed by The Fund for Park Avenue and is made possible by annual contributions from the community.

Reverend Michael L. Lindvall

Thomas Hoyt

Knickerbocker Grey cadets

Brick Church Children’s Choir

Knickerbocker Grey cadets attended the event this year to pay tribute to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and for whom the trees are dedicated. The Greys, based at the Park Avenue Armory, are the oldest after school activity in the country (founded in 1881) with a mission to train boys and girls in drill routines for civic and governmental ceremonial events, instill and develop leadership skills and learn about American history.

A moment of silence was observed while Taps was played by trumpeter, Thomas Hoyt before Rev. Lindvall uttered the words "Let there be light!" at which time the lights on the trees began to sparkle up and down the avenue. On the night of the ceremony, the trees are lit manually but are controlled by time clocks thereafter.

Before and after what can best be described as a "Park Avenue Block Party," families and friends gathered for celebrations in homes and restaurants all around the neighborhood.

Barbara McLaughlin and friends on Park Avenue

A rooftop party across from Brick Church

The lit trees on Park Avenue

First Snowball of the night

Natasha and John Bergreen

Officer Brent Andreol

Robert Wolf, Katarina Posch, Heidy Benzinger, and Jack Toolin

J. McLaughlin hosted its second annual "open house" to benefit the Tree Lighting and local restaurants such as Island and Swifty's also joined in to support this wonderful New York tradition.

The Park Avenue Tree Lighting brings together a large and diverse community to ensure that one of the City's most beloved and meaningful traditions continues each year. Lights shine on Park Avenue because of the commitment and annual financial support of so many people. For more information or to make a tax-deductible contribution, visit www.fundforparkavenue.org.

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and Barbara McLaughlin

Alexandra Hoyle and Eric Hoyle

Ann Fisher and Lenora Pettit

Gwenda McDougal and John Campbell

Richard and Caroline Moss

Ted and Kathleen Beit

Jim Kerr and Helen Miller

Marcia and Georgina Schaeffer

Animal Care & Control of New York City (AC&C) honored some of New York's Kindest – those dedicated supporters committed to making a difference for NYC animals in need – at the landmark National Arts Club on December 6th. An awards ceremony, dinner, and silent auction was held followed a VIP cocktail reception that featured multi-platinum selling vocalist Ann Hampton Callaway. Net proceeds from the event support the care of homeless and abandoned animals at AC&C.

The New York's Kindest Dinner & Awards was named for AC&C's New York's Kindest ad campaign, which debuted earlier this year and aims to get more New Yorkers involved in helping city animals. Ads featuring AC&C adopters, volunteers, and donors with the cats and dogs they love appeared in subways, on telephone kiosks, in print and online, in a commercial, and even on a billboard by Citi Field. Among those honored at the event was New Leash Productions, the team behind the campaign.

Patrick Nolan, Nicki Gondell, and Risa Weinstock

Patrick Nolan, Kevin de IAigle, and Risa Weinstock

"Our New York's Kindest ad campaign and celebration tonight underscore the importance that the community plays by adopting, volunteering, fostering, donating and advocating for AC&C and the animals in our care," said AC&C Executive Director Risa Weinstock.

Julie Morris, Heidi Miller, Michelle Villagomez, and Gail Buchwald of the ASPCA were also honored for their support of AC&C, as were Yonaton Aronoff, Esq. and Adam Pence, Esq., of Foley & Lardner, LLP; adopter and longtime volunteer and donor Kevin de l'Aigle; and Sean Casey Animal Rescue, one of AC&C's dedicated rescue partners, also known as New Hope groups.

Adam Pence, Yonaton Aronoff, and Patrick Nolan

"Animal Care & Control's success depends on a partnership with City government, a vast network of private rescue groups and support from generous New Yorkers," said AC&C Chairman Patrick Nolan."Together we will provide the care the animals need and deserve."

Animal Care & Control of New York City (AC&C) is one of the largest animal welfare organizations in the country, taking in approximately 30,000 animals each year. As a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization since 1995, AC&C rescues, cares for and finds loving homes for homeless and abandoned animals in New York City. AC&C facilities operate in all five boroughs. Visit www.nycacc.org for more information.

Mark Abrahams, Arthur Hazelwood, Ben LiGon , Jane Hoffman, Susan Reilly-Moszczynki, and Risa Weinstock

David Zyla, Roxy, and Tina Davis

Chuck

Blaine Caravaggi, Risa Weinstock, and Robert Caravaggi

Samantha Fox, Robert Aronowitz, Dough Marron, Catharine Higgin, and Jessica Bornn

Emily and Yonaton Aronoff

Rena Micklewright and Inca

Gennaro Vitally, Roy Kessler, Theresa Beasley, and Laurie Kotton

Kevin de IAigle and Nancy Notaro

Martin Bialuscki, Jeff Wolk, Kinnaird Fox, Rob Anzalone, and Jeremy Hamilton

Julie Horton and Arthur Hazelwood

Chris Poe and Dr. Jay Kuhlman

Adam Pence and Madeline Thompson

Gina Manentte and Leslie Treed

Stephaney Bianciella and Ashley Scarlata

Nicki Gondell and the New Leash Productions table

Christine Hahn and Robert Aronowitz

The Christmas Luncheons at Doubles continue for 6 days and are a New York Holiday Tradition for the social set. Wendy Carduner warmly welcomed over 1200 members and guests to celebrate and beginning of the Christmas Season. Chef Steve Mellina prepared a different luncheon each day, but we hear the three favorites were the herb seared Chilean sea bass, lobster and crab risotto, and the crab-stuffed filet of sole.

Guests surrounding the sumptuous dessert Table included Muffie Potter Aston, Somers Farkas, Suzanne Johnson, Geoffrey Bradfield, Roric Tobin, Amy Hoadley, Amy Fine Collins,Suzie Aijala, Gillian Miniter, Noreen Buckfire, Sharon Handler Loeb, Daryl Roth, Ashley McDermott, Eleanora Kennedy, Anna Safir, Joan Schnitzer Levy , Lisa McCarthy, Elizabeth Stribling, CeCe Black, Steve and Christine Schwarzman, Joan Rivers, Cynthia and Tony Maltese, Paige Hardy, Kamie Lighburn, Bambi Putman, Donna Rosen, Ambassador Brodsky, and hundreds more.

Roric Tobin, Amy Hoadley, and Geoffrey Bradfield

Rebecca Grafstein, Suzie Aijala, Diane Chachas, Jenny Price, Gillian Miniter, and Noreen Buckfire

Stephanie Loeffler and Yaz Hernandez

Joan Schnitzer Levy, Wendy Carduner, and Cornelia Guest

Paige Hardy, Kristen Fealy, Wendy Carduner, and Kamie Lightburn

Sharon Handler, Mai Harrison, Jamee Gregory, and Joan Schnitzer Levy

Dawn Jones, Suzy Finesilver, and Lynn Crystal

Muffie Potter Aston, Somers Farkas, Susan Johnson, Amy Fine Collins, and Joanne de Guardiola

Sylvia Hemingway

Sharon Handler and Marjorie Reed Gordon

Patricia Pedersen, Heidi Holterbusch, Meg Braff, and Mayme Hackett

Lesley Francis, Cynnie Ogden, Anki Leeds, Carol McNierney, Robyn Joseph, Clelia Zacharias, and Lisa McCarthy

Laurie Dhue, Annie Scranton, and Sally Izzo

Dr Lee Klausner, Amanda Moran, Lindsay Higgins, Meredith Sullivan, and McDowell Winn

McDowell Winn's group at the dessert table

Tory Burch, Jennifer Aaker, Marina Rust, and Christina Smith

Ursula Lowerre, Elizabeth Stribling, Karen Clark, Jeanne Lawrence, CeCe Black, and Sondra Gilman

Robin Joseph and Heather Leeds' Table

Polly Onet, Catherine Carey, and Robin Joseph

Stephanie Foster, Katie Ryser, and Shana Hunter

Julie Crosswell, Nancy Steves, Carmen Knapp, Sarah Pitt, Arlene Levitt, and Sara Steves

Stephanie Foster

Polly Scott, Liz Peek, Dale Burch, Bambi Putman, and Lucy Lamphere

Lee Robinson, Kari Tiedeman, and Mark Gilbertson

Holly Kinney's table

Courtney Moss' table

Christine Scott, Felicia Taylor, and Alex Trower

Ambassador Brodsky, Contessina Francesca Brodsky, Countess and Nuvia Brodsky

Cynthia and Tony Maltese, Joan Rivers, Taki Theodoracopulos, and friend

Stephen and Christine Schwarzman

Jennifer Stockman, Bambi Putman, and Donna Rosen

Darcy Rigas, Anna Safir, Eleanora Kennedy, Julie Macklowe, Lily Hoagland, Lisa Klein, Kamie Lightburn, and Melissa Morris

Eleanora Kennedy and Anna Safir

Danielle Ganek and Alexa Hamm Ryan

Vivian Chamber and friend

The dessert table ...

Planting Fields of Oyster Bay, NY celebrated their Centennial in grand style on December 6th. Coe Hall was decked with boughs of holly, Christmas trees, music by Bob Merrill and dancing.

Mr. and Mrs. William Robertson Coe bought Planting Fields exactly one hundred years ago. They closed on the purchase December 1st, 1913. Coe Hall, which they built between 1918 and 1921, became their spring and fall retreat from New York City. The Olmsted brothers were commissioned to landscape the magnificent park and to build the huge greenhouses. In 1949 Mr. Coe sold the estate (then, as now, 409 acres) to the State of New York for $1. Planting Fields Foundation and the state work to preserve and interpret the park and Coe Hall for the enjoyment of everyone.

Colleen and C.B. Ciullo, and Mary and Robert Ciullo

Patsy Sands, Sarane Ross, Margaret Stacey, Joan Shepard, and Tom Stacey

Jody and Hannah Burns (Co-chair)

Henry B. Joyce (Executive Director)

Aimee and George Eberle, and Cora and Clarence McCallis

Charles McCurdy, and Jamie and Mary Gay Townsend

Marybeth Donohue, Gillian Mestre, and Louise Parent

Natalie and Cassius Coe

Wendy and Gary Kaplan, and Alex and Cathy Traykovski

Morgan and Liz McLanahan, Emily Johnson, and Gib Chapman

Helene and Nathalie Comfort, and Lieta Urry

Susan Moore, Julia Weidinger, and Suzanne Dubuque

Bess and David Fuchs

Lieta Urry, Helen Bonebreak, and Missy Moorhead

Constance and Nina Haydock

Music by Bob Merrill

Dr. Maryann Rosman and Amy Herling

Terry and Jeff Thielen

Tim and Gina Di Pietro, and Ann and Elliot Conway

Timothy and Kate O’Neil

Jim Powers and Caroline Tyree

Michael and Victoria Moses, and Mitzie Graef

Liz and Robert Whitney

John and Elizabeth Collett

Hal (President of Planting Fields) and Sally Davidson

Susan Hillberg

Meg Hayes and Willian Frere

Denyse Duvall Pugsley

Bruce and Catherine herlich

Pieppe and Paula Gonthier

Antje Dolido and Liz McLanahan

Carlos and Lisa McCurdy

Margaret and Bob Foschi

Photographs bywww.AnnieWatt.com (Park Avenue Tree Lighting & Doubles); Jill Johnson (Planting Feilds)

The 18th Annual ACRIA Holiday Dinner in the Stephan Weiss Studio at the Urban Zen Center.

Last Friday night at The New York Botanical Garden, they celebrated the annual Winter Wonderland Ball. More than 450 attended. This a traditional dinner dance and refreshing in its simplicity, elegance and tradition. The Ball was held in the magnificent Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, the Garden’s Victorian-style crystal palace.

On view in the Conservatory was the 22nd Annual Holiday Train Show®— an internationally acclaimed display of magnificent model trains winding through a sprawling landscape featuring replicas of iconic New York landmarks.

The evening began with cocktails under the Palm Dome in the grand rotunda, continiing with dinner and dancing in an adjacent beautifully-designed tent.

The evening raised more than $250,000 for the Garden’s Children’s Education programs. These programs allow children (of all ages), particularly underserved children in the Bronx, an opportunity to learn about nature in engaging ways through workshops and hands-on activities.

The Chairs were Byrdie Bell, Alina Cho, Cristina Cuomo, Linda Fargo, Brooke Gerschel, Emma J.P. Goergen, Patrick M. Herning, Annie Lansing, Alexandra Lebenthal, Christian Leone, Dalia Oberlander, Connie Anne Phillips, Alexandra Lind Rose, Gillian Hearst Simonds, and Sutton Stracke.

The Junior Chairs were Genevieve Bahrenburg, Hannah Bronfman, Sarah Chilton, Martin Dawson, Nell Diamond, Julia Catherine Erdman, Simon Hammerstein, Olivia Sandelman, and Victoria A. Thain.

The Honorary Chairmen were Sloan Barnett, Whitney Fairchild, Pauline Joerger, Nathalie Kaplan, and Molly Sims.

The Ball was generously sponsored by Bergdorf Goodman. Additional funding was provided by Glamour and Perrin Paris 1893 with support from Sally and Michel Perrin. The dinner was catered by Stephen STARR Events, the new on-site catering partner for The New York Botanical Garden.

Martin Jobes Design designed the Ball tent.

Adelina Wong Ettelson, Alvin Valley, and Whitney Fairchild

Jared MacLane and Katherine Petty MacLane

Laurel Marcus, Rosemary Ponzo, and Marilyn Kirschner

Connor Feagan and Geoffrey Jackson

Jennifer Wright

Douglas Lake and Elizabeth Lake

Pamela Lewy and Brian Murphy

Chris York, Kristin York, Meghan Brophy, and Richard Persutti

Andrew Wallace and Olivia Millot

Cristina Greeven Cuomo, Genevieve Bahrenburg, Alexandra Lebenthal, Alina Cho, and Alexandra Lind Rose

Bettina Zilkha, Jay Diamond, and Alexandra Lebenthal

Gregory Clark and Connie Anne Phillips

Brooke Rohrbach and Robert Bailey

Julie Tucker and Adam Tucker

Micca Wang

Elizabeth Kurpis, Vanessa Grout, and Melanie Lazenby

Ashley Sousa and Raymond Vargas

Jean Shafiroff, Victor de Souza, and Anne-Marie Belli

Scott Stackman and Emily Sherratt

Ally Hilfiger and Alina Cho

Luigi Tadini and Steven Cardwell

Dr. Eve Lehrman and Peter Lehrman

Alexandra Lind Rose

Brittany Weeden and Jared Abrams

Robbie Schroeder, Katherine Grady, Molly Bohonnon, and Michael Young

Ariana Rockefeller and Matthew Bucklin

Bill Reichman, Pamela Reichman, Courtney Stern, and Nicholas Stern

Chiu-Ti Jansen

Sally Perrin and Michel Perrin

Adam and Joy Marks

Andrew Torrey and Peter Kahng

Thomas Bell and Dr. Susan Krysiewicz

Roman Johnson and Tracey High

Gillian Miniter

Campbell O'Shea and Patrick O'Shea

Jeremy Schwab, Diana Seabrooke, Jackie Seabrooke, and Michael Ivers

Valentin Hernandez and Yaz Hernandez

Alex Bolen and Eliza Reed Bolen

Tiffany Archer

Sarah Rose, James Johnson, Patti Healy, and Samantha Pebley

Elizabeth Kurpis, Katie Fischer Cherry, Spencer Cherry, and Chloé Perrin

Edouard Gerschel and Nathalie Kaplan

Chrissy Rutherford

Frederick Anderson and Alvin Valley

Michael Allwin and Lily Galef

Meredith Ostrom, Allison Hodge, and Lauren Beene

Allison Ecung, Kim Hicks, and Allison Yang

Fritz Franz and Miller Gaffney

Nell Diamond, Savannah Engel, Tory Gossage, and Lauren Whatley

Alexandra Lambert and Lexi Bowes-Lyon

Last Wednesday a week ago, InStyle Magazine, Tiffany & Co. and The Urban Zen Foundation presented the 18th Annual ACRIA Holiday Dinner in the Stephan Weiss Studio at the Urban Zen Center.

Ariel Foxman, InStyle’s Editor hosted the evening, and Jessye Norman paid special tribute to the late Judy Peabody for her unsurpassed care and compassion towards those living with HIV and AIDS; Sam and Elizabeth Peabody accepted in her memory. Artist Jack Pierson presented Rob Pruitt and Jonathan Horowitz with the Artists Ending AIDS Award, and Darren Star honored Martha Nelson for her leadership, commitment to and support of the organization over the years.

Over $400,000 was raised to help people living with HIV and AIDS live longer, healthier lives. Hosts for the evening were Ross Bleckner, Francisco Costa, Gabby and Gianpaolo DeFelice, Ariel Foxman, Donna Karan, David Kleinberg and Jack Pierson.

Sheila Johnson and Donna Karan

Samuel Peabody, Jessye Norman, and David Kleinberg

Jay Johnson and Tom Cashin

Kyle DeWoody and Casey Fremont Crowe

Sam Shahid and AJ Michel

Eric Wilson, Malcolm Carfrae, and Quin Aluni

Ellen Langan, Rob Pruitt, and Brendan Dugan

Jack Pierson, Elizabeth Peyton, Jamie Kenyon, and Jonathan Horowitz

Cindy Weber Cleary

Kristen Somody Whalen and Seth Whalen

Martha Nelson, Quinn Tivey, and Dan Tietz

Bruce Weber and Donna Karan

Max Osterweis

Elizabeth Peabody, Alan Rogers, and Laurie Taylor

Clay Floren and Matthew Owens

Kyle Hotchkiss Carone, Indre Rockefeller, and Justin Rockefeller

Joanna Kane and Liz Flynn

Chelsea Leyland and Kate Foley

John DeStefano, Francisco Costa, and Derek Hester

Kelly Klein and Calvin Klein

Ariel Foxman and Bernadette Peters

Kevin Baker and Donald Baechler

Priscilla Rattazzi, Andrea Whittle, and Isabel Rattazzi

Alexander Gilkes and Misha Nonoo

Bruce Weber and Nan Bush

Elia and Mariana Zois

Gabby de Felice

Michael Angel and Mark Burnett

Darren Star and Martha Nelson

Graziano di Boni and Valerie di Boni

Roopal Patel

Ross Bleckner, Dan Tietz, and Jamison Ernest

Nacole Snoep and Meredith Melling Burke

Garrett Neff

Victor de Souza, Dawne Marie Grannum, Randy Polumbo, and Meghan Boody

Also last Friday night at the Park Avenue Armory, they held an opening night benefit for "The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic" directed by Robert Wilson, featuring Ms. Abramovic and Willem Defoe. The play runs through this Saturday.

Rebecca Robertson, Marina Abramovic, and Marco Brambilla

Sandy and Lisa Ehrenkranz

Marina Abramovic, Stefano Tonchi, and Suzanne Donaldson

Victoria Wyman and Farhad Farman Farmaian

Terry Kistler and Lizabeth Newman

Gisela Winkelhofer, George Economou, and Kyveli Alexiou

Helen Howe and Stewart Elliott

Janet Ross and Mary Wallach

Jamee and Peter Gregory

Joseph Silvestera, Alexandra Tajli Siladi, and Marcia Cohen

Tina Barney and Jeffrey Bishop

Olivia Flatto, Firooz Zahedi, and Barabara Hemmerle Gollust

Rita Saltzman and Nathan Bernstein

Olivia Flatto and Barabara Hemmerle Gollust

Debbie Gibbs and Mary Davidson

Dr. David Orentreich, Willem Dafoe, Marina Segovia, and Catherine Orentreich

Beth Rudin DeWoody and Hamish Bowles

Harley Trice and Joan Hardy Clarke

Carroll Guest and Jason Alhadeff

Linda Yablonsky and Alex Poots

Joan Hardy Clarke and Frederick Eberstadt

Jorge Vargas and Valentina Celada

Bonnie Comley and Stewart Lane

Ken Kuchin and Sheila O'Donnell

Hamish Bowles and Olivia Flatto

Mary Reen and Tanner Cohen

Robert WIlson, Olivia Flatto, and Adam Flatto

Photographs byPatrickMcMullan.com

Charles Grodin, Cheryl Hines, Catherine Keener, Sam Waterston, Julianna Margulies, Kate Mulgrew, and Tony Lo Bianco on stage at the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights 2013 Ripple of Hope Awards Dinner.

On Wednesday, December 4, 2013, the Young New Yorkers for the Philharmonic gathered for their annual Winter Benefit. Over 200 guests attended and $80,000 was raised for the Philharmonic. The evening began with a cocktail reception at Badgley Mischka and concluded with dinner and dancing at Doubles. NY Philharmonic Executive Director attended cocktails along with designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka.

New York Philharmonic Chairman Gary Parr and Stephanie Sirota, Board Member and Chairman of the Benefit Committee, welcomed guests and introduced Philharmonic musicians Pascual Martínez Forteza and Yoobin Son who gave a festive chamber performance.

Benefit Committee Chairmen for the event were Jason and Mary Dillow, Christopher George, Sarah Jane and Trevor Gibbons, Laura and Ben Harris, Sandra L. Kozlowski, Justin R. Kush, Blair Endresen Métrailler, Stefan Nowicki, Alexandra Caroline Porter, Mae R. Rogers, Stephanie A. Sirota, and Jill and Christopher Wight.

Executive Director Matthew VanBeisen, Mark Badgley, Rosie VanBesien, and James Mischka

Justin Kush and Matthew VanBesien

Kate Ferreira and Jan Concilio

Mark Badgley, Stephanie Sirota, and Matthew VanBesien

Mark Gilberton, Allison Hennessy, Eden Taylor, and Philip Gaucher

Mark Gilbertson and Sarah Jane Gibbons

Yoobin Son and Pascual Martinez-Forteza

Gary Parr speaks during dinner

Bettina Bennett and Gordon Beck

Alexandra Caroline Porter

Barbara Regna and Sandra Kozlowski

Chappy and Melissa Morris

Fatima Sanandaji

Edouard and Blair Metrailler

Philip Gaucher, Angus Birchall, and Jordan Nystrom

Sandra Kozlowski and Pablo Ogarrio

Sarah Jane and Trevor Gibbons

Valarie Lettan

Lizzy Brown and Victor Geraci

Gary Parr and Stefan Nowicki

Melissa Morris

On a cold New York evening in December, UN Women for Peace hosted a discussion on the global need to end violence against women at a private club on the Upper East Side.

The event featured opening remarks by Mrs. Ban Soon-taek, wife of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Patron of UN Women For Peace. Mrs. Ban Soon-taek delivered a passionate plea for the rights’ of women saying, “violence against women is a violation of human rights. It may be universal, but it is not inevitable. It can be stopped.”

The panel was moderated by Fox News’ Uma Pemmaraj, which included three remarkable women Cindy Dyer (Vice President of Human Rights at Vital Voices), Aldijana Sisic (UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women) and Manda Zand Ervin (Alliance of Iranian Women). Ms. Ervin shocked to the room when she told the 90 guests that the “Islamic Council had legalizing pedophilia that afternoon. Men can now legally marry their adopted daughters. Iran is now a gender-apartheid state.”

Manda Zand Ervin, Cindy Dyer, and Aldijan Sisic

Guests included: Carole Acunto, Keiko Ono Aoki, Carl Adams, Paul Austin, Jean-Christophe Bas, Geoffrey Bradfield,Kendra Bridelle, Giancarlo Bruno, Sharon Bush, Eileen Butler, Jessica DeMarco, Katie Dervishi, Wendy Diamond, Daniella Diserens, Jean-Pierre Diserens, Paula Carlton Evans, Nicola Hewitt, Deirdre Imus, Lucia Kaiser, Audrey Latourette, Marcia Mintz, Sam Munshani, Valdona Neritani, Nicole Rhodes, Gaynor Shaw, Linda Silverman, Steven Tanger, Roric Tobin, Emmie Twombly, Melek Verbay, Carole Bellidora Westfall, Julie Weindling, Barbara Winston, and Jacqueline Wolfson.

Ban Soon-taek, Sam Munshani, and Muna Rihani al Nasser

UN Women for Peace’s chairwoman, Muna Rihani al Nasser, announced the organization’s plans to host their second annual March in March in celebration of International Women’s Day, which will be at the United Nations Headquarters on Friday March 7, 2014.

UN Women for Peace will host over 500 attendees at a private luncheon and public march and rally to raise further awareness to end violence against women.

Luncheon guests will join hundreds of supporters inside the United Nations Headquarters’ Gates and marching through the UN Park to Dag Hammarskjold Park.

Nicola Hewitt, Uma Pemmaraju, Manda Zand Ervin, Ban Soon-taek, Aldijan Sisic, and Muna Rihani al Nasser

Last year celebrities that attended the march and rally included Christy Turlington Burns, Nana Meriwether (Miss USA 2012), Monique Coleman, Alexandra Richards, Kelly Rutherford and Susan Sarandon.

UN Dignitaries attended included H.E. Mrs. Ban Soon-taek (wife of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon), Muna Rihani Al-Nasser (Chairman, UNWomen for Peace and wife of Ambassador Nassir Al-Nasser), Lakshmi Puri (Deputy Executive Director, of UNWomen), & H.E. Ms. Rosemary A. DeCarlo (US Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations) and many other ambassadors and their wives.

A special message from Malala Yousafzai wasread by Susan Sarandon. The video of her message was broadcasted nationally.

Paula Carlton Evans and Jean-Christophe Bas

Marcia Mintz and Manda Zand Ervin

UN Women for Peace, founded in 2008, under the patronage of H.E. Mrs. Ban Soon-taek aims at promoting and advancing the goals of UN agencies whose missions are to provide opportunities for women through social, cultural, educational and empowerment programs while partaking in a global peace building process.

UN Women for Peace is focused on supporting and funding UN humanitarian programs for women in developing countries and countries in conflict. Since its inception, UN Women for Peace has sponsored scholarships to benefit underprivileged women to study at the University for Peace.

Uma Pemmaraju, Manda Zand Ervin, Ban Soon-taek, Cindy Dyer, Aldijan Sisic, and Muna Rihani al Nasser

UN Women for Peace is also proud to support the UNWomen Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The Trust Fund, established by the UN General Assembly in 1996, assists efforts to prevent violence against women and girls, provides services to those affected by violence and strengthens the implementation of laws and policies on violence against women and girls. The Trust Fund is particularly concerned with ending violence against women in countries of conflict, post-conflict and transitional settings. The Trust Fund also invests, through its partners, in long-term solutions for a world free of violence. UN Women for Peace’s contributions to the Trust Fund directly fund these efforts.

Gaynor Shaw and Valdona Neritani

Eileen Butler

Carole Bellidora Westfall, Emmie Twombly, and Nicole Rhodes

Geoffrey Bradfield and Roric Tobin

Jessica Demarco and Steven Tanger

Paul Austin, Barbara Winston, and Carl Adams

Ruth Hercolani, Muna Rihani al Nasser, Julie Weindling, Carol Acunto, and Linda Silverman

Sharon Bush, Deirdre Imus, Giancarlo Bruno, and Barbara Winston

Audrey Latourette and Lucia Kaiser

Daniella Diserens and Jean-Pierre Diserens

Sharon Ray, Katie Dervishi, Kendra Bridelle, and Melek Verbay

On Dec. 12, 2013, the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights honored Muhammad Yunus, Niclas Matseke and John Boyer at the 2013 Ripple of Hope Awards Dinner at the New York Hilton Midtown. The event welcomed nearly 1,000 guests, and was emceed by Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert.

The Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award lauds leaders of the international business, entertainment, and activist communities who demonstrate commitment to social change. Past honorees including President Bill Clinton, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bono, George Clooney and Vice President Al Gore reflect Robert Kennedy's passion for equality, justice, basic human rights, and his belief that we all must strive to "make gentle the life of this world."

Ripple of Hope Honorees, Muhammad Yunus, Niclas Matseke, and John Boyer

Muhammad Yunus, Ethel Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, and Stephen Colbert

Julianna Margulies and Keith Lieberthal

Kerry Kennedy, President of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, with Stephen Colbert, the evening’s emcee

Guests in attendance included: Ethel Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Matthew Broderick, Julianna Margulies, Tory Burch, Lorraine Bracco, Charles Grodin, Cheryl Hines, Catherine Keener, Tony Lo Bianco, Kate Mulgrew, Diane Neal, Debra Winger, Alfre Woodard, Lena Olin, Sam Waterston, Lauren Bush Lauren, NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Howard Dean.

Many of the celebrities in attendance were also featured in the Seventh Annual Ripple of Hope Holiday Auction, which benefits the RFK Center's work advancing human rights efforts around the world. The online auction featured memorable experiences with notable figures in entertainment, politics, music and sports– from intimate meals with Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick,"Double Down" authors Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, and political strategist David Plouffe and Wall Street veteran Robert Wolf; to set/studio visits with Jon Stewart, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Julianna Margulies, and Ken Burns; the opportunity to pitch director, screenwriter and producer Joel Schumacher with a one-hour meeting in NYC; and much more.

Stephen Colbert serves as Master of Ceremonies

Alfre Woodard

Michaela Kennedy Cuomo

Monica Yunus, daughter of Ripple of Hope Honoree Muhammad Yunus

Muhammad Yunus accepts the Ripple of Hope Award

Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Jan Eliasson

The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights was founded in 1968 by Robert Kennedy's family and friends as a living memorial to carry forward his vision of a more just and peaceful world. RFK Partners for Human Rights, the RFK Center's litigation, advocacy, and capacity-building arm, builds multi-year partnerships with defenders and other human rights activists to advance social justice goals around the world.

RFK Speak Truth To Power educates more than half a million students throughout the world each year with a human rights school curriculum offered from pre-school to law school. RFK Compass promotes corporate responsibility by ensuring that human rights concerns, fair labor practices, and environmental safeguards are reflected in global investment strategies. The RFK Center's European partner organization, RFK Europe, provides human rights education programs to schools across the continent, and operates the RFK Europe Training Institute providing cutting edge training for human rights activists and grassroots organizations. The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit charitable organization. To learn more, visit www.rfkcenter.org.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. embraces Ted Kennedy Jr.

Ripple of Hope Award Honoree John Boyer and Howard Dean

Henry Schleiff, Actress Diane Neal, and Stephen Bradberry

Ripple of Hope Award honoree John Boyer and Lauren Bush Lauren

Cheryl Hines and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Marvin Rosen, Ted Kennedy Jr., and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman

Stephen Bradberry, Ethel Kennedy, and Sam Waterston

Hope Dworaczyk and Robert Smith, Chair of RFK Center Board of Trustees

Kate Mulgrew and Matthew Broderick

The Preservation League of New York State held its 22nd annual Pillar of New York Awards Gala at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Some 200 guests celebrated the successes of honorees Betsy Barlow Rogers and the United Nations and Secretary-General Bank Ki-moon. The dinner and awards held on a beautiful autumn evening included cocktails on the East Terrace with breathtaking views of the East River, Roosevelt Island and the Long Island City waterfront and tours of the recently restored Council chambers.

The Preservation League, celebrating its 40th Anniversary, is dedicated to the protection of New York State's diverse and rich heritage of historic buildings and scenic landscapes.

Gala co-chair Frederic Rich, Lisa Barlow, David Barlow, honorees Betsy Barlow Rogers and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Mrs. Ban, and Gala co-chair Janet Ross

The restored Council chamber

West Terrace with lights of the Queensboro Bridge in background

Gala co-chair Janet Ross, Shaun Duncan, Mac Griswold, honoree Betsy Barlow Rogers, Charles Birnbaum, Barbara Dixon, and Suzanne Clary

Honoree Betsy Barlow Rogers with Dan and Nancy Paduano

Norman Mintz, Adele Chatfield-Taylor, Robert A.M. Stern, and Anthony C. Wood

League President Jay DiLorenzo with honorees, Betsy Barlow Rogers and Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, and League Chair Anne Van Ingen

Pierre and Ellen de Vegh with Victoria and Doug Larson

League Chair Anne H. Van Ingen, David Hunt, and Arete Swartz Warren

Encarnita and Bob Quinlan

Gillian Sorrenson, Mrs. Ban, Michael Adlerstein, and Gala co-chair Janet Ross

Bill Higgins, Angela Thompson, and Anne and John Coffin

Michel Zaleski, Kathy Farbod, and Kent Barwick

Theodora and Albert Simons with Ann Barrett

Ildiko Butler, honoree Betsy Barlow Rogers, and Linn Sage

Ted Rogers and Anne Coffin

Liz and Patrick Garrett

Suzanne and Rich Clary

Carla Hall, co-host of ABC-TV's The Chew was the LIVE auctioneer at Pajama Programs'"One million Good Nights" benefit Tuesday evening, December 10th at the home of Dame Ann Van Ness of The Order of Saint John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller.

Pajama Program founder Genevieve Piturro explained to the guests that the non-profit has announced a campaign to collect 1 million new pajamas, 1 million new books and the resources to deliver them to children in need by Dec 31, 2015.

Carla Hall

Pajama Program provides new pajamas and new books to children in need, many of whom are waiting and hoping to be adopted. These children live in various situations including group homes, shelters and temporary housing facilities and are shufﬂed often from one place to another. Many of them have been abandoned, abused or neglected. Most of these children have never enjoyed the simple comfort of having a mother or father tuck them in at bedtime with warm, clean pajamas and a bedtime story.

Terry Jason, Elizabeth Ryan, Sue Ginsberg, and Judy Campbell

Susan Brown, Richard Geist, Carla Hall, and Willard Morgan

Linda Kourakos, Genevieve Piturro, and Gillian Rothenburg

Stephanie Forman

Carla Hall, Genevieve Piturro, Geri Jomatyka, Demo DiMartile, and Beth Rowley

Beth Weiner and Marcia Roma

Andrea Brown and Robert Levande

Pia Marinangeli and Carol Blueweiss

Amye Rosenberg

Ann Van Ness and Elaine Arace

Bunny Grossinger, Candace Gonzalez, and Dr. Alfred Kaltman

Henry Chasen and Richard Pagano

Willard Morgan, Susan Brown, Richard Geist, and Ann Van Ness

Simone King and Rob Vander Voord

Stephanie Forman, Jamie Dyce, and Jamie Ergas

Judy Gates, Gigi Fisdell, Ann Van Ness, and Patricia Shiah

Liz Clardey and Carla Hall

Ruchi and Keith Pinniger

Jamie Dyce and Jamie Ergas

Judy McClarin

Genevieve Piturro, Carla Hall, and Ann Van Ness

Judy Campbell and Karen D'Attore

Diana Imhof and Richard Pagano

Lisa Evans

Shelley Levine

Judy Campbell and Beth Weiner

Photographs by Linsley Lindekins (Philharmonic); AnnieWatt.com (Pajama Program); Owen Hoffman/Patrick McMullan (UN Women); Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images (Robert F. Kennedy Center); Cutty McGill (Preservation League).

Guests in the Zebra Lounge at Jay Heritage Center's (JHC) Zebra Soiree at American Yacht Club.

The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), a non-profit organization working to improve the living conditions for village children in Armenia, hosted its Tenth Annual Holiday Gala on Friday, December 13, 2013 at Cipriani 42nd Street. The event was a resounding success as more than 400 longtime friends and supporters gathered together for an unforgettable evening, and raised nearly $3 million to support COAF's community-led programs. Special guests in attendance included Michael Aram, Patricia Field, Kerry Butler, and Benjamin McKenzie.

For the seventh year in a row, Emmy and Tony Award winning actress Andrea Martin entertained guests throughout the evening as the Master of Ceremonies. Of Armenian descent herself, Ms. Martin is a longtime advocate of COAF's work. She is best known for her work on Broadway and roles in the films Wag the Dog and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. She received her second Tony Award this year for her role in the critically-acclaimed show Pippin.

Andrea Martin, Susanna Eloyan, Polina Sharafyan, Narek Baldryan, and Victor Garber

Award-winning film and television actor Victor Garber served as the Honorary Chair for the evening. Mr. Garber's introduction to COAF was at the 2011 Gala, where he was awarded with the COAF Humanitarian Award. Since then he has shown steadfast commitment to the organization. He is best known for his role in major motion pictures such as Titanic, Milk, and Argo.

Guest speakers of the evening included bestselling author Chris Bohjalian and internationally-renowned photographer Scout Tufankjian. A true highlight of the evening was the children who traveled to New York from Armenia to showcase their extraordinary musical talents. Additionally, COAF welcomed back Anahit who spoke at COAF's 2012 Gala. This time she was accompanied by Nerses, another of student from Lernagog. Together, they expressed their deep appreciation for having COAF help their great aspirations become realities.

Victor Garber, Carol Haggerty, and Dr. Garo Armen

In addition to the performances by the talented children, Kerry Butler serenaded the crowd with a rendition of "It's a Small World/God Bless the Outcasts." So You Think You Can Dance finalist Paul Karmiriyan electrified the dance floor with his dance partner and closed out the formal dinner, and sparked the after-party which lasted past midnight.

The event featured a high-tech silent auction using BidTech's iPads and a live auction conducted by Sotheby's celebrity auctioneer Aileen Agopian. The money raised from these auctions will jumpstart COAF's expansion into 100 new villages in the next 10 years.

Alysia Saroyan Ekizian, Greg Ekizian, and Melanie Ekizian

Jessie Dipucchio and Lita Dipucchio

Ara Hacet, Sonya Hacet, Elsa and David Salari

Marianne and Garo Tateosian

Aileen Agopian and Samuel Armen

Alex Hoos and Patricai Marinello

Chrystal Stone with Bill and Trudy Jordan

Anna Afeyan, Noubar Afeyan, Armine Afeyran, and Taleen Afeyran

Janine Atamian, Aret Tikiryan, and Michael Aram

Samantha Feinberg, Larry Feinberg, and Caroline Curtis

Patricia Field and Dr. Garo Armen

Aram, Nairi Nanor, Hilda, and Saro Hartounian

Max Teicher and Alex Teicher

Vasken Kalayjian and Jacqueline Karaaslanian

Khajak Keledjian, Sophie Naufal, Maryam Keledjian, Chake, Sari and Haro Keledjian

Kerry Butler

Alex and Tamar Kouspakian

Jeff Acopian and Helen Acopian

Samantha Feinberg

Narek Baldryan

Victor Garber

Dr. Garo Armen and Andrea Martin

Susanna Eloyan

Wally Findlay Galleries and Stephanie and Frederick Clark hosted a festive evening on East 57th Street in honor of The Fund for Park Avenue. The event celebrated the annual Park Avenue Tree Lighting, a tradition that began in 1945 to honor the men and women who lost their lives in World War II. A portion of the proceeds were donated to The Fund for Park Avenue. Guests previewed the exhibition Iconic Snowscapes, caught up with old friends and enjoyed hors d'oeuvres catered by Swifty's. A wonderful time was had by all.

To learn more about The Fund for Park Avenue, visit www.fundforparkavenue.org.

Helen Johnson and Mary Anne Levine

Nancy Jane Loewy, Jeffrey Loewy, and Trish Klestadt

Geoffrey Bradfield, Trisky Singian, and Roric Tobin

Heidi Bianco and Ali Fuge

Leora Klein

Bourne Welsh, Fred Clark, and Stephanie Clark

Norman Rau and Barbara McLaughlin

Peter Nkongho and Alice Hunsberger

Kyle Ridaught and Michelle Mongulla

Joanne Polise and Mary Matthews

Tom Zacharias and Evelyn Tompkins

Roberta Schneiderman

Daphne Matalene, Zoe Bryant, and Aimae Amato

Kevin McLaughlin and Mary Davidson

Michael Quinn and Elizabeth Belfer

Helena and Roman Martinez

Lisa Bernstein

Jennifer Argenti, Alexa Maddock, and Fernando Maddock

Mary Ann Levine, Ruby Almeda, and Marie McCarty

Nicole Limbocker and Victoria Anstead

Francis and Williman Bruder

Henry and Carla Darlington

Tika and Bill Brewer

Jeffrey Morrison and Adrian Gordon

Russell and Helen Pennoyer

Jennifer Argenti, Ann Igelbrink, and Clare McKeon

Marcia and Georgina Schaeffer

Jamie Klatsky and Jodi Sandler

Chris and Grace Meigher

Jack Lynch and Susan Nelly

The chairmen and committee for Lighthouse International's annual POSH Palm Beach gala and designer clothing sale were recently honored at a tea reception hosted by Nancy Paul at Club Colette on Dec. 17, 2013.

The tea was a recognition event in honor of the 2014 POSH Palm Beach Dinner Dance & Sale. Arlene Dahl is the Honorary Chairperson; Chairpersons are Susan Bodnar Malloy, Grace Meigher and Mario Nievera; Junior Chairmen are Elizabeth Meigher and India Paull. The exclusive dinner dance will honor Palm Beachers, Ann Downey and her daughter, Mona de Sayve. The event kicked off the annual POSH Palm Beach Sale on February 20-22 at The Pavilion in West Palm Beach, which features donated designer clothing and accessories from socialites, celebrities, designers and retailers.

Mona de Sayve and Ann Downey

Guests and POSH supporters in attendance included Arlene Dahl, Mark Ackermann, Ann Downey and Mona de Sayve, Frances Scaife, Mark Rosen, Carla Mann, Susie Elson, Kim Campbell, Ashley Webster, Ann Galvani, Allison Gulbrandsen, Ashley Bell, Talbott Maxey, and Kit Pannill.

Adding to the excited for the upcoming POSH sale, Junior Co-Chair India Paul and committee members, Ashley Bell, Lauriston Segerson and Ashley Webster, modeled some of the designer collections to be featured in the upcoming POSH sale.

India Paull, Ashley Webster, and Ashley Bell

Mark G. Ackermann, Lighthouse International's CEO, flew down from New York especially for the occasion to extend a deep gratitude for their commitment to POSH, which returns to Palm Beach for its seventh year with a wonderful line up of activities. He also asked supporters to continue to send in clothing and accessory donations for the upcoming sale. The excitement builds with a January 16, 2014 reception at Café Boulud hosted by Bulgari. On February 19, 2014, the annual black-tie dinner dance will take place at Club Colette. Those who attend the gala will be treated to sneak peak of the POSH sale.

The POSH Palm Beach sale -- which features clothing and accessories from socialites, celebrities, designers and fashionable retailers -- will take place on February 20 - 22 at Lake Pavilion at 101 South Flagler Drive from 9am to 5pm. The event will include special fashion-related guest appearances, happenings and activities, including a POSH luncheon special offered by Hamburger Heaven.

Kim Campbell, Mark Ackermann, and Carla Mann

Founded in 1905, Lighthouse International is dedicated to preserving vision and providing critically needed health care services to help people of all ages overcome the challenges of vision loss and blindness and enjoy safe, independent lives.

For information about the gala,ticket sales to the gala and sale or to make donations, contact Barbara Rogoff at brogoff@lighthouse.org or by calling 561-828-1522.

Nancy Paul, Marc Rosen, and Arlene Dahl

Kit Pannill and Talbott Maxey

Frannie Scaife and Susie Elson

Ann Galvani, Leigh Lombardi, and Darylia Olsen

The second annual White Truffle Dinner at Trevini Ristorante was presented as a pre-event to the Palm Beach Wine Auction – a taste of things to come in January 30th at Mar-a-Lago.

Featuring an array of impeccable wines from Napa Valley’s very special Antica Family Estates, the sold-out evening at Trevini began in the restaurant’s beautiful courtyard serenaded by musicians Maychol and Lilian, for cocktails and truffle inspired hors d’oeuvres – including truffle infused cheeses and tiny spoons of truffle honey, while they enjoyed the balmiest weather in the country under sparkling twinkle lights.

Gianni and Claudia Minervini with Cindy and Ted Mandes

Palm Beach Wine Auction founder and chair, and Kravis Center board member Ted Mandes welcomed guests and toasted Trevini’s owner and soon-to-be-grandpa, Gianni Minervini for his encore participation in the benefit kick-off.

The January auction under the direction of Michael Troise, retired Auction Director for NY Wines/Christie's Fine and Rare Wine Department event, will feature a five-course dinner paired with specially selected wines from all over the world. Diners will be able to bid on wines presented during the evening, as well as some of the world's most highly-rated wines.

Mitchell Rubenstein, Laurie Silvers, Hali Utstein, and David Silvers

Led by local chefs Zach Bell, currently executive chef of Addison Reserve Country Club and former Café Boulud executive chef; Lindsay Autry, Bravo TV’s Top Chef finalist; and Aaron Fuller, executive chef at The Mar-a-Lago Club along with Graham Randall, pastry chef also at Mar-a-Lago; the five courses for the evening will be prepared and presented by an all-star line-up.

In addition, participating chefs also include James Beard award winner and New York’s own Andrew Carmellini, whose recent opening of Lafayette in NoHo was referred to as “The Great Gatsby” of restaurants; Joshua Hasho, from The Omni in Chicago; and Cleveland’s Doug Katz, owner and executive chef of Fire, Food and Drink.

Steven and Laurie Gottlieb

Palm Beach Wine Auction committee members include: Ed Dudnyk, Roderic R. Fink, Barbara Golden, Steven M. Gottlieb, John H. Kessler, Stacey Levy, Shelley Menin, Patrick M. Park, I. Jeffrey Pheterson, Martin Rivard, Jeffrey Sabean, Lewis M. Schott, Laurie S. Silvers, A. Richard Sloane, Daniel J. “Rusty” Staub, Mark Stevens, Michael Troise and Jill Wachter.

The Palm Beach Wine Auction benefits the Kravis Center’s education programs which have served almost 2 million children of all ages over the last 21 years. In six years, approximately $2 million in funds have been raised from the Palm Beach Wine Auction, providing the children of our community with an introduction to the arts, many of whom might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience live theatre.

Jeffery Bland and Jane Mitchell

John and Henni Kessler

Craig and Shelley Menin

Jeff and Gina Sabean

Carolyn and Richard Sloane

Mariann Tenaglia and Steve Colanero

Christine and Martin Rivard

On December 11th, music legend Quincy Jones was joined by fellow honorees and members of the board of trustees at the Louis Armstrong House Museum's 10th Anniversary Celebration held at the Manhattan Penthouse in Manhattan. Jones was honored, along with Senior Vice Chancellor of the City University of New York Jay Hershenson; Jazz historian and winner of nine Grammy Awards, Dan Morgenstern; and renowned Queens civic leader Grace Lawrence for their dedicated work to preserve and promote the cultural legacy of Louis Armstrong.

Standing, from l. to r.: Jerome Chazen; James Muyskens; Michael Cogswell, president of Louis Armstrong House Museum; Stephen Maitland-Lewis; David Ostwald; and Jeffrey Rosenstock.

Seated, from l. to r.: Honorees Jay Hershenson; Dan Morgenstern; Quincy Jones; Grace Lawrence; and presenter George Avakian.

George Avakian, mastermind of several Louis Armstrong albums, presents music legend Quincy Jones with the 'Louie' Award.

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman with Donald Marshall

NYC Council Member Mark S. Weprin, Jerome Chazen, and Louis Armstrong House Museum's Marketing Director, Jennifer Walden Weprin

Over 225 people attended the Jay Heritage Center's (JHC) Zebra Soiree at American Yacht Club. Co-Chaired by Elisabeth and Matt Casey and Keelin and Chris Pye and supported by the JHC Preservationists auxiliary, the high energy party exceeded all expectations — the night raised over $150,000 for educational programs in history and the environment at the landmark Jay Estate in Rye, NY.

Funds from the evening, together with monies donated by community partners like Con Edison, will help JHC expand its offerings for children and their families. Plans are already underway to add musical afternoons, civic advocacy activities and gardening workshops to the calendar while also building upon existing sustainable architecture and hands-on archaeology experiences at the 23 acre park where Founding Father and native New Yorker John Jay grew up as a child.

Pat Kennelly, Fiona Kelly, Rich and Suzanne Clary, Lauren Moskowitz, and Matt Choate

Ideally located just across the water from the Jay home, the yacht club was transformed into a chic night club with swathes of black and white fabric, a posh white lounge area and pink gel lighting. Guests embraced JHC signature zebra theme and black and white dress code throwing in striped accessories and splashes of hot pink for added flair. Enjoying cocktails, conversation, a delicious buffet and the fabulous Latin band Fiesta NY. happy supporters kept the dance floor packed almost til midnight before spilling out into the light of a full moon.

Holly Cassin and Zebra Soiree Co-Chair Keelin Pye

Ashley Cho

Jean Doyen de Montaillou, Suzanne Clary, and Michael Kovner

Kingsley Rooney, Keelin Pye, and Elisabeth Casey

Trish Muccia and Erin Cunningham

Caitlin and Andrew Layng

Shelby and Jay Green

Pete and Sally Masucci with Lisa and Toby King

Chris and Peter Duncan

Jean Doyen de Montaillou and Michael Kovner

Molly and Derek Mahoney

Caroline and Scott Wallach

Peter and Rosanne Aresty

Nan and Tom Pozios

Matt Casey and his wife Zebra Soiree Co-Chair Elisabeth Casey

Jamie Horne and Nickolas Hellen

Joyce and Joe Cassin

Last month, 200 clients and friends of Janover LLC helped celebrate its 75th Anniversary at The Penn Club in New York City. Janover LLC is a CPA firm founded by Richard Janover in 1938, with offices in Manhattan and Long Island. Today his grandson, Mark Goodman, CPA, is the Managing Partner of the firm. The special guest of the evening was former New York Met and New York Yankee, Darryl Strawberry, who provided autographs for the guests.

Mark Goodman, Managing Partner Janover, welcomes the guests

Marc Breier, Wells Fargo Capital Finance; Darryl Strawberry; and Eric Fried (Janover Partner)

John Cuticelli, Cuticelli Capital, LLC; Craig Geist (Janover Principal); Richard Rivara (Janover Supervisor); and Jonathan Cuticelli

Mark Goodman, Janover; Darryl Strawberry; and Michael Goodman, Janover

Christine Miller (Janover Partner) and Darryl Strawberry

Eric Fried and Jeffrey Schwartz, Law Office of Jeffrey Schwartz

Curtis Kappauf, SHG Planning; Sam Greenberger (Janover Partner); Steve Goodman, SHG Planning; and Stephen Blaney (Janover Senior Manager)

Photographs by AnnieWatt.com (Armenia); David Dupuy/AnnieWatt.com (Wally Findlay); Cutty McGill (Jay Heritage Center); Bryan Chan (Quincy Jones); Lucien Capehart Photography (Posh); Jill Lotenberg (Janover).

Francesca Beale, Missy Lubliner, Jean Shafiroff, Jeanne Lawrence, Michele Herbert, Barbara Poliwoda, Arlene Lazares, Paola Rosenshein, Suzan Kremer, Teresa Snyder, Sydelle Oestberg, Nancy Pearson, Susan Schuer, Marcia Levine, and Layne Lieberman

This past week, Paola Bacchini Rosenshein hosted two cocktail parties, with the theme "Educate While You Socialize." While sipping on green tea and champagne and catching up on holiday business, guests were treated to nutritionist Layne Lieberman's presentation of "How to be heart healthy, how to stay heart healthy," and cardiologist Dr. Holly Anderson's presentation of "How to recognize the signs and symptoms of the #1 killer of both American men and women."

This is the first of a series of events Paola plans to host to help educate her friends, so no one will have to go through what her husband Arnie did 10 years ago. Arnie is a heart disease survivor and will be speaking about his experience at the Heart of the Hamptons Ball in Bridgehampton on June 28, 2014.

Barbara Poliwoda, Krista Krieger, and Paola Bacchini Rosenshein

Some of the attendees included Michele Rella, Nicole Sexton, Beth de Woody Rudin, Denise Rich, Muna Rihani Al Nasser, Barbara Winston, Jeanne Lawrence, Carole Guest, Elizabeth Stribling, Jean Shafiroff, Liliana Cavendish, Nicole Sexton, Chele Chiavacci, Lynn Paulsin, Barbara Tober, Krista Krieger, Michelle Russell, Nancy Pearson, Susan Cushing, Jane Pontarelli, Pamela Johananof, Susan Shin, Brenda Scheikhardt, Linda Silverman, Marcia Levine and many others.

For more information on the event or how to get involved call Barbara Poliwoda, Regional Director, at 631-734-2804 or email barbara.poliwoda@heart.org. To find out more about the Hamptons Heart Ball, click here.

Elke Gazzara and Maxi

Michele Herbert

Michelle Russell, Marie Samuel, Amy Hoadley, Liliana Cavendish, Barbara, Tracey Stern, Michele Rella, and Paola

Barbara Winston, Barbara Poliwoda, Nancy Pearson, and Jane Pontarelli

Marie line Grind, Susan Bender Scheer, and Claudia Van Leer

Tracey Stern, Marie Samuel, and Susan Cushing

Mika Sterling and Linda Silverman

Michele Rella, Dr. Holly Handerson, and Denise Rich

Karen Klopp and Sylvia Hemingway

Nurit Haase Kahane

Marsee the nurse and Candice Stark

Robin Cofer and Lee Fryde

Beth De Woody and Krista Krieger

Paola Bacchini Rosenshein and Muna Rihani al Nasser

Chele Chiavacci and CeCe Black

Sylvia Hemingway and Carol Guest

Lynn Paulsin and Catherine Saxton

Paola Bacchini Rosenshein and Christine Smith Gray

Carol Guest and Barbara Tober

Amy Hoadley and Lady Liliana Cavendish

Jean Shafiroff, Carmen D'Alessio, and Lucia Hwong Gordon

Missy Lubliner, Sandy Rosentha, and Barbara Poliwoda

Michelle Russell, Liz Scully, Chele Chiavacci, Young Hee Kim, and Kathy Reilly

Carol Bellidora Westfall, Barbara Poliwoda, and Christine Biddle

Susan Shin, Yana Balan, and Dara Sowell

Pamela Johananoff and Brenda Schweickhardt

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation held its first Women's Luncheon at the Metropolitan Club in New York City. Speakers Ellen Levine, Editorial Director of Hearst Magazines, and Ambassador Swanee Hunt, Harvard University's Eleanor Roosevelt Lecturer in Public Policy, addressed the pressing need for public engagement to solve the issues around stigma that still keep people from being effectively treated and accepted.

Ellen Levine addresses the guests at at the Metropolitan Club

Ambassador Hunt shared her own story about helping her daughter Lillian through years of struggle with brain disease. She strives to convince society to accept mental illness as yet another physical illness; to convince the public to discard shame and guilt about the mental disorders; and to support available cutting-edge research to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent and cure mental illness.

"Decades ago no one would discuss breast cancer in polite company. Then women such as First Lady Betty Ford broke the silence by speaking in public about their own diagnoses and treatment,” said Ambassador Hunt. “Today, cancer is no longer a stigma, but mental illnesses still remain hidden despite decades of research demonstrating that they are biological illnesses affecting millions of people around the world."

Swanee Hunt

Swanee Hunt has had a wide-ranging career in the arts, politics, journalism, and mental health advocacy. Appointed by President Clinton, Ms. Hunt served as Ambassador to Austria from 1993-1997, a period that spanned the Balkan conflicts, and a time during which she was also, as revealed in her 1996 article in Good Housekeeping magazine, struggling to get her daughter help for what was later diagnosed as bipolar disorder. Ms. Hunt has worked in 60 countries and is known internationally for her diplomatic leadership and efforts to achieve gender parity. In Colorado, she headed a successful reform of the mental health system, and served as co-director of Karis Community, a residential facility for adults challenged by mental illness. Currently, Ms. Hunt serves as Chair of The Institute for Inclusive Security and The Eleanor Roosevelt Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Ellen Levine

As Editorial Director of Hearst Magazines, Ms. Levine is responsible for a range of publications (including such women’s titles as Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Redbook and Woman’s Day), developing new titles domestically and internationally, and evaluating opportunities for brand extensions, books, and digital alternatives. Ms. Levine made publishing history in October 1994 as the first woman to be named Editor-in-Chief of Good Housekeeping since the magazine was founded in 1885. She has been instrumental in launching new titles at Hearst Magazines, including O, The Oprah Magazine in 1999, the most successful magazine launch ever, and Food Network Magazine in 2008. In January 2004, the American Society of Magazine Editors and the Magazine Publishers of America (MPA) inducted Ms. Levine into the Magazine Editors' Hall of Fame. In addition, Ms. Levine was awarded the first annual Media Award by the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) for the numerous articles on mental illness she published in Good Housekeeping and a Special Recognition for Research Advocacy award from Research America in 1997.

Ellen Levine and Swanee Hunt

Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D.

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (formerly known as NARSAD or the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression) raises funds to invest in cutting-edge research projects to understand, treat, and ultimately prevent and cure mental illness. Since 1987, the Foundation has awarded over $300 million in its NARSAD Grants to more than 3,700 scientists around the world. Research projects are selected by the Foundation’s Scientific Council comprised of 147 leading experts across disciplines in brain and behavior research. Funded through private contributions, the Foundation invests 100% of donor contributions for research directly into research grants. For more information, visit www.bbrfoundation.org.

Jennifer Kinderman, Amy Rose Beresin, Claire Rost, Heather Aron Schulman, and Courtney Di Mauro

Lloyd Sederer and Swanee Hunt

Barbara Streicker and Carole Mallement

Connie and Steve Lieber with Herbert Pardes, M.D.

Lisa Kornblau, Jinny Silver, and Cheryl MacLachlan

Acclaimed Broadway singer Kristin Chenoweth made a special guest appearance with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra for the 30th annual fundraising event, which raised $1.1 million for the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras.

Outgoing Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino narrated "'Twas the Night Before Christmas", and John Henry, principal owner of the Boston Globe, Boston Red Sox and Liverpool football club, conducted the Boston Pops signature piece "Sleigh Ride."

A special appearance by Santa Claus, an audience sing-along of holiday favorites, and performances by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and the Boston Children's Chorus were also featured.

Event co-chair Bob Reynolds, Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, Kristen Chenowith, co-chair David Long, and Chairman of BSO Board of Trustees Ted Kelly

"A Company Christmas at Pops," an annual tradition for area business leaders and their guests, is a unique holiday gala that celebrates the extraordinary partnership between the corporate community and the Boston Pops and Boston Symphony Orchestra's.

"Sleigh Ride," originally written for the Boston Pops by Leroy Anderson, is consistently rated the most popular piece of Christmas music worldwide. It was first recorded by the Boston Pops and Arthur Fiedler in 1949.

John Henry and Keith Lockhart

Natalie Jacobson and Bob Reynolds

Bob Reynolds and David Long with Ted Kelly in the center

Keith Lockhart conducts while Boston Mayor Tom Menino narrates Twas the Night Before Christmas

John Henry leads the Boston Pops

Keith Lockhart unveils the 2013 Red Sox Trophy before John Henry guest conducts the Boston Pops

Keith Lockhart and Kristen Chenoweth with the Boston Pops

Keith Lockhart and Kristen Chenoweth with the Boston Pops and Boston Children's Chorus

On December 18, 2013, the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund hosted its Second Annual Volunteer Party at Palantir Technologies in Manhattan. The families of fallen first responders, supporters and friends gathered to celebrate the year-round dedication of the Benefit Fund’s hard-working volunteers. Arielle Lenza Di Ciollo, Director of Development for the Benefit Fund, greeted the guests and expressed her appreciation for their commitment and steadfast support.

At the event, Arielle presented the 2013 Volunteer of the Year Award to Chloe Ching, Director of Client Engagement Marketing, Deutsche Bank, and Brian Cassidy, Vice President, Client Promotion, Deutsche Bank, for their outstanding dedication to the Benefit Fund.

Chloe Ching, Director of Client Engagement Marketing, Deutsche Bank and 2013 Volunteer of the Year Award recipient; Lauren Profeta, Assistant Director of Development, Benefit Fund; Arielle Lenza Di Ciollo; Brian Cassidy, Vice President, Client Promotion, Deutsche Bank and 2013 Volunteer of the Year Award recipient.

Special guests for the evening included beneficiaries Patricia Gillespie, Lindenhurst, New York resident and wife of fallen NYPD Officer Kevin Gillespie and Margaret Mosomillo, Astoria, Queens resident and wife of fallen NYPD Officer Anthony Mosomillo. These women, who lost their husbands within two years of each other, met through the Benefit Fund and have since formed an inseparable bond. For Margaret, the Benefit Fund has played an immeasurable role in her life. “Even though it has been 15 years, it still brings tears to my eyes every time I receive a check from the Benefit Fund,” said Margaret. “It is not about the amount, but just that they remember us, it’s a symbol that we are not forgotten.”

Other beneficiary guests included Carmen Suarez, Glendale, New York resident, whose husband, Police Officer Ramone Suarez, was killed in the line of duty on September 11th and Marcela Leahy, Staten Island resident and widow of Police Officer James Leahy, who passed away on September 11th. Carmen and Marcela did not know each other before they lost their husbands, but have since become very close friends, even vacationing together with their families. Martha Williams, of Teaneck, New Jersey, who lost her husband, Fireman Johnnie Williams, on October 29, 1974, has been a beneficiary for nearly 30 years, and still makes an effort to participate in any events hosted by the Benefit Fund.

Martha Williams, Teaneck, New Jersey resident and wife of fallen Fireman Johnnie Williams; Arielle Lenza Di Ciollo, Director of Development, Benefit Fund; Marcela Leahy, Staten Island resident and wife of fallen Police Officer James Leahy; Carmen Suarez, Glendale resident and wife of fallen Police Officer Ramone Suarez

Founded in 1985 by Daniel J. “Rusty” Staub, the Benefit Fund currently serves over 600 families. Last year, the Benefit Fund distributed over $2.5 million to the families of fallen first responders. The need has grown, but the mission remains the same: “Never Forget” those that put the safety of others before their own. The Benefit Fund takes pride in “answering the call” as our fallen heroes have done to protect our city, courageously sacrificing their lives so we can live and work in a safer community.

Arielle Lenza Di Ciollo; Margaret Mosomillo Astoria, Queens resident and wife of fallen NYPD Officer Anthony Mosomillo; Patricia Gillespie, Lindenhurst, New York resident and wife of fallen NYPD Officer Kevin Gillespie

Madison Square Boys & Girls Club recently hosted its 47th Annual Christmas Tree Ball at Cipriani 42nd Street. The signature event included both silent and live auctions that benefited Madison Square Boys & Girls Club and helped to raise more than $1 million.

“Madison Square Boys & Girls Club’s Annual Christmas Tree Ball commemorates the holiday season and much more," said Joseph Patuleia, Executive Director of Madison Square Boys & Girls Club. "Through community participation, we are able to support our Clubs and affect great change in the lives of Club members. The benefit this event provides for New York area youth is our greatest cause for celebration and we are so honored that so many people chose to spend a fantastic evening raising much-needed resources for our children.”

The organization's largest fundraiser of the year, the Christmas Tree Ball gathered more than 450 supporters of Madison to kick off the holiday season and celebrate its Club members. Guests enjoyed a performance by the Columbus Clubhouse dance team, DiverCity, and heard from a Clubhouse alumnus about how the Club saved his life and put him on the right path.

Notable guests at the event included Robert Brown, VP & CFO of the New York Yankees and a Madison Square alumnus and CC Sabathia, player for the New York Yankees, along with his wife, Amber.

CC and Amber Sabathia with Madison Square Boys & Girls and the Columbus Clubhouse dance team at Madison Square Boys & Girls Club's 47th Annual Christmas Tree Ball.

Jeff Scott, Nalinai Scott, CC Sabathia, Amber Sabathia, Halene Holland, and Sonni Holland

Ambassador Bruce Gelb with his wife Lueza and Youth of the Year Aieyla S. and Luc D.

Luc and Aieyla with Miss New York Amanda Mason

David Volpe, Senior Vice President, Moet Hennessy USA, and his wife, Debra

Yankees CFO and VP Rob Brown and his wife Diedre with Youth of the Year Aieyla and Luc

Employees of Lenox Advisors

Board of Trustees President and Vice-Chairman of CTPartners Barry Bregman

Hugh Hildsley of Sotheby's

George Gillespie and William Parrett

West Palm Beach, Fla. —The Center for Creative Education (CCE) board member and event ringmaster Bruce Helander teamed with co-chairs, and mother daughter duo, Donna Long and Wendy Fritz, to announce plans for the upcoming “Circus at the Center” to benefit CCE. They staged their “Three Ring Cocktails” kick-off reception at the Mark Borghi Fine Art gallery on Worth Avenue and toasted the exciting plans for Tuesday, January 28th and the inaugural benefit at CCE’s new home in Northwood.

In addition to the event chairmen, guests at the kick off reception included committee members, board members and event sponsors, Carl Bartel, Cheryl Gowdy, Vicki Halmos, Robert Hamon, Kenn Karakul, Wyatt Koch, Tim and Susan Malloy, Talbott Maxey, Ross Meltzer, Brad and Pamela Miller, Jim Pappas, and Butch and Melinda Trucks.

Helander has created an original collage illustration of circus art for the event, which sets the tone and gives guests an idea of the fun evening ahead. A limited edition gicléeprint, hand-embellished by Helander, will be for sale, with all net proceeds benefiting CCE.

Bruce Helander, Wendy Fritz, and Donna Long

Helander, a well-established collage artist and curator, graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fine arts, and later went on to serve as RISD’s provost and vice president of academic affairs. Additionally, the West Palm Beach resident is a former White House Fellow of the National Endowment for the Arts and recipient of numerous recognitions.

Palm Beach resident and Circus at the Center co-chair Donna Long has had a vivid life as an artist, philanthropist and horsewoman. A renowned photographer and painter, Mrs. Long’s work is currently on display at ArtHouse429 in the Northwood section of West Palm Beach near the CCE building.

Currently a sales associate for The Corcoran Real Estate Group, Circus at the Center co-chair Wendy Fritz recently returned to the area with her family. A West Palm Beach resident and active equestrian, Mrs. Fritz has been involved in training, buying and selling, and showing horses for the past 30 years.

Cheryl Gowdy and Jim Pappas

Susan and Tim Malloy

The three co-chairmen, along with honorary chair Jane Holzer, are leading a host committee which includes Maribel Alvarez, Carl Bartel, Harry and Gigi Benson, Beau and Jackie Breckenridge, Gordon and Jane Brown, Peter Burrus, Susie Dwinell, William Eubanks, Paul and Irina Fisher, Cheryl Gowdy, William Halliday, Vicki Halmos, Claudia Helander, Michael and Eleanora Kennedy, Margaret Luce, Hillary Matchett, Emily Dimaggio, Tim and Susan Malloy, Blanche McCoun, Ross Meltzer, Pamela Miller, Pamela O’Connor, Jim Pappas, Georgia Pappas, Jillian Percella, Allison Reckson, Lisa Rowan, Edwina Sandys and Richard Kaplan, Linda and Jared Soper, Bruce Sutka, Butch and Melinda Trucks, Michele Vogel , Lauri Welteroth and Lynne Wise Smith. The junior host committee includes Amanda Boalt, Jack Elkins, Camila Helander, Wyatt Koch, Morgan O’Connor, India Paull, Tyler Sargent and Ben Stein. Sponsors for the event include the Liman Foundation, Palm Beach Media Group, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Mark Borghi Fine Arts, Onli Beverages and Wilmington Trust.

Carl Bartel and Ben Stein

The Center for Creative Education works with children from low income neighborhoods, using art as a gateway to help them understand science, math, literacy and other areas of learning. CCE merges art with academics to bring learning to life, by engaging children in hands on, project-based education.

Last year, the Center worked with more than 12,500 children in nearly 70 school sites all over Palm Beach County providing after-school and in school programming to many students considered “at risk” or those in low socio-economic circumstances. Research shows that arts-integrated programs like those offered by the Center for Creative Education improve a child’s learning potential and academic performance; and that increases their overall enthusiasm about school. Working on projects with CCE artists also build children’s self-esteem and encourage cooperation, team-building and creative thinking.

Allison and Todd Reckson

Butch and Melinda Trucks

The Center for Creative Education is a not-for-profit 501(C) (3) organization, relying on grants and donations from private individuals and community organizations to support its work with the children.

Tickets to the Circus at the Center event are $275 for individuals and $500 for a couple. Please call 561.805.9927 or visit www.cceflorida.org to learn more about the organization or to buy tickets.

Scott Moses and Pamela O'Connor

Robert Hamon and Bruce Helander

Camila Helander and Wyatt Koch

Photographs by Annie Watt (Hampton Heart Ball); Robert Torres & Stu Rosner (Boston Pops).

2013 Coconuts — 1st row: David Ober, Dan Hanley, Blair Meyer, Kane Baker, David Koch, Will Matthews, Peter Summers, Leonard Lauder. 2nd row: Michael McCarty, Jon Ylvisaker, Percy Steinhart, Troy Maschmeyer, Laddy Merck, Girard Brownlow, Chris Meigher, Piper Quinn. 3rd Row: Jack Grace, Richard Cowell, Willie Surtees, Alex Fanjul, Rodney Dillard, Harold Paull, Wilbur Ross, Blakely Page.

Down among the sheltering palms of Palm Beach this past New Year's Eve, the Coconuts held their annual bash, and it was reported to be the most fun in many years as they invited a younger crowd to join them, improved the music (younger also) and added some new bar areas. David Koch provided three barges of fabulous, unbelievable fireworks perfectly orchestrated with a hip soundtrack (with the help of Bronson Van Wyck). Guests returned to the black (versus white) dinner jackets. Alex Fanjul (younger brother of Pepe and Alfy) was crowned the new King Coco, and everybody had a wonderful time.

Alex and Nikki Fanjul.

Piper Quinn and Tom Quinn.

Leonard Lauder and Michael R. McCarty.

JoAnn and Harold Paull.

Ann and Peter Summers.

Pamela O'Connor and Arvo Katajisto.

Blair Meyer and Willie Surtees.

Blake Hanley, Emily Wickersham, and Denise and Dan Hanley.

David and Julia Koch.

Hilary and Wilbur Ross.

Reddy and Nico Fanjul.

Nicole Hanley and Elizabeth Meigher.

Will and Jean Matthews.

Tim Malloy and Susan Bodnar Malloy.

The esteemed Caron & Hanley Treatment Centers Gala returns to Palm Beach in 2014 under the leadership of Chairmen Nellie Benoit and Liza Pulitzer, and Honorary Chairman Mary Davidson. In celebration of another stellar year, Pulitzer recently invited the committee into her Palm Beach home for a private reception.

Guests included gala chairmen Nellie Benoit and Liza Pulitzer, along with Clark Appleby, Dr. William and Martha Adkins, Turner Benoit, Payson Coleman, Kip Kootz, Bobby Leidy, Chris Leidy, Molly and Frank Maguire, Rande May, Carol McCracken, Jayne and Philip Mengel, Cat and Tom Miller, Linda and Leverett Miller, Deborah O'Kain, Dr. Ahmad and Cherie Toufanian, Renny Reynolds and Jack Staub, Caron FL President Drew Rothermel, and Hanley Center Foundation CEO Dr. Rachel Docekal.

Chris Leidy and Liza Pulitzer

Jayne and Philip Mengel

The 2014 Caron & Hanley Treatment Centers Gala will be held Friday, Jan. 24, at The Breakers, Palm Beach. Proceeds from the Caron & Hanley Treatment Centers Gala benefit the Lifesaver Patient Aid Fund, which provides financial assistance to individuals requiring substance abuse treatment who could not otherwise afford it.

In the midst of a social season ripe with black-tie events, the "un-gala" atmosphere draws hundreds each year for an evening of casual revelry in an exquisite venue. The storied Mediterranean and Venetian ballrooms will be set with glimmering lights and undersea details inspired by the photography of Christopher Leidy of Leidy Images.

Bobby Leidy and Payson Coleman

Dr. Rachel Docekal and Nellie Benoit

More than 500 guests will enjoy a luxury raffle and a three-course gourmet dinner while dancing the night away in celebration of addiction recovery.

For tickets and other information, call (561) 841-1048, email events@hanleycenter.org or visit HanleyCenterFoundation.org.

Cat and Tom Miller

Donn Colee and Kip Kootz

Dr. Ahmad and Cherie Toufanian

Dr. William and Martha Adkins

Drew Rothermel and Clark Appleby

Linda and Leverett Miller

Molly and Frank Maguire

American Friends of The Hebrew University kicked off the 2014 Scopus Award Gala at a private reception in Palm Beach. The Scopus Award Gala will be held on Saturday, January 18th at The Breakers, where a special performance will be presented by American singer and Broadway actress Morgan James.

The kickoff reception took place Dec. 19th and honored the chairmen and executive committee members for the Gala. Special guests at the reception were Ambassador Stuart A. Bernstein and Wilma Bernstein who will be honored at the gala. Others attending the cocktail buffet reception were Michelle and Joseph Jacobs, and 2014 Scopus event chairman Roberta and Stanley Bogen, Suellen and Melvyn Estrin, Barbara and Richard Rothschild, Judy and Robert Snyder and Robbi and Bruce Toll.

Michelle and Joseph Jacobs

Stanley and Roberta Bogen

An elegant and entertaining evening, this black-tie Gala includes a cocktail reception, followed by dinner, an awards presentation to those who have shown extraordinary support to Hebrew University, followed by a professional performance. The event gets its name from Mount Scopus, the historical site of The Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

The Scopus Award Gala leads off the weekend of events presented by American Friends of Hebrew University. The following day, on January 19th, the popular Annual Leadership Education Forum (ALEF) 2014 will be held at The Four Seasons Hotel in Palm Beach, which brings together Hebrew University experts and other leading individuals to discuss a spectrum of vital issues. Among these are Middle East Affairs and national security, medical breakthroughs important to human health, and progress in brain science.

Bob and Judy Snyder

Wilma Bernstein and Ambassador Stuart Bernstein

“Advancing Israel’s Future: Building Bridges to Peace, Transforming Medicine and Brain Sciences, Pioneering Technology and Innovation” is the title of this year’s conference, which will include breakfast and lunch, as well as the program, featuring keynote speaker William Kristol, the founder and editor of The Weekly Standard, a Washington, D.C.-based journal of politics and ideas. An author, who was a regular panelist on FOX News Sunday, Mr. Kristol now appears on leading political talk shows. His presentation at ALEF will be “America’s Shifting Role in the Middle East."

Robbi and Bruce Toll with Jennifer and Brett Schulman

Proceeds from both events benefit The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which was founded in 1918 by Albert Einstein, Chaim Weizmann, Sigmund Freud and others. Today the University has a student body of 23,000, a faculty of 970 and attracts students from Israel as well as from 70 countries around the world.

For reservations or information on the 2014 Scopus Gala, contact Monica Loebl, Southeast Region Executive Director at 561.750.8585 or mloebl@afhu.org, or visit www.afhu.org. For information and tickets on ALEF 2014, call Laura Gottlieb at 561.750.8585 or lgottlieb@afhu.org.

Mitra and Michael Margolis

Richard and Barbara Rothschild

Diane Belfer with Sherry and Kenneth Endelson

Lois and Martin Zelman

Harvey and Reva Grace with Matt Grace

As the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium prepares for its April 4 major fundraiser – “The Tech Revolution: An Evening with Steve ‘Woz’ Wozniak,” event leadership and key donors were honored recently with a special reception held at the newly expanded Science Center venue. For some, it was a first time experiencing the magic of the Center’s new aquarium and exhibit space, opened this past summer. For many, the special opportunity to visit the Center’s much lauded blockbuster Titanic exhibit was a highlight of the evening. Even the stunning fashion presentation by Gala sponsor, Saks Palm Beach, showcased beautiful silhouettes evocative of the Titanic’s glory days.

A fashion presentation by Gala sponsor, Saks Palm Beach ...

The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, formerly known as the South Florida Science Museum, recently completed a $5 million expansion and renovation, and Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition is currently open in the Center’s Quantum Hall of Exploration. With a new mission to “open every mind to science,” the Science Center now features more than 50 hands-on educational exhibits, an 8,000 gallon fresh and salt water aquarium- featuring both local and exotic marine life, a digital planetarium, Science on a Sphere, conservation research station, Florida exhibit hall and an interactive Everglades exhibit.

Capt. Robert and Pandora Crippen

Leslie and Ron Schram

In addition to chairmen Elizabeth and Ben Gordon, leadership for the springtime event includes honorary chairmen Jeffrey and Frances Fisher, Matthew and Helene Lorentzen, and John and Heidi Niblack. Host committee chairmen are Howard Cox, Stuart and Alison Haft, Cater and AfsyPottash, Heath and Karly Randolph, and Eric and Lucinda Stonestrom. The event’s stewardship council is chaired by Dale Hedrick and Harvey Oyer. Grand Benefactors include Mr. and Mrs. Lew Crampton, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Fisher, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Lorentzen, and Mr. and Mrs. John Niblack. Corporate sponsors are PNC Private Bank and Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Beach. The media sponsor is Palm Beach Illustrated.

Capt. Robert Crippen and Dr. Edgar Mitchell

Harvey Oyer, III and Carolyn Broadhead

A Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for more than 30 years, Steve Wozniak has helped shape the computing industry with his design of Apple’s first line of products – the Apple I and II, and influenced the popular Macintosh. In 1976 Wozniak and Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer, Inc., with Wozniak’s Apple I personal computer. Currently he serves as chief scientist for Fusion-io and is a published author. Tickets for the Gala event are $650 per person and seating in The Breakers’ Venetian Ballroom is limited.

The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is located at 4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach and is open Monday – Friday from 9am-5pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6pm. For more information on Science Center events, call 561-832-1988 or visit www.sfsciencecenter.org.

Lew Crampton and William Meyer

John and Leslie Randolph

Frances and Jeffrey Fisher and Elizabeth Gordon

Rachel Strassner, Stacey Leuliette, Elizabeth Gordon and Peter Schuette

Dale and Kathy Hedrick

Kate Arrizza and Jon and Jennifer Schmidt

Beatrice Cayzer and Dr. Edgar Mitchell

Dale and Kathy Hedrick and Karly and Heath Randolph

Helene Lorentzen, Frances Fisher, Elizabeth Gordon

Photographs by Lucien Capehart Photography.

Geoffrey Beene National Scholarship winners.

On January 8, at the Waldorf Astoria, YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund & Geoffrey Beene Foundation's annual benefit dinner gathered more than 1,000 members of the fashion industry to honor industry leaders and recognize the 131 YMA FSF scholarship recipients and eight Geoffrey Beene National Scholar finalists. The event raised $1.85m and presented $820,000 in scholarship grants.

Honorees were George Feldenkreis, Founder & CE, Perry Ellis International Inc.; Tamara Mellon OBE, President, T. Mellon Enterprises LLC; and Lana Cain Krauter, Retailer, Sears Holdings Corp.

The scene at the Waldorf Astoria for YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund & Geoffrey Beene Foundation's annual benefit dinner

Attendees included event MC Linda Fargo, SVP of the Fashion Office & Store Presentation for Bergdorf Goodman, Iris Apfel, Bridget Foley, Tom Hutton, Trustee & CEO, Geoffrey Beene Foundation, Karlie Kloss, Kimberly Ovitz, Jimmy Rosenfeld, Kenneth Wyse, John Bartlett, Joanna Coles, and Terry J. Lundgren.

Founded in 1937, The YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) is a national not-for-profit association consisting of influential members of the fashion community, dedicated to promoting education of the fashion arts and business by granting scholarships to talented students and facilitating internships, mentorships and career programs.YMA FSF also facilitates internships with prestigious fashion companies and provides career mentoring by prominent senior executives who serve on the YMA FSF Board.

Jimmy Rosenfeld

Karlie Kloss

Lana Cain Krauter

100% of the net profits from Geoffrey Beene, LLC, a global designer menswear brand, fund critical causes under the Geoffrey Beene Gives Back® (GBGB) philanthropic model. Since 2005, Geoffrey Beene, LLC together with the Geoffrey Beene Foundation have funded more than $169,000,000 in value to critical causes, including more than $132,000,000 to support revolutionary new research at the Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Other charitable causes include Alzheimer's, Heart Disease, the FSF and CFDA Educational Scholarships, Veterans Support, Protection of Women and Children, and Animal Welfare. The Geoffrey Beene Foundation has donated over $4,500,000 to support the FSF through 2015. www.geoffreybeene.com.

Larry Appel and Bridget Foley

Ken Wyse and Linda Fargo

Joanna Coles and Tamara Mellon

Lana Cain Krauter and Phil Krauter

Oscar and George Feldenkreis

John Bartlett

Linda Fargo, Iris Apfel, and Devin Bruce

Mara and Tom Hutton

Terry J. Lundgren

Minty Mellon, Karlie Kloss, and Kimberly Ovitz

The Royal Park Bridge bathed in pink lights marked a weekend that would raise awareness about breast cancer and generate funds to educate, research and treat the disease. The 2014 Susan G. Komen® Perfect Pink Party featured a "Venetian Splendor" theme with incredible décor adding a 17th century Italian elegance to the Grand Ballroom at the Mar-a-Lago club. A rare private performance by International singing prodigy Jackie Evancho moved the audience.

This year's Gala Chairs, Tim Gannon and Susan Bodnar Malloy headed the efforts. Honorary Chairs Ellen Levy and Mark and Mary Freitas and Founding Chair Patty Muyra, and New York Ambassador Donald Trump helped complete the successful evening. Susan G. Komen founder, Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker said of their work, "The chairs and committee dedicated themselves to raising much need funds for research and to help individuals fighting breast cancer and to provide a wonderful and memorable experience for those in the community who support this effort. They accomplished both of their goals and I am most grateful."

"Venetian Splendor" in the Grand Ballroom at the Mar-a-Lago club

Susan G. Komen CEO Judith Salerno, in Palm Beach for her first Perfect Pink Gala, said she was enjoying making new friends here and that she has learned hero's come in many forms, " Those with the disease who refuse to give up, families and friends of breast cancer patients who make a difficult journey more bearable, and all those here tonight who support Komen's research and our community work. We're deeply grateful for the friendship and commitment of every member of our Komen family."

If the live performance, wonderful foods and elegant décor set the tone for the evening, then the luxury auction items certainly added even more sparkle. Offerings included a rare 89 carat carved emerald butterfly brooch designed by Christopher Walling and presented by A.R.T Jewelers, A Ferragamo Italian getaway for eight in Florence, Italy, A seven day adventure for twelve on board the luxury 138' yacht O'Pari, and two VIP trip experiences, one from MasterCard at the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards and another with the Dallas Cowboys.

Susan G. Komen President and CEO Dr. Judy Salerno, Chief Scientific Advisor and Scientific Advisory Board Co-chair Dr. Eric Winer, and Nancy Brinker

Gloria Hollis with Gary Greene

Hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Perfect Pink Party stay here in the local community. Last year the Susan G. Komen South Florida Affiliate provided resources for over 6,000 breast cancer screenings, from which over 50 breast cancers were diagnosed. Without this funding, these cancers would have been missed. Additionally, a portion goes to support Susan G. Komen's ground-breaking research grants. Recently, scientists supported by Komen sponsored grants, discovered that there are four basic types of breast cancer. Not only will breast cancer benefit from these types of discoveries, but so will all types of cancer. Susan G. Komen is the largest private funder of breast cancer research in the United States and is the only one that provides funding for the direct care of women and men. For more information visit komen.org

Alvaro and Kelly Gomez with John and Kelly Darnell

Erick and Lady Susan Reickert

Jonathan and Brooke Schneider

Valerie Kaan, William Lilly, and Carol and Howard Zemski

Peter and Palm Beach Council Candidate Penny Townsend

Johanna Sjoberg, Linda Lemieux, Christie Gannon, and 4-year-old Bettina Gannon

Tim Gannon and Phil Hentle

Shawny Greenstein with David McClymont

Lauren Vogel, Margarette Shim, Anabella Rockwell, and Kathleen Gannon

Ashley VanMetre, Kristiane Kristensen, and Alison VanMetr

Nancy Brinker and Global Ambassador Howard Bernick

Herme de Wyman Miro and Brian Saipe with costumed greeter

Brittney Case and Lin Salinas

Pinks, blues, greens and yellows were on full display at the 2013 American Red Cross Beach Bash where over 650 of Palm Beach's most successful young professionals descended upon The Beach Club with friends and family for this year's must-attend "Lilly or Louder" event. This year's Bash honored the late fashion icon, Lilly Pulitzer, by "bringing it back to Palm Beach," the birthplace of the brand's beginnings. The pool-side shindig was complete with live music, more than 20 drummers, belly dancers, stilt walkers, and a "juice bar"; which paid homage to the designer's 1959 original juice stand.

The next generation of philanthropic leaders literally walked on water that evening: on a clear bridge constructed over The Beach Club pool. Neon lighting, psychedelic images, Lilly-print table cloths, and brightly colored decorations added to the Palm Beach vibe. In addition to great food and drinks, a raffle took place with The Ultimate Lilly Pulitzer Package including a beach cruiser, one of a kind live painting, and shopping spree as the main prize. Partiers couldn't end their night without taking home a souvenir photo of themselves posing with their favorite props.

Bobby Leidy and Ivey Day

Nick Kassatly and Stacy Nichols

Themed "A Story Written in the Sun," the evening was presented again by the Lilly Pulitzer fashion house and Lilly's grandson, Bobby Leidy, also returned to chair the Bash.

Leidy, a vice president with Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Management in Palm Beach, has served as Chair of the Red Cross Beach Bash for the past six years. Bobby is the eldest grandson of Lilly Pulitzer, who founded the resort fashion brand now owned by Oxford Industries.

The event's committee members included Bettina Anderson, Loy Anderson, Zach Berg, Amanda Boalt, Chris Dischino, Mary Victoria Falzarano, Nico Fanjul, Reddy Fanjul, Chris Hill, Alex Hufty, Alexander Ives, Nick Kassatly, Chris Leidy, Sasha Lickle, Christina and Ben MacFarland, Samantha Marulli, Dabney Mercer, Tommy Morrison, Tinsley Mortimer, Kelly J. Murray, Stacy Nichols, Crissy Poorman, Gary Pohrer, Kelly Ring, Lauriston and Richard Segerson, Andrew Steel, Bruce Sutka, Siobhan Helene Shea, Mary Tobin and Erik Waldin.

Page Smith

In addition to the generous ongoing support of the Lilly Pulitzer brand, other sponsors for the evening included Bobby Leidy, Bill & Nancy Rollnick, JP Morgan Private Bank, Michael Lorber, Kevin McCluskey, Deutsche Bank, The Lynd Company, Carl Loof, Palm Beach Society Magazine, Tito's Vodka, Sutra International Design, Field of Greens, Top Hat Car Wash, Zach & Michelle Berg, and Lauren Gold Fashion.

All proceeds from the Red Cross Beach Bash support the lifesaving work of the American Red Cross, helping people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Across the Palm Beaches-Treasure Coast region, every 28 hours on average, a neighbor calls upon local Red Cross volunteers for emotional support, food, clothing and shelter after a fire, flood, hurricane or other disaster.

Tommy Morrison, Kali Fourtuna, and Arvo Katajisto

Cameron Lickle, Sasha Lickle, and Garrison Lickle

Robert Waterston, Stephanie Rockwell, and Angela Vecellio

Lilly Leas with Kevin and Minnie McCluskey

Brad and Carol Bradbeer

Sarah Gates and Alex Ives

Wyatt Koch, Renee Barron, Julia Sushelsky, and Donald Scott

Mary Victoria Falzarano

Kelli Jackson, Jennifer Saviano, and Nicole Saviano

Analisa Muti, Christopher Dischino, and Lindsay Strafuss

Brett Overman and Marley Goodman Overman

Ashley Hansen and Phil Regan

On Saturday, January 11th, in Miami, a major highlight of the National YoungArts Foundation's 33rd annual YoungArts Week was their Backyard Ball, a Gala and special alumni performance that brought together more than 800 notable guests to celebrate the artistic excellence of the 2014 YoungArts Finalists for the first time on the organization's new campus, the former site of the historic Bacardi Tower and Museum buildings. The evening raised over $1.5 million to be used directly to support YoungArts, whose mission is to support the development of talented young artists in the literary, performing, visual, and design arts.

YoungArts Artistic Advisor and Master Teacher, Frank Gehry

Gala Emcee Brian Stokes Mitchell, Arison Award Winner Rita Moreno and YoungArts Master Teacher Rosie Perez

Set in an elegant outdoor tent, the evening was hosted by Gala chairpersons, Elizabeth and Facundo L. Bacardi, along with the organization's President and CEO, Paul T. Lehr. Guests including YoungArts Artistic Advisor Frank Gehry, and YoungArts master teachers Rosie Perez, Paola Antonelli, Shelly Berg, Angela Brown, James Rosenquist, Naomi Fisher, Jacque d'Amboise, and Judith Hill (YoungArts Popular Voice Winner 2002) enjoyed cocktails courtesy of BACARDI, dinner, and a powerful alumni performance directed by renowned dancer, choreographer, and YoungArts Artistic Advisor, Bill T. Jones, who also made an impromptu appearance on stage, bouncing between performers to cheer them on.

Tony Award® winner Brian Stokes Mitchell emceed the evening that also saw speeches from Gehry and Perez when they presented architect Zaha Hadid and actress Rita Moreno, respectively, with the YoungArts Arison Award for their influence on the development of young artists. YoungArts alumnus Andrew Rannells, who currently appears on the HBO series, Girls, received the Alumni Award. Following the gala, on the campus plaza, guests savored a selection of sweet treats while mingling at the After Hours party with live music and dancing.

YoungArts President and CEO Paul T. Lehr and Arison Award Winner Rita Moreno

YoungArts 2014 Gala Chairs Elizabeth and Facundo Bacardi

Other notables in attendance included Armando and Margarita Codina, Adrienne Arsht, Emilio Estefan, Sarah Arison, Mayda Cisneros, Jorge and Darlene Perez, Susie and Walid Wahab, Jackie Soffer, Princess Leirjal Fyrial Iran Issa Khan, Criselda Breene, Cathy Leff, Daniel and Marcela Novella, Adam and Lisa Koffler, Martin Margulies, Marvin Ross Friedman and Adrienne bon Haes, Andres Fanjul Jr., Stephanie and Evan Reed, Sandy Muss, Mark and Arlys Raymond, Bruce & Tracey Berkowitz, Sam Robin, Tui Pranich and Diana Stoll.

The Backyard Ball Performance and Gala was sponsored by UBS, Bacardi Limited, Braman Motors, EventStar and The James Royal Palm Hotel.

YoungArts President and CEO Paul T. Lehr with YoungArts Alumni Award Winner Andrew Rannells

Arison Award Winner Zaha Hadid

YoungArts Master Teacher Rosie Perez

Andrew Rannells and YoungArts Alumni Zuzanna Szadkowski

The National YoungArts Foundation (formerly known as the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts) was established in 1981 by Lin and Ted Arison. To date, YoungArts has honored more than 17,000 young artists with over $6 million in monetary awards; facilitated in excess of $150 million in college scholarship opportunities; and enabled its participants to work with master teachers who are among the most distinguished artists in the world, such as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Jacques d'Amboise, Plácido Domingo, Bill T. Jones, Quincy Jones, Robert Redford and Martin Scorsese. For more information about YoungArts, visit www.youngarts.org.

YoungArts Campus Gala After Party

Photographs by Mike Jachles/AnnieWatt.com (Komen); Lucien Capehart Photography; Pedro Portal (YoungArts).

Guests at the Milly boutique celebrating the launch of the Friends of Finn T-shirt line to benefit The Humane Society of the United States.

Last Wednesday night Sharon and Ambassador John Loeb hosted a dinner to celebrate the very popular exhibition of Ambassador Loeb's collection of paintings by Scandinavian artists from the early 19th to the early 20th century. "Danish Paintings from the Golden Age to the Modern Breakthrough: Selections from the Collection of Ambassador John L. Loeb Jr." traces the developments in Danish art from the early 19th through the early 20th centuries — a period that saw the emergence of a distinctive national approach to painting in Denmark where Ambassador Loeb served under the Reagan Administration.

The exhibit has been extended through the end of the week including Saturday. Hours are 12 to 6 p.m. (Wednesday until 7). Admission is free. Scandinavia House is located at 58 Park Avenue at 38th Street.

John Loeb and Sharon Handler Loeb

Ed Gallagher, Sharon Loeb, and Leonard Lauder

Dayssi and Paul Kanavos

Betty and John Levin

Adrienne and Gianluigi Vittadini

Chele Chiavacci and Richard Farley

Jonathan and Somers Farkas

Robert Zimmerman, Sharon Loeb, and Christopher Mason

Tom and Ingrid Edelman

Somers Farkas, Sharon Loeb, Felicia Taylor, and Muffie Potter Aston

Yue-Sai Kan

Amy Fine Collins and Bradley Collins

Sharon Loeb, Jim Zirin, and Muna Rihani Al-Nasser

Francesca Stanfill and Richard Nye

Barbara Schumacher and Stephen Sills

Andrew Edward Kepler, Carlos Picón

Lee and CeCe Black

Claudia Walters, Billy Walters, and Sharon Loeb

Ed Gallagher and Kari Tiedemann

Marie Nugent-Head, James Marlas, and Sharon Loeb

John and Barbara Vogelstein

John Loeb and Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia

Alexis Gregory and Jill Spalding

Deborah Norville and Karl Wellner

Noreen Buckfire, Barbara Tober, and Jill Spalding

Ellen Ward Scarborough and Chuck Scarborough

On Tuesday, January 14th, Georgina Bloomberg, Amanda Hearst, and Kimberly Ovitz hosted a special cocktail event at the Milly store on 73rd and Madison. The event celebrated the launch of the Friends of Finn T-shirt line, which benefits the organizations goal to stop the operation of puppy mills.

Amanda Hearst, Georgina Bloomberg, and Kim Ovitz

Guests included Georgina Bloomberg, Michelle Smith, Kim Ovitz, Amanda Hearst, Alex Hamer, Jean Shafiroff, Jessica Katz, Karen Klopp, Kipton Cronkite, Milly de Cabrol, Ryan Urcia, Andy Oshrin, Chase Forbes, Miller Gaffney, Tatiana Perkins, Anne Greenough, Ashley Gilroy, Carla Carstens, Dakota Kim, Eileen Conlan, Georgina Schaeffer, Grace Young, Gregory Werbowsky, Joann Pailey, Julia Fehrenbach, Kathryn Gargan, Kristina Ratliff, Lady Liliana Cavendish, Lindsey Acree, McKinley Williamson, Phillie Silverman, Rachel Tressitt, Samantha Kleier, Sarah Dearakie, Thorne Perkin, Archie Gottesman, Benjamin Larretche, Brianna Schultz, Danielle Savage, Herve Larren, Issac Lichy, John McMenamin, Michele Kleier, Nick Raines, Sabrina Kleier, Soo Jin, and Tiffany Lacey.

Michelle Smith

Friends of Finn is a committee founded by Amanda Hearst that is made up of next generation leaders dedicated to working with The HSUS to stop the inhumane treatment of dogs in puppy mills. To learn more, click here.

Julia Fehrenbach, Sarah Dearakie, Lindsey Acree, and McKinley Williamson

Kathryn Gargan and Anne Greenough

Danielle Savage

Michelle Smith, Kim Ovitz, Georgina Bloomberg, and Amanda Hearst

Liliana Cavendish

Samantha Kleier, Chase Forbes, Michele Kleier, and Sabrina Kleier

Thorne Perkin and Tatiana Perkins

Grace Young

Lucia Hwong Gordon

Karen Klopp

Milly de Cabrol

Phillie Silverman, Brianna Schultz, Kim Ovitz, and Ashley Gilroy

Nick Raines and Issac Lichy

Andy Oshrin and Tatiana Perkins

Kristina Ratliff and Ryan Urcia

Carla Carstens, Gregory Werbowsky, and Eileen Conlan

Alex Hamer, Georgina Bloomberg, and Jessica Katz

Kipton Cronkite and Georgina Schaeffer

Georgina Schaeffer and Miller Gaffney

Ryan Urcia

Rachel Tressitt and Dakota Kim

Also last Tuesday at Wollman Rink in Central Park, the Playground Partners of the Women's Committee of the Central Park Conservancy held its Annual Skating Party. Mary Beth Adelson, Sarah Britton, Melissa Vlak served as the evening's Co-Chairmen.

As always, this is a free event as a thank you to the park's supporters. All donations received go to an after school hockey program at LaskerRink, an outdoor, twin rink facility, located in the north end of Central Park.

Central Park Conservancy's Annual Skating Party at Wollman Rink

Jill Ross and Caroline Cole

Cecily Martin, Aurora Monahan, Lisa Martin, and Sharon Monahan

Nicole Sexton, Jane McIntosh, Abby Healy, Kathryn Carey, and Emily Carey

Megan Patterson, Dorothy Brown, Hillary Marshall, and Mia Neagle

Jessica Tullman, Laura Hall, and Christy Brega

Conrad and Melissa Vlak

Anna Safir

Mary Beth Adelson, Melissa Vlak, Douglas Blonsky, Sharon Teles, and Sarah Kurita

Mary Beth Adelson, Henry Adelson, and Jon Adelson

Christy Brega and Jessica Tullman

Rob Kostic and Tiana Kostic

Aliza Ameer, Paul Lerner, and Laura Hall

Paige Hardy

Allison Jurjens

Serena Miniter, Sylvester Miniter, and Gillian Miniter

Lorne and Judy Norton

Amy and Jake Schrader

Deborah Krulewitch and Douglas Blonsky

Hannah Davis and Carolina Margarella

(MANALAPAN, Fla) With a long history of giving to the Hanley Center Foundation, Manalapan resident Yardley Manfuso recently opened her beautiful home in La Coquille to host a reception for new and old friends of the substance abuse treatment center. Guest of honor was Mike Hanley, son of Hanley Center founders Mary Jane and Jack Hanley, who opened the doors to Hanley Center nearly 30 years ago as a center of excellence in substance abuse and addiction treatment. The event offered guests a chance to hear about plans for the treatment provider's continued growth in Palm Beach County.

Drew Rothermel, Yardley Manfuso, and Mike Hanley

"My parents identified the need for access to quality substance abuse treatment locally, and with the community's full support, founded Hanley Center in West Palm Beach," said Mike Hanley, Hanley and Caron Treatment Centers Florida board member and board member of the Hanley Center Foundation. "But the need for world-class treatment right here in Palm Beach County continues to grow. I am truly proud to continue my parents' legacy and look forward to Hanley Center's expansion during the coming years as a provider of quality treatment to all ages suffering from the disease of addiction."

Ann and John Davis

Basil and Katheryn Diamond

Hanley Center is a nonprofit residential substance abuse treatment center and has led the treatment industry as a pioneer—with specialized older adult and boomer programs as their hallmark and the industry standard for treating those populations today.

Together, Caron and Hanley Treatment Centers comprise the largest and most comprehensive nonprofit addiction treatment provider in the country, focused on a 12-Step recovery program with a powerful clinical component. In South Florida, Caron and Hanley Treatment Centers operate lifesaving addiction treatment centers at Hanley Center, Caron Ocean Drive and Caron Renaissance in Palm Beach County; and Gate Lodge in Vero Beach.

Chauncy and Patricia Johnston

Susan Faries and Tom Gerrard

Anne Keresey, Dr. Rachel Docekal, and Nellie Benoit

Julie Lemley and Chris Van Roijen

Robert and Olga Cuyar

Photographs by Neil Rasmus/BFAnyc.com (Friends of Finn, Skating Party); PatrickMcMullan.com (Loeb); LILA PHOTO (Hanley Center)

Outside the Bohemian National Hall for The New York Ceramics Fair.

The New York Ceramics Fair celebrated its 15th anniversary on Tuesday night at the Bohemian National Hall. Despite the snow the place was full of well-wishers and lovers of all things ceramics, glass, porcelain and pottery from the 18th-21st centuries offered by 29 American and British specialists.

This show is the only one of its kind in the United States and has a loyal following of collectors and interior designers. Shaking things up a bit is Leslie Ferrin's exhibition, "Bacchanalistas: Passions + Pleasures," which presents ceramics by living artists whose art draws inspiration from ceramic history. Themes of passion, eroticism, sexuality, abundance and excess of food and wine are exemplified by the objects the dealers contributed to the show.

Inside the Bohemian National Hall

Among the guests: Geoffrey Bradfield, Roric Tobin, Harry Heissmann, Christopher Spitzmiller, Nancy Pearson, Ralph Harvard, Stiles Colville, Meg Wendy, Liz Lees, Betsy Pochoda, Leslie Grigsby, Ron Fuchs,Barry Hardwood, Catherine Futter and Karin Jones from Nelson Atkins, John Stuart Gordon, and Carol Sollis.

Chris Spitzmiller, Meg Wendy, and Harry Heissmann

Leslie Ferrin, Ferrin Contemporary

Bernard Derroitte and Paul Jeromack

Carol Sollis

Leslie Grigsby and Ron Fuchs

Rae Stern

Keeil Choi

Marilyn White and Nancy Pearson

Cliff and Holly Lee

Betsy Pochoda

Geoffrey Bradfield and Roric Tobin

Elizabeth Lees and Meg Wendy

Suzie and Scott Jacobson

A gala dinner dance for the benefit of Hospice of Palm Beach County was held at the Breakers. The evening was chaired by Ginny Burke, Anita Michaels and Hillie Mahoney with fashion show sponsored by Saks Fifth Avenue, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Hospice.

Anita and Sam Michaels

Fred and Gail Alger

Lore Dodge and David Ober

David and Nicole Atkinson

Brock Hurely, Charlene Nederlander, James Nederlander, and Kristina Nederlander

Boaz Mazor and Renee Wood

Carol and Bob Garvy

Hillie Mahoney

Melinda and Tom Hassen

Sam and Vicky Hunt

Tom McCarter and Frances Scaife

Martin and Audrey Gruss

Oscar de la Renta fashion show ...

Jean Tailer with Anna and Bill Mann

Bob and Carol Garvy with Carol and Harvey Baxter

Amanda and Charles Schumacher

Lucy Musso, David Ober, and Lore Dodge

Hospice Evening décor by Scott Snyder

Jimmy and Margo Nederlander

Talbott Maxey and Kenn Karakul

Bob Nederlander, Pat Cook, and Mark Cook

Ginny Burke and Scott Snyder

Rachel Strassner and Peter Schuette, GM Saks Fifth Ave PB

Maureen Donnell of Newport and Palm Beach hosted a kick-off dinner at her ocean front home for the major donors to the Four Arts. The Four Arts gala dinner dance will be held on February 21st. Naeem Khan held a fashion show of his collection shown at Neiman Marcus just before the dinner.

Maureen Donnell and Naeem Kahn

Amb Edward Elson and Susie Elson

Robert Nederlander and Pat Cook

Marvin Davidson, Hillie Mahoney, and Dudley Moore

Naeem Kahn, Pamela Fiori, and Michel Witmer

Melinda and Tom Hassen

Peggy Moore and Mary Davidson

Bunny Whittaker

Rich Wilkie, Kit Pannill, and Steven Stolman

Lisa and John Cregan

Patrick and Heather Henry

Peter and Kay Lyons with friends

Sam and Vicki Hunt

Carol and Tom Kirchhoff

Carol Garvy and Naeem Kahn

Emilia Fanjul hosted her annual dinner dance for the Everglades Preparatory Schools at Cafe Boulud at the Brazilian Court. Pepe Fanjul, Emilia's husband, was Dinner Sponsor. The evening was called "A Night of Great Expectations" and so it was -- many think of it as the most glamorous party of the Palm Beach winter season.

Robin and Norberto Azqueta

Ashley and Mike Ramos

Hilary and Wilbur Ross

Amy Fine Collins and Brad Collins

Mei Sze and Jeff Greene

Sofia Maduro and Nancy Sambucco

Judith and Rudy Giuliani

Pauline Pitt and Jerry Seay

Virginia and Jorge Dominicis

Kate and Jimmy Gubelmann

Emilia and Jose Pepe Fanjul with Emilia Pfeifler

Lourdes and Pepe Fanjul

Grace and Chris Meigher

Dixon and Arriana Boardman

Helena and Roman Martinez

Judy and Alfred Taubman

Vanessa Mulroney and Mila Mulroney

Photographs by AnnieWatt.com (Ceramics Fair); Lucien Capehart Photography (4 Arts, Hospice Evening, A Night of Great Expectations).

A private cocktail reception to welcome the Randall’s Island Park Alliance Fielding Dreams NYC Gala Honorees.

This past Thursday night, Randall’s Island Park Alliance Board Member Richard J. Mack and his wife, Christine, a Dinner Committee Co-chair, hosted a private cocktail reception to welcome the 2014 Fielding Dreams NYC Gala Honorees, which included NIKE, Inc., Jeff Zucker, President of CNN Worldwide, and Karen Cohen, RIPA Founder and President Emerita and the first Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

The event served as a kick off for the Alliance’s annual fundraising gala, which will take place at The American Museum of Natural History on March 11. The Fielding Dreams NYC Gala recognizes the importance of Randall’s Island Park and its supporters who help the Alliance provide an unparalleled destination for athletic, cultural, and environmental activities for all New Yorkers. As the dedicated steward of Randall’s Island Park, the Alliance sustains, maintains, develops and programs the Park.

Dean Landis, Caryn Zucker, Jeff Zucker, and Karen Cohen

Attendees for the private affair included: Alliance Co-Chair Nancy Neff; Gala Co-Chairs Michael D. Boxer, Mark I. Greene, Richard J. Mack; Dinner Committee Co-Chairs Christine Mack and Caryn Zucker; Steering Committee members Rodney Cohen, Justin H. Green, Justin G. Hamill, Dean I. Landis, Bradford R. Peck, Bimla Picot, Jennifer Rich, Patricia W. Shifke; Auction Committee members Melissa Boxer, Justin Hamill, Leslie Myers.

Randall’s Island Park is New York City’s only comprehensive athletic and recreational complex, and its 330 acres are crucial to the physical and emotional well being of the city’s children. We believe that our children deserve the same recreational and after-school opportunities as children in the suburbs and other U.S. cities. Access to high-quality outdoor fields, play spaces and nature is key to their quality of life as city kids, and without Randall’s Island, it would not be possible. Sustaining this resource is the Park Alliance’s primary mission.

Caryn Zucker and Kate Peck

Melissa Boxer and Lisa Bezos

Jeff Zucker, Nancy Neff, and Richard Mack

Matthew Bronfman, Stacey Bronfman, and Tasha Genatt

Simone Levinson and Christine Mack

Jennifer Rich, Caryn Zucker, and Stephen Rich

John Barber and Michael Booker

Karen Cohen, Mark Greene, and Jane Greene

Pinky Keehner, Brad Peck, and Kate Peck

Michael Boxer and Leonard Boxer

Richard Mack and Christine Mack

Courtney Hall and LaShann Hall

Nancy Neff, Bimla Picot, and Richard Gross

Nancy Neff and Caryn Zucker

Paula Mahoney, Justin Green, and Mark Greene

Pat Shifke and Mark Shifke

Pia Marks and Natasha Bell

Sam Weinhoff, Amy Boden, and Richard Gross

The Horticultural Society of New York (The Hort) held its 1st Annual Floral Motifs Exhibition and Benefit on January 15th, 2014 at the New York Design Center.

The event was hosted by Jim Druckman, President and C.E.O. of the New York Design Center, and The Hort’s Co-Chairmen Kamie Lightburn and Mary Van Pelt. Prior to the reception, John Chadwick (of Interiors by John Chadwick) led guests on a private walkthrough of the 1stdibs@NYDC showrooms. Exhibited artists include: Hunt Slonem, Jessica Tcherepnine, Karen Tompkins, Victor Schrager, Francesca DiMattio, and Daniel Gordon. The exhibition will remain on view in the 1stdibs Gallery at the New York Design Center (200 Lexington Avenue, 10th Floor) through February 14th.

Anne Shearman Betts, Mary Van Pelt, Missey Condie, and Kamie Lightburn

The mission of the Horticultural Society of New York is to sustain the vital connection between people and plants. The Hort’s social service and public programs educate and inspire, growing a broad community that values horticulture for the many benefits it brings to our environment, our neighborhoods, and our lives.

The Hort's Gallery encourages gardeners and artists alike to appreciate the creative intersection between art and nature. Our exhibitions showcase emerging and established contemporary artists inspired by horticulture, botany, landscape, and the environment.

John Chadwick, Mary Van Pelt, and Bruce Addison

Guests included: Bruce Addison, Dana Albarella James, Lise Arliss, Betsy & Michael Bacon, Elizabeth Belfer, Gillian Boyer, John Chadwick, Angela Clofine, Melissa Condie, Amy Connor, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Cushing, John Danzer, Jim Druckman, Jenny Du Pont, Tom Gibb, Bruce Hallett, Paige Hardy, Kate Hemphill, Shannon Henderson, Melanie Holland, Nell Kleinschmidt, Robert Lindgren, Lois Mander, William Manger, Jr, Lara Marcon, Chrissie McCarron Harvey, Peter Nadin & Anne Kennedy, Paige Rustum, Victor Schrager, Victoria Shaw, Anne Shearman-Betts, Isaac Sutton, Mish Tworkowski & Joseph Singer, Jessica & Peter Tcherepnine, Karen Tompkins, Mary Van Pelt, Arete Warren, and John Yunis.

Jenny Du Pont, JimDruckman, and Bruce Hallett

Zachary Turner, Elizabeth Bak, Sarah Boston, and Missey Condie

Kate Hemphill and John Yunis

Sara Hobel and Jessica Tcherepnine

Tom Gibb and Robert Lindgren

Also this past Thursday evening at Sotheby's Save Venice held a panel discussion, Why Save Venice, to illustrate Venice's broad appeal. The evening was very well attended by Save Venice supporters and Venice lovers alike.

Save Venice Inc., has raised more than 20 million dollars to restore over 400 works of art and architecture in Venice. Every year, the Board of Save Venice, including a Projects Committee of renowned experts, selects restoration projects in collaboration with the Venetian Superintendencies of Monuments, Fine Arts and Museums. Save Venice currently has more than 30 projects underway throughout the city, made possible with support from individuals, foundations, and Chapters in Boston and California.

Frederick Ilchman, Karen Wilkin, and Matthew White

Ann Hotung, Andrea Karambelas ,and Irina Tolstoy

Chantel Foretich and Nicola Tegoni

Andrea Lakian and Margery Eagan

Glen Wright, Mary Frank, and Charles Tolbert

Robert Garrett, Tamara Durn, Frederick Ilchman, and Amy Gross

Courtney Jones, Bruce Hortel, Tanny Jones, and Christopher Cooley

agna Rucewicz, Richard Baiano, and Kimberly Tamboer

Elisabeth Hartnet

Pat Lovejoy, Angelina Eschauzier, and Juliet Alexandra

Beatrice Esteve, Claudia Esteve, Jose Esteve, and Tia Chapman

Cynthia Humphrey, Tom Humphrey, Natasha Schlesinger, and Adam Schlesinger

Rachel Kase and Andrea Kust

Yung Hee Kim and Susan Shin

Fern Wachter, George Wachter, Stephen Brighenti, and Wanda Brighenti

Nicolo Foscari and Maria Giulia Prezioso

Blair Clarke and Alistair Clarke

Karen Wilkin, Christopher Apostle, Hester Diamond, Frederick Ilchman, Mary Frank, and Fred Wilson

Yildiz Blackstone and Tara Liddle

Petra Lovrekovic and Robert Bailey

John Cook, Candice Wexler, Mary Frank, and Howard Frank

Frederick Ilchman, Sarah Ilchman, and Warren Ilchman

Bulgari hosted chairmen, committee members, and supporters of Lighthouse International's annual POSH Palm Beach gala and designer clothing sale at Café Boulud for a pre-event cocktail reception on January 16, 2014.

Mark G. Ackermann, Lighthouse International's CEO, in from New York for the event, recognized the contributions of Arlene Dahl, the Honorary Chairperson, and Dinner Dance Co-Chairpersons Susan Bodnar Malloy, Grace Meigher and Mario Nievera. Junior Co-Chairs are India Paull and Elizabeth Meigher.

Bulgari Vice President Nathalie Diamantis, who also flew in from New York, presented the evening's stunning showcase of jewels and watches from their iconic Serpenti collection, selections from the new Diva collection, inspired by the glamorous women who have worn Bulgari on and off the silver screen, and alligator handbags from the Spring/Summer 2014 Collection.

Steve McCard, Nathalie Diamantis, and Mark Ackerman

Kristina McPherson and Bettina Anderson

Grace Meigher and Kit Pannill

Susan Malloy, Marc Rosen, and Beth de Woody

Lighthouse International's POSH Palm Beach returns for its seventh year with a dinner dance on February 19 at Club Colette honoring Palm Beachers, Ann Downey and her daughter, Mona de Sayve. Those who attend the gala will be treated to sneak peak of the POSH sale. The POSH Palm Beach sale -- which features clothing and accessories from socialites, celebrities, designers and fashionable retailers -- will take place on February 20 - 22 at Lake Pavilion at 101 South Flagler Drive. The event will include special fashion-related guest appearances, happenings and activities, including a POSH luncheon special offered by Hamburger Heaven.

Tom McCarter and Frances Scaife

Nancy Brinker and Nancy Paul

POSH Palm Beach has already gathered a stunning inventory of designer apparel and accessories from couture to casual. Donations are greatly appreciated and continue to be collected. For information about the gala, ticket sales to the gala and sale or to make donations, contact Barbara Rogoff at brogoff@lighthouse.org or call 561-828-1522.

Bob and Claire Rigel with Tom Hall

Elisabeth Munder and India Paull

Eleanora Kennedy and Katherine Mondadori

Jody Grass, Barbara Rogoff, and Peg Greenspon

Mario Nievera, Laura Medeiros, and Edward Schmidt

Carla and George Mann

Mark Ackerman and Nathalie Diamantis

As the temperatures continue to drop below freezing in New York City, a non-profit organization called Blankets for Warmth founded in 2001 donates blankets to the homeless to help keep them warm. Saturday night, a week ago, at the Pratt mansion on 5th Avenue, there was a birthday party given by the organization’s founders, Jon and Michelle-Marie Heinemann (it was her birthday). The Heinemanns gave a blanket on behalf of each of the 150 guests to the Artest Foundation in Harlem to distribute to the needy.

The foundation was founded by Ron Artest Sr., whose son Ron Jr. is a New York Knicks’ forward and serves as a consultant for the organization. Blankets for Warmth trucks have also partnered with the Coalition for the Homeless as they distribute coffee and hot meals around town.

Among those dancing to the beats of DJ Anita Sarko were Barbara and Donald Tober, Maggie Norris, William Ivey Long, Liliana Cavendish, Robert Rufino, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, Joe Alexander, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Lord Colin Campbell, Mimi Strong, Tony Lo Bianco, Michele Gerber Klein, Victor De Souza, Leesa Rowland, Larry Wohl, Donna and Richard Soloway, Rafael Feldman, Susan Shin, Vinnie Potestivo, Andrew Barlow, Cheri Kaufman, Bill Sclight, Cassandra Seidenfeld, Cole Rumbough, Sydney Lemmon, Steven Knobel, Nicole Noonan, Christopher Pape, Meriel and Alex Lari, Colette, Sam Bolton and Alessandra Emanuel.

The Heinemann family

Robert Ruffino, Naz, and Mario Rinald

Tina and Dacid Storper

Cheri Kaufman and Bill Sclight

Lucia Hwong Gordon and Grace Li

Richard and Donna Soloway

Colette

Barbara and Donald Tober

Jesse Peterson and Anita Laljit

Ryan Nessing and Maggie Norris

Bettina Bennett and Victor De Souza

Photographs byPatrick McMullan; Matteo Prandoni/BFAnyc.com(Randall's Island, SaveVenice); Lucien Capehart Photography (Posh).

Quadrille Ball Committee members at the Pierre Hotel for the 54th Annual Quadrille Ball.

This past Monday night, the National Audubon Society honored Dan Lufkin with the Audubon Medal, and Conservationist Patrick Noonan with the Lufkin Prize for Environmental Leadership.

Holt Thrasher, Patrick Noonan, David Yarnold, Dan Lufkin, and Nathaniel Reed

Dick Jenrette, Holt Thrasher, and Dan Lufkin

Marybeth Henson, Peg Olsen, Haley Main, and Chandra Taylor Smith

Mary Kay Turner and John Turner

Margaret Lufkin and Chris Malone

Ashia Sheikh, Jon Winthrop, and David Yarnold

Steve Kress and Alyssa Wolfson

Carol Robbins and Steve Schwarz

Jerry Bertrand, Miranda de Pencier, Michael de Pencier, John Mitchell, and Sissy Mitchell

Devon Olson, Glenn Olson, and Chelsea Olson

Christine Durham and Chandra Taylor Smith

Chris Nirschel and Tom Murro

Peter Jones and Erin Crotty

Peter Kiernan, Eaddo Kiernan, and David Ford

Sally Bodie, Kelly Ellison, Chris Peterson, and Tom Luhman

Pamela Fielder, Mark Gilbertson, and Eaddo Kiernan

Dr. John Connolly and Ingrid Connolly

Allison Rockefeller, Ambassador John Loeb, Sharon Loeb, and Caroline Dean

Grace Meigher and Chris Meigher

Aria Sloss and Andrea de Cholnoky

Veronique Pittman

Jennifer Rochkind and Latondra Newton

Peter Rockefeller and Mark Rockefeller

Susan Patricof and Susan Solomon

Kari and Carl Tiedemann

Mary Snow and Ian Snow

Jennifer Creel and Kelly Rutherford

Janine Atamian, Chandra Taylor Smith, and Betsey Johnson

Alexis Maybank and Anson Frelinghuysen

Nancy Noonan and Patrick Noonan

Ginger Zee

Carlos Falchi, Missy Falchi, and Mark Gilbertson

Jane Alexander and George Archibald

Richard Kind, Joni Kimberlin, and Holt Thrasher

Dan Lufkin, Leonard Lauder, and Anne Sutherland Fuchs

Libby Fitzgerald, Mark Gilbertson, and Evelyn Tompkins

Jane Donaldson and Bill Donaldson

Trammell Crow, Michael Cain, and Larry Selzer

Sandy Golinkin and Janet Ruttenberg

Susan Morgenthau, Jane Stopler, Robert Morgenthau, Michael Stopler, and Gianna Biondi

Lisa McCarthy and Walter Deane

Jay Winthrop and Larry Selzer

Robert Morgenthau, Michael Stolper, and Jane Stolper

On Saturday, January 25th, 2013, more than 250 guests gathered at the Pierre Hotel in New York City for the 54th Annual Quadrille Ball, one of the few white tie events and an annual staple of the New York Ball Season. This year’s honoree, Mr. Bernard Meyer, Managing Partner of Meyer Werft, has earned an international reputation for the construction of large, modern cruise ships including Celebrity Cruises and Disney Cruise Lines. His newest and largest ship, the Norwegian Getaway, just came to port in time to host more than 4000 visitors for the Super Bowl.

Ball guests included the German Consul General, New York, Busso von Alvensleben and his wife Maria-Theresia, the Rector of Technical University of Dortmund and head of the Board of Trustees of Krupp Foundation Prof. Dr. Ursula Gather, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Mrs. Angela Kane, the CEO of the German American Chamber of Commerce Dietmar Rieg, Count Victor Dijon von Monteton with his wife Katharina, the President of the Germanistic Society of America, Prof. Dr. Barbara Elling, and Quadrille Ball Committee Chair Irmintraud Jost. They all enjoyed silent auction, cocktails, dinner and dancing until 4AM.

Irmintraud Jost and Thorsten Schmidt

Jane Harrison, Willow Marcon, and Isabel Rixon

The highlight of the evening was the traditional performance of the Quadrille, a 17th century court dance, performed by twenty pairs of young professionals. The Alex Donner Orchestra provided the musical backdrop for the evening. Mr. von Alvensleben also celebrated his Birthday that night along with Quadrille Benefactor David W. Detjen.

The evening was made possible thanks to the generosity of sponsors including Vitra, Dr. Timothy Dezastro, Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Shiva, the Max Kade Foundation, the Paramount Group, and Henry Schein Cares. Mont Blanc, Tiffany & Co., Mercedes-Benz, Chopard, and other donors generously provided items for the Silent Auction.

Bernard Meyer

Consul General Busso von Alvensleben and David Detjen

Quadrille Presentation

The Quadrille Ball, hosted by the Germanistic Society of America, promotes friendship and understanding among young people from around the world through international cultural exchange. Proceeds from the Quadrille Ball provide the Germanistic Society of America with funds for international scholarships to highly qualified American and German students. To date, more than 500 scholarships have been awarded totaling over $3 million. The Germanistic Society of America awards continue to support fields of study that transcend borders and cultures in our interconnected global society.

Miss Germany International Aline Marie and Ian Ferreyra de Bone

Michael Pecnik and Ann Paskor

Count and Countess Dijon von Monteton

Alex Donner and Quadrille dancers

On Wednesday, January 22, 2014, The Perlman Music Program (PMP) held its Fifth Charity Wine Auction at per se, with the largest turnout in its five year history. The guest of honor at this year's event was Madame Corinne Mentzelopoulos of Chateau Margaux, and co-chaired by Vanessa and Henry Cornell, Ellen and Rodger DeRose, Edith and Robert F. Hudson, Jr., Katherine and Peter Kend, Leora and Steven Levy, Toby and Itzhak Perlman, Joanna S. and Daniel Rose, Jeri and George P. Sape, Esq., Hannele and Michael Troise, Diane and Thomas Tuft, and Eileen and Ronald Weiser.

Proceeds from this signature event benefitted the mission of PMP, founded 20 years ago by Toby Perlman, which offers unparalleled musical training to young string players of rare and special talent.

Madame Corinne Mentzelopoulos and Itzhak Perlman

Robert Loeffler and Toby Perlman

Guests were greeted with champagne and canapés and then enjoyed a festive dinner, which consisted of a six-course seasonal tasting menu paired with exceptional wines, including bottles from Chateau Margaux, Chateau Lynch-Bages and Chateau d'Yqeum, in the intimate private dining room at per se. Michael Troise, retired Auction Director for Christie's Fine and Rare Wines Department and current Wine Advisor for the Kravis Center in Palm Beach, auctioned rare and extraordinary vintages from Bordeaux, Burgundy and Napa Valley, and one-of-a-kind dining, travel and cultural experiences – including a signed, original work by artist Robert Weingarten.

Auctioneer Michael Troise

Robert Weingarten print

Madame Corinne Mentzelopoulos and Randy Yuen

Shelly London

Bidders enjoying the evening

PMP alumni performed virtuosic violin duos by Leclair and Weiniawski, and inspired many guests in the room to make outright gifts to support student scholarships at PMP.

Auction items were generously donated by individuals and companies from around the world, with special thanks to Madame Corinne Mentzelopoulos and Chateau Margaux, Acker Merrall & Condit, AOC Investment Advisors, Domaine Wine Storage, Duclot La Vinicole, and Pointy Snout Caviar.

Max Tan and Stella Chen

Morgan Stark and Jeri Sape

Guests included: Gavin Albert, Anne Ammons, Bruce Binler, David Binler, John D. Blondel and Carol Rossetto, Eric Brinkley, Michael Bunyaner, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, Randy Correll, Rodger DeRose, Elysia and Jonathan J. Doyle, Jim Finkel, Bari and Neil Goldmacher, Marc Goldstein and Cathy Borzon, Mark Goldweitz, Andrew Greene, Alyce C. Halchak, Herbert Kasper, Katherine and Peter Kend, Charles Klatskin , Andy Lawlor, Jordan Lawlor, Linda Lutz, Leora and Steven Levy, Nancy Lieberman and Mark Ellman, Randy Lewis, Dr. Robert Loeffler, Shelly London, Liz Lowenstein, James Meade, Mme. Corinne Mentzelopoulos, Andrea and David Miller, John Murray and Elizabeth Heilman Brooke, Philippe Newlin, Ron Oehl, Toby and Itzhak Perlman, Ron Pohl, Anne Rieselbach, Joanna S. and Daniel Rose, Jeri and George Sape, Roger Schagrin, Morgan Stark, Erica and Bill Steffee, Hannele and Michael Troise, Diane and Thomas Tuft, Herbert and Svetlana Wachtell, Michael Weamer, Ambassador Ronald Weiser, Marc Weiser, Amy and Tedd Weisman, Jennifer Williams-Bulkeley, and Randy Yuen.

Katherine and Peter Kend

Erica and Bill Steffee

Itzhak Perlman and Mark Goldweitz

Svetlana and Herbert Wachtell

Leora and Steven Levy

Joanna and Daniel Rose

Michael Bunyaner and Gavin Albert

Philippe Newlin and Jennifer Williams-Bulkeley

Liz Lowenstein and Alice Haluhak

Diane and Thomas Tuft

Photographs byPatrickMcMullan.com (Audubon); David Dupuy/www.AnnieWatt.com (Perlman).

Lisa Errico, Grace Meigher, Helena Martinez, Martha Glass, Dr. Paul Meyers, Shoshanna Gruss, Veronica Swanson Beard, Rebekah McCabe, and Shabnam Henry at The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center 's Winter Lunch at DANIEL.

On Tuesday, January 28, 2014, CHANEL and The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center hosted the Winter Lunch at DANIEL. The chairmen of the event were Veronica Swanson Beard, Lisa Errico, Shabnam Henry, Helena Martinez, Rebekah McCabe and Grace Meigher. The lunch raised over $220,000.

160 guests enjoyed cocktails and a seated lunch, which included remarks from The Society of MSKCC’s President, Martha Glass, and Associates Committee Chairman, Shoshanna Gruss. Dr. Paul Meyers, Vice Chair of Academic Affairs, Department of Pediatrics at MSKCC, introduced The Society’s new initiative: Harnessing The Immune System To Target Sarcomas. The initiative will support the first clinical trial of the treatment of osteosarcoma with a monoclonal antibody, a trial which promises to change the future of children and young adults afflicted with this disease.

Guests Included: Barbara Cirkva, Shoshanna Gruss, Martha Glass, Veronica Swanson Beard, Lisa Errico, Helena Martinez, Rebekah McCabe, Grace Meigher, Nina Garcia, Patricia Lansing, Charlotte Ronson, Eleanor Ylvisaker, Kimberly Kravis, Coco Kopelman, Ferebee Taube, Fe Fendi, Jamee Gregory, Gillian Miniter, Emilia Fanjul Pfeifler, Allison Aston, Jennifer Creel, Sharon Hurowitz, Ji Eun Wax, Ida Liu, Kalliope Karella, Brett Heyman, Meredith Melling, Christine Schwarzman, Jill Kargman, and many more….

Dr. Paul Meyers and Martha Glass

Coco Kopelman and Jill Kargman

Lisa Errico, Grace Meigher, Helena Martinez, Veronica Swanson Beard, Rebekah McCabe, and Shabnam Henry

Jen Brill

Valerie Boster

Shabnam Henry

Christine Schwarzman and Barbara Cirkva

Sarah Hoover, Rebekah McCabe, Charlotte Ronson, and Jen Brill

Patricia Lansing, Shoshanna Gruss, and Charlotte Ronson

Dr. Paul Meyers

Veronica Miele Beard and Veronica Swanson Beard

Helena Martinez, Martha Glass, and Grace Meigher

Libby Fitzgerald and Lisa McCarthy

Meredith Melling Burke and Jeanann Williams

Patricia Lansing

Jieun Wax

Nina Garcia

Sarah Hoover, Rebekah McCabe, and Eleanor Ylvisaker

Jamee Gregory

Patricia Shiah and Fe Fendi

Ferebee Bishop Taube, Carolina de Neufville, and Emilia Fanjul

Brett Heyman and Melissa Meister

Ida Liu and Angela Dotson

Allison Aston and Emilia Fanjul Pfeifler

Alexia Hamm Ryan and Lisa Errico

Celerie Kemble, Boykin Curry, and The Atlantic hosted their Annual State of The Union dinner at Monkey Bar.

Guests milling about

And settling in

Celerie Kemble and Julie Macklowe

Debbie Bancroft

Frank Roda, Caitlin Domke, and Alicia Gearty

Elizabeth Baker Keffer, Bronson Van Wyck, and Liz Paley

James Fallows

Scott Havens and Rebecca Jarvis

Steven Brill

Phoebe Eaton, Robert Zimmerman, and Nicole Miller

Michael Powell, Steve Clemens, and Hendrik Hertzberg

Eric Spiegel, Michael Powell, and Frank Roda

Kara Bloomgarden-Smoke, Justin Silverman, and Drew Hunter

Stephen Graham, Tara Peters, and Bronson Van Wyck

Natalie Raabe, Emily Lenzner, Scott Havens, and Elizabeth Baker Keffer

Ian Roe and John Petry

Robert George

Meredith Kopit Levien

Robert Zimmerman and Jim Hoge

Mitra Kalita and Dr. Dambisa Moyo

Alexis Maybank and Euan Rellie

Dan Barasch and Boykin Curry

Steve Clemens and Scott Havens

Frank Roda, Jennifer Zaslo, and Mark Katz

Don Baer and Nick Baer

John Petry, Beth Curry, Glenn Hubbard, and Ravenel Curry

The Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach celebrated the opening of "David Webb: Society's Jeweler" with a Premiere event on Jan. 15, 2014, featuring a cocktail reception for more than 250 patrons and friends of the Museum. The exhibition opened on January 16th and runs through April 2014.

The guests enjoyed an advance viewing of the exhibition – the first major retrospective of designer David Webb's jewelry from 1960 to 1975 – as well as a chance to see a "mini atelier" in operation as Webb jewelers masterfully created iconic designs at workbenches.

During a post-reception dinner at the Museum, event Co-chairs Dorothy Kohl and Lori Gendelman were recognized for their outstanding leadership. Frederic A. and Jean Sharf, a Norton Trustee, were recognized for their generous support of the exhibition. Also recognized for their role in making the exhibition a success was Richters of Palm Beach and others who lent to the show as well as Guest Curator Donald Albrecht.

Christine and Bob Stiller

Lori Gendelman and Dorothy Kohl

Clark and Joan Johnson

Jim and Irene Karp with Barbara and Peter Georgescu

Elaine and Kenneth Langone

Mickey and Larry Beyer

Nassrine and Norman Traverse with Gita Costa

Eliot and Roly Nolen

Nancy and Stefan Richter

Susan Malloy and Beth DeWoody

Norma Tiefel

Bob and Ellen Jaffe

Christine Curtis Norton and Sydell Miller

Hope Alswang and Diane Belfer

Jean and Fred Sharf

Merrill and Charles Gottesman

Annette Friedland with Leonard and Jane Korman

Photographs by David Pruting/BFAnyc.com (MSKCC); LILA PHOTO (Norton Museum).

Linda Fell, Linda Morse, Judith M. Hoffman, Sergey Gordeev, Gary Brandt, Barbara Brandt, Irene Shen, Carla Johnson, Margot London, and Irene Minkoff at Youth America Grand Prix's "The Making of an Artist."

The African Rainforest Conservancy (ARC) hosted its 23rd Annual Artists for Africa Benefit at The Bowery Hotel in New York City this past Wednesday. Executive Director Whitney Larkin welcomed over 200 guests including Cassandra Seidenfeld, Renee Adrienne Smith, Bravo’s ‘Shah’s of Sunset’ star Mercedes “MJ” Javid, Bravo TV star Chanel Omari and model Morgan O’Connor.

Host Carter Coleman kicked off the evening alongside Master of Ceremonies Tom McGrath to honor Thomas Kaplan with the New Species Award and Sarah Collins with the Environmental Award.

This year's African Rainforest Conservancy benefit was dedicated to the late-Advisory Board member James Gandolfini. For the past two decades, over $1 million has been raised to support grassroots community development projects and conservation in East African rainforests.

Highlights of the night included an a cappella song in Zulu by Thuli Dumakude, an African dance by Manekadang African Dance and Drum, with a DJ set and performance by Cary Nokey.

Cary Nokey

The evening was sponsored by The Bowery Hotel, Extraordinary Journeys, Gardenia Organic, Hahn Family Wines, Industry City Distillery, Nihiwatu Resort, Peak Organic, Tirado Distillery, Selous Safari Company, Coastal Aviation, and Paddle8.

For more than 20 years, The African Rainforest Conservancy has worked alongside its field partner the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG) to support a network of 140 villages in eight mountain and coastal regions throughout Tanzania that are protecting 3,000 square kilometers of forest – an area 1,000 times the size of New York’s Central Park. For more information on the African Rainforest Conservancy please visit www.africanrainforest.org.

Whitney Larkin and Thomas J McGrath

Suzanne Murphy and Cassandra Siedenfeld

Quentin Jones, Gary Carrion-Murayari, and Joyce Sitterly

Sammy Kingsley and Elizabeth Ernery

Thuli Dumakude

Orianne Kaplan, Thomas Kaplan, and Leonardo Kaplan

Renee Adrienne Smith, Kellen Harrison, Mia Berg, and Noah Becker

Curtis Young and Jenna Landry

Oliver Clegg and Natasha Clegg

Neyiz Cereb, Sangmi Lee, Andrew Heid, Shaokao Cheng, and Niki Cheng

Whitney Larkin, George Haddad, and Lisa Applebaum

Jessica Hodin, Felicity Sargent, Caleb James, and Daniela Ciocca

Laura Hunt, Adam Yarnold, Elizabeth Gordon, Jared Holz, and Samantha Siegel

Renee Adrienne Smith, Carter Coleman, and Cassandra Seidenfeld

Carol Beckwith and Lisa Fox

Allison L Wade, John Dalsheim, and Whitney Larkin

Andrew Heid, Mebrak Tareke, and Thomas Amdemariam

Ruth Katz, Tamae Ishii, Bennett Galef, Marc Mantais, Ashley Dawyot, A Franklin, and Chris Patterson

Sophie Plimpton, Patrick Meagher, and Ann Lee

Mikaela Bradbury and Sarah Collins

Judith Fifield and Jim Lyons

Devon Windsor, Morgan O'Connor, and Olivia Greenfield

Spencer Tunick, Katia Aurora, and Gerald Forster

Beth O'Donnell and Caleb James

On Monday, January 27, Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) presented "The Making of an Artist" moderated by Barbara Brandt at New York City Center Studios, Studio 5 (130 West 56th Street, NYC). American Ballet Theatre's Marcelo Gomes created new choreography on renowned ABT dancers Misty Copeland and James Whiteside live for 145 guests. Through discussion and demonstration, their creative evolution unfolded.

YAGP founding Board Chair, Barbara Brandt, "wanted to give the audience an opportunity to join the dancers and choreographer, in the studio, as we explored the question, "What is an artist?" The evening concluded with an informal reception.

Marcelo Gomes, Misty Copeland, and James Whiteside

James Whiteside, Barbara Brandt, Marcelo Gomes, and Misty Copeland

All proceeds from the event went to YAGP's Scholarship Fund, which provides young talented dancers with scholarship auditions and performance opportunities.

YAGP's 2014 New York City Finals will take place April 3-8. The gala will be held Thursday, April 10 at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater. For more information, visit www.yagp.org.

Richard Kielar, Robert Schulman, and Christian Zimmerman

John Sills, Elizabeth Papadopoulos, Sammi Seltzer, Scott Seltzer, and Franco DeVita

Elise Zealand and Leslie Kirschenbaum

Franco DeVita and Stephen Limmer

Skylar Brandt, Gary Brandt, Taylor Brandt, and Barbara Brandt

Victoria Matus, Andrew Martin-Weber, and Larisa Saveliev

Robert Schulman and Hal Witt

Mina Takavol and Terry Zucker

James Whiteside, Kathleen Murtha, and Kathleen Kirchgaessner

Lloyd Williams, Sara Khalifa, and Joel Kaye

The frigid weather didn't keep people from attending An Evening of Cocktails and Dance on Wednesday, January 22, 2014, benefitting The Children's Storefront, a tuition-free private school in Harlem. The annual event was held at The Ailey Studios/The Joan Weill Center for Dance (located at 405 West 55th Street) from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

More than 100 guests attended the event, which raised nearly $90,000, an unprecedented amount for this annual event. The evening featured a special performance by young artists enrolled in the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program and The Ailey School's Professional Division. The dancers performed Aspects Of A Vibe, choreographed by Darrell Moultrie, Synergy, choreographed by Kirvin Douthit-Boyd, and Passage, choreographed by Jennifer Archibald.

Hiroko Murase, Amanda K. Low, and Saturo Murase

Red Rooster Harlem's signature Yes Chef cocktail was featured thanks to the Storefront's longstanding partnership with this important landmark Harlem restaurant and celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson.

Co-chairs of the evening were Anne-Marie Embiricos, Reby B. Gulcan, Amanda K. Low, Christopher Moore and Maria Vecchiotti, and members of the committee included Jamie Bahar, Jill A. Davis, Amy Hudson, Hiroko Murase, Noreene Storrie, and Cathy Trentalancia. Many generous underwriters made the evening possible, including corporate sponsor Morrison and Forrester, LLP.

Andrea Forbes, John G. Forbes, Jr., and Wendy Reynoso

Joan Ai, Karen Beyer, and Ellen-Jane Moss

Barbara Feldon and friend

Bernie and Elsie V. Aidinoff

John G. Forbes, Jr., Dorian Brown, Lauren Marrus, and Ray A. Cameron

Hassan Turner, James Amodeo, and Candace Cardwell

Jo Taglianetti, Jackie Jones, Maria Vecchiotti, Diane Hanan, and Dr. Anthony LaBruna

This past Wednesday night, at the powerhouse Arena in Brooklyn, more than 300 of New York’s most acclaimed writers, translators, editors, agents, and pubishers gathered at the power/House Arena in Brooklyn under the auspices of the PEN American Center to celebrate new books published in 2013 and the fruits of free expression.

The diversity of PEN’s membership was reflected in the event’s co-hosts: Poet Laureate of Brooklyn Tina Chang, Jezebel founder Anna Holmes, novelists Mitchell Jackson and Dani Shapiro, and author Gary Shteyngart, whose new memoir was published earlier this month. Distinguished and longstanding PEN Members such as Ron Chernow, Elissa Schappell, Roxana Robinson, Lev Grossman, and Elinor Lipman mingled with up-and-coming writers including B.J. Novak, Marie-Helene Bertino, Paul Rome, Patty Chang Anker, Caleb Crain, Mark Binelli, and Dina Nayeri. New PEN Member Lena Dunham, creator of the HBO original series Girls, curated the music for the evening, while Rosie Schaap, author of last year’s memoir Drinking with Men, created literary-themed cocktails courtesy of liquor sponsors Hendrick’s Gin and Zyr Russian Vodka. Brooklyn Brewery donated the beer.

Lev Grossman of Time Magazine with wife Sophie Gee

Co-hosts and new members offered touching and often hilarious testimonials of their experience as PEN members. “I grew up in a totalitarian society where I was not allowed to express myself,” said Shteyngart. “ I’m talking about Hebrew school in Queens!” He continued, “PEN helps writers in all parts of the world, from Vladivostok to Kew Gardens Hills. And that is something that you are helping to support right now. The people who you are helping are forever, forever a part of what you do."

PEN Executive Director Suzanne Nossel ended the night with a call to action, encouraging all in attendance to send a postcard or email to Chinese President Xi Jinping demanding the freedom of PEN member and poet Liu Xia, who has been under house arrest in Beijing since her husband, jailed writer and Independent Chinese PEN Center President Liu Xiaobo, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010.

Madeline Caldwell of Alfred A Knopf, BJ Novak of The Office, Gary Shteyngart, author of Absurdistan, and Annie Eggers of Alfred A Knopf

PEN American Center is a community of 3,500 writers working to bring down barriers to free expression worldwide. Its distinguished members carry on the achievements in literature and advancement of human rights of such past members as Langston Hughes, Arthur Miller, and Susan Sontag. To learn more, visit www.pen.org.

Elissa Schappel of Vanity Fair's Hot Type, Roxanna Robinson, author of Cost, and Dani Shapiro, author of Devotion

Zoe Triska and Maddie Crum

Elinor Lipman, author of Then She Found Me, Avra Wing, author of Angie I Says, and husband Mike Wing

Greeted by the glitter of butterflies, the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts 2014 Gala chairs, committee, and its supporters, were treated to a kickoff event at Neiman Marcus Palm Beach. Gala leadership, including chair Monika Preston and honorary chair Kathryn C. Vecellio, were on site to welcome guests and thank them for their support.

Guests were treated to a fashion show including designs by Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Naeem Khan, Balenciaga, Valentino, Chole, Lavin, Peter Pilotto, Erdem and as a special treat the finale was Oscar de la Renta's Spring 2014 collection. The show highlighted popular spring trends, including pinks, layered bracelets and mint greens.

L. to r.: Stella McCartney Blouse, Alexander McQueen Pants, Marco Bicego Jewelry; Naeem Khan Blouse, Valentino Pant, Estate Jewelry; Lela Rose Blouse, Akris Punto Pant, Manolo Blahnik Pump, Givenchy Handbag, Laura Munder Jewelry.

Prior to the exclusive fashion show, Beth Pine, vice president and general manager of Neiman Marcus Palm Beach welcomed guests and then introduced Mrs. Preston who greeted the crowd and thanked them for their generous support with special mention given to the junior co-chairs Cameron Preston, Angela Vecellio and Tara Vecellio. She shared that their, "youthful energy and spirit has been instrumental in helping to plan the Gala, and I am so appreciative of their time and support."

Mrs. Preston continued by stating, "Alvin Ailey is currently the hot ticket in New York City and we are thrilled that they will be the entertainment for the 2014 Gala. The Kravis Gala is a fun event, with a young group of supporters and everyone is invited to join us at this year's gala, which is predicted to be one of the most enjoyable of the season."

Cameron Preston, Katie Vecellio, Beth Pine, Monika Preston, Angela Vecellio, and Tara Vecellio

The annual black-tie affair will begin with a reception in the Shapiro Founders' Room at the Kravis Center, followed by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance in Dreyfoos Hall and a dinner dance in the Gimelstob Ballroom located in the Cohen Pavilion.

Gala committee members include Michael Bracci, Mark Freitas, Robert Fromer, Irene Karp, John Kessler, Ted Mandes, William Meyer, Laurie Silvers and Dom Telesco.

Irene Karp, Laurie Silvers, Garrison duP. Lickle, and Judy Mitchell

Gala sponsors include Martin Axman, The Breakers, Stephen Brown and Jamie Stern, Alec and Miriam Flamm, Diane and Bruce Halle, Henni and John Kessler, Dorothy and Sidney Kohl, Ingrid and David Kosowsky, Jack and Goldie Wolfe Miller Fund, Jane M. Mitchell, Neiman Marcus, Helen K. Persson, Monika and John Preston, Sabadell Bank & Trust, SBA Communications Corporation, Laurie Silvers and Mitchell Rubenstein, Kathryn and Leo Vecellio; Tiffany & Co. for special support, and Classical South Florida and Palm Beach Illustrated for media support.

Tickets for this year's Gala are $750 for the Gala Patron, and $375 for the Young Gala Patron (45 years old and younger).

For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.kravis.org or call (561) 651-4320.

Gina and Jeff Sabean with Caroline Harless

Beth Pine, Bill Meyer, and Diane Bergner

Mona Zapper and Hayden Hosford

Margaret M. Damen and Miriam Flamm

Stirling McCracken and Kelly Kirkpatrick

Lizzi Bickford and Caroline Rafferty

Terri Mersentes and Shani Core

Tara Vecellio and Hilary Jordan

Judy Mitchell and Jane Mitchell

Ann Sommer, Elaine North, and Nancy Parker

Marilyn Berman and Zelda Mason

Photographs by Patrick McMullan; Corby Kaye's Studio Palm Beach (Kravis Center)

Wang Boming, Zhang Xin, and friends at China Arts Foundation's Chinese New Year Celebration.

On Thursday, January 30th, The China Arts Foundation, along with Fudan Alumni Association in New York, hosted a fundraising dinner at Le Cirque to celebrate the Chinese New Year with a musical program by YU Long (Artistic Director of the China Philharmonic Orchestra).

Distinguished guests included PAN Shiyi (Co-Founder, Chairman and Co-CEO of Soho China), ZHANG Xin (Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Soho China), YU Yu (Co-founder and CEO of Dangdang Inc.), WANG BoMing (Chairman and CEO of SEEC Media Group, Editor-in-Chief of Caijing Magazine), QIN Xiao (Chairman of Boyuan Foundation), DENG Ning (President of Deutsche Bank China), YAN Lan (Head of Lazard China), Steven Rockefeller, Jr. (Chairman of Rockefeller Group), and Stephen Schwartzman (Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone Group).

The China Arts Foundation was founded by Madam DENG Rong, daughter of DENG Xiaoping. Its mission includes supporting music activities and promoting the exchange of ideas and business relationships between the West and East. For more information, visit: www.chinaartsfoundation.org

Sun Guoxiang, Zhang Xin, and Angela Chen

The Honorable Nicholas Platt, Wash SyCip, Steven Rockefeller, Kimberly Rockefeller, and Christian Rockefeller

Monling Landegger, Angela Chen, Renee Landegger, and Mitzi Perdue

Peng Ning, Thomas Moore, Sun Guoxiang, Robert Lawrence, Angela Chen, and Sasha Grinberg

Steven Rockefeller, Kimberly Rockefeller, and Christian Rockefeller

Wang Boming

Lei Zimmerman and David Shine

Andrew Serwer and Stephen A. Schwarzman

Monling Landegger and Sandy Lee

Kasia Zabawa and David Desrosiers

Steve Zhu, Yifeng Zhang, and Anson Zhang

Jason Carter, Angela Chen, Geoffrey Bradfield, Yu Bai, and Jonathan Mechanic

Didi Pei, Sophia Sheng, and Spence Porter

Elliott Donnelley and Joanna Fu

Joost, Sophia Wu, and Elliott Donnelley

Lei Zimmerman, Zoe Shan, Xiaoning Wang, and Cathy Sun

Scott Walker, Andrea Scalisi, and Wendy Li

Catherine Petree and Nari Narayanan

Leslie Puth, Richard Johnson, Christine Schwarzman, and Andrew Serwer

Merit Janow, Stephen Orlins, and Mable Chan

Yu Long, Steven Rockefeller, and Zhang Xin

Zu Jing and Carl Landegger

George Landegger, Renee Landegger, Monling Landegger, and Paul Yo

Sasha Grinberg and Ashleigh Au

Meifang Chang and Sandy Chen

Melissa Berkelhammer, Wang Boming, and Carrie Lee

On January 30th, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) raised more than $620,000 at its Palm Beach Hot Pink Luncheon & Symposium. Founded by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993, the New York nonprofit has held the Florida fundraiser for the past 11 years to drive global research efforts to find cures and improve survivorship for millions of patients worldwide.

Held at The Breakers, the benefit drew more than 350 BCRF supporters from Florida as well as New York. Co-chairman of the foundation and Palm Beach resident, Leonard A. Lauder and BCRF President & CEO Myra Biblowit hosted the event with Alina Cho of CNN and ABC News, who stepped in to replace Barbara Walters. Ms. Walters will now host the 2015 luncheon.

Pre-luncheon at The Breakers

L. to r.: Mr. Lauder opens the luncheon; Alina Cho talks about Evelyn Lauder's legacy and BCRF's work ; Roz Goldstein

"Palm Beach has always been extremely generous to BCRF," Mr. Lauder said. "With the community's support, our grantees, who are truly some of the most brilliant minds in science and medicine, can forge ahead to make a discernible difference in the battle against breast cancer and all cancers."

"The world is a better place because of Evelyn Lauder and her commitment to preventing and curing breast cancer," Ms. Cho said as she took the stage. "BCRF is a shining testament to her vision. The money BCRF has raised is having an impact beyond breast cancer as their scientists are furthering our knowledge of all cancers. In that way, BCRF has a reach and relevance far greater than even Evelyn dared dream."

BCRF Scientific Director, Dr. Larry Norton, and Chairman of BCRF's Scientific Advisory Board, Dr. Clifford Hudis, both of New York's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, led a discussion about breast cancer risk and preventative measures with grantees, Dr. Nadine Tung, Dr. Kenneth Offit and Joan Marks. Since its founding, BCRF has grown from funding eight grantees in the U.S. to 210 researchers at renowned medical institutions across six continents.

The Panel: Chairman of BCRF's Scientific Advisory Board Dr. Cliffor Hudis, grantees Joan Marks, Dr. Kenneth Offit and Dr. Nadine Tung, and BCRF Scientific Advisor Dr. Larry Norton

The Venetian Room at the Breakers during the fashion show put on by Neiman Marcus

"Our grantees have made tremendous strides in prevention, treatment and understanding the biology of cancer," Biblowit said. "But with cancer's threat growing around the world, BCRF is steadfast in its commitment to fuel the research of tomorrow needed to save lives today."

The Palm Beach fundraiser has brought in $4 million since its inception, helping BCRF to raise more than $475 million for medical research over its 20 years.
Notable guests included Tommy Hilfiger and his wife, Dee, and fundraising co-chairs and prominent Palm Beachers Donna Acquavella, Louise Braver, Betsy Green, Sandra Krakoff, Petra Levin, Hillie Mahoney, Pauline Pitt, Tricia Quick, Hilary Geary Ross, Frances Scaife and Judith Schlager.

Leonard Lauder and Myra Biblowit annouce the winner of the raffle for $30,000 Margot McKinney earrings at close of luncheon

Dr. Larry Norton and Tom Quick

The luncheon also featured a spring fashion show courtesy of Neiman Marcus, an underwriter along with The Braver Philanthropic Fund, Douglas Elliman, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, The Leonard & Evelyn Lauder Foundation, and Petra and Stephen Levin. Sponsors included Mickey Beyer, Raysa Fanjul, Ronnie Heyman, Michele Kessler, Sheila Lambert, Kinga Lampert, Sydell Miller, Pauline Pitt, Tricia Quick, Shirley Small, and Barbara Smith.

Susie Elson and Frances Scaife, Co-chairman of the luncheon

BCRF President & CEO Myra Biblowit and Alina Cho

Beth Pine of Neiman Marcus and designer David Meister

Dee and Tommy Hilfiger

Raysa Fanjul and Petra Levin (both on the event's host committee)

Isabel Furlaud and friend

Kimberly Kosanovich and Pauline Pitt

Judith Schlager and Sandra Krakoff (both co-chairs of the event)

Harry and Laura Slatkin (Laura was on the host committee)

Dee Hilfiger, Tommy Hilfiger, BCRF Co-chairman Kinga Lampert, BCRF Co-chairman Leonard Lauder, Alina Cho, Petra Levin

Grace Meigher and friend

Emilia Fanjul and Pamela Fiori (both on the host committee)

Pauline Pitt, Ronnie Heyman, Michele Kessler and Petra Levin

Beth Rudin DeWoody and Leonard Lauder

Louise Braver and Dr. Larry Norton (Louise was a co-chair of the event)

Dottie Herman and Don Langdon of Douglas Elliman

Donna Stearns and Linda Holliday

Marlene Strauss and Sydell Miller (Sydell was a vice-chairman of the event)

The evening before the Hot Pink Luncheon & Symposium, Mr. Lauder held an intimate dinner for the underwiters of the Palm Beach luncheon.

Stephen and Petra Levin

Alfonso and Raysa Fanjul

Kelly Coffey, Deputy CEO, US Private Bank, JP Morgan, Leonard Lauder, and Alina Cho

Frances Scaife and Tom McCarter

Sheila Lambert and Louise Braver

Dottie Herman, Mr. Lauder, and Betsy Green

Edward and Suzanne Elson

Joyce and Robert Sterling

Diana Ecclestone with Howard and Michele Kessler

Larry and Judith Schlager, Myra Biblowit, and Sandra Krakoff

Carolee Freidlander, Myra Biblowit, Eddie Lampert and wife, Kinga, Co-Chairman of BCRF

Mary Ellen Pappas Sydell Miller

Myra Biblowit and Tom Quick

Harry and Laura Slatkin with Dee and Tommy Hilfiger

Laura and Stephen Lang

Candy and William Hamm

Bill Belichick, coach of the New England Patriots, and Judi Schlager

Linda Holliday and Larry Schlager

Laura Slatkin and Alina Cho

The James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation honored two young leaders making a difference on a global level at its Third annual Luce Leadership Awards Ceremony & Reception at Skadden Arps in Times Square this past Monday evening.

The 2014 theme for the awards ceremony was "It Takes a Team to Support Young Global Leadership" – recognizing the Arts, Education and Orphan Care in India, Indonesia, Haiti, Sri Lanka and the United States. Recipients were chosen on their ability to better humanity, either in the United States or abroad, by displaying characteristics of honor, intelligence, benevolence and integrity.

This year's awards recipients were Jesse Pollans (Motivated to Make a Change) and Joey Lowenstein (Breaking the Barriers of Autism). Music was provided by the Arts Global Foundation. Jitin Hingorani, a J. Luce Foundation global advisor and CEO of JINGO Media, emceed the evening and the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United Nations, His Excellence Dr. Palitha Kohona, delivered the keynote address.

Christopher Rim, Roberta Lowenstein, Jim Luce, Jill Pollans, and Jeremy Hu

Alfred Gryszkiewicz, Jim Luce, Matthew Kennedy, Joey Lowenstein, and Roberta Lowenstein

H.E. Dr. Palitha Kohona, Sri Lankan Ambassador to the U.N.

Roberta Lowenstein and Anna Castillo

Jim Luce, John Lee, and Foundation Board Member Adi Habbu, Esq.

Bridget Henn, Andraya Guttzeit, Joey Lowenstein, and Ashley Eisenstadt

Jill Pollans, Karen Wenderoff, Melinda Iverson, and Ruth Antrich

Luce Leader Christopher Rim and Ikenna Nzeley

Virginia Breen and Jim Zucco

Ashwani Agrawal and Shan Navaratnam

Loretta Wu and Maria Sierra with Dr. Judy Kuriansky

Madhav Tadikynda Angela Patel Tracy Pregean, Natalie Miller, and Erin Wied

Tad Sudol AIA and Jim Luce

Jim Luce and Deborah Pierre

Doris Cramer

Vishu Grover, Legacy H.S. Director

Flo and Julie Tupler

Sara Herbert Galloway, Jeremy Hu, and Daniela Zahradnikova

Jordan, Holly, Avery, and Howard Levinson

Jim Luce with Kate Baker

Alex Antoine, Ekua Musumba, Meera Kajendrakumar, Deepti Shukla, and Ashwani Agrawal

Stephane Duret, Dr. Danielle Duret, Jim Luce, and Evens Anozine

Photographs by Patrick McMullan(China Arts);Lucien Capehart Photography (BCRF);AnnieWatt (Luce)

Executive Director Matthew VanBesien, Rosie Jowitt, Gala Co Chairs Angela Chen, Shirley Young, Agnes Tsu Tang, and Oscar L. Tang, and Karen LeFrak, Special Events Chair at New York Philharmonic's third-annual Chinese New Year Gala.

On Saturday, February 1, the New York Philharmonic held its third-annual Chinese New Year Gala. Over 300 guests attended and $1 million was raised for the Philharmonic.

The celebratory evening ushered in the Year of the Horse with a Gala concert highlighting the cultural heritage of China and America and honoring the Chinese-American community. The concert program featured Beijing-born pianist Yuja Wang performing Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; Taiwanese-American violinist Cho-Liang Lin performing Dvořák's Romance for Violin and Orchestra; and Chinese-born cellist Jian Wang performing Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme. The three soloists together performed Tan Dun's The Triple Resurrection, which includes music from the composer's scores for the Martial Arts Trilogy, comprising Hero; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; and The Banquet.Song Zuying, the renowned folk and pop singer who hails from the Hunan province, joined the Orchestra for several Chinese folk songs, wearing traditional attire.

A traditional Dragon Dance was performed by the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company on Lincoln Center's Josie Robertson Plaza

For the third-consecutive year, a traditional Dragon Dance was performed by the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company on Lincoln Center's Josie Robertson Plaza preceding the concert and inside Avery Fisher Hall throughout the evening. The dancers were joined on the plaza by 40 American children from the National Dance Institute performing Chinese New Year: The Year of the Horse, inspired by Mongolian folk dances.

Guests of the Chinese New Year Gala arrived at Avery Fisher Hall beginning at 6:00 p.m. for an hour-long cocktail reception on the Grand Promenade. The concert began at 7:30 p.m., followed by a traditional Chinese attire/black-tie dinner, also on the Grand Promenade.

Yuja Wang, Jian Wang, Cho Liang Lin, and Long Yu, and the New York Philharmonic

The evening's event was catered by Restaurant Associates, and the décor was provided by Van Vliet & Trap.

Honorary Chairmen for the Gala were Mr. and Mrs. Maurice R. Greenberg, and H.E. Ambassador Sun Guoxiang and Madam Wang Min. The Gala Co-Chairmen were Angela Chen, Guoqing Chen and Ming Liu, Gary W. Parr, Agnes Tsu-Tang and Oscar L. Tang, and Shirley Young.

Vocalist Song Zuying in traditional attire

Conductor Long Yu, Gala Co Chairmen Agnes Tsu Tang, and Oscar Tang

H.E. Ambassador Guoziang Sun (Honorary Gala Chairman) and Chairman Gary Parr

Anne and Christopher Flowers, Rosie Jowitt, and Executive Director Matthew VanBesien

Ron Ulrich and Christian Lange

Steven Heyer and Margaret Holmes

Cellist Jian Wang

Elizabeth and Frank Newman

Oscar Tang and Agnes Tsu Tang

Chairman Gary Parr, Shirley Young, and Zhang Mei Fang

Kenneth and Noreen Buckfire

Ming Liu and Guoqing Chen (Gala Co Chairs)

Long Yu, vocalist Song Zuying, Chairman Gary Parr, and H.E. Ambassador Guoziang Sun (Honorary Gala Chairman)

Oscar Tang and Agnes Tsu Tang (Gala Co Chairmen), Rosie Jowitt, and Executive Director Matthew VanBesien

H.E. Ambassador Guoxiang Sun (Honorary Gala Chairman) and Executive Director Matthew VanBesien

Pianist Yuja Wang and Guoqing Chen

Angela Chen, Conductor Long Yu, and vocalist Song Zuying

Sandy Warshawsky and Stan Warshawsky

Shirley Young (Gala Co Chair) and Zhang Xin

Karen and Richard LeFrak

Kimberly Strauss

NY Philharmonic Chairman Gary Parr and Wang Boming

Phoebe and Bobby Tudor

Long Yu and Angela Chen

On January 30, 2014, The Komansky Center for Children's Health at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell's 4th annual Plates for Pediatrics benefit raised a record amount, over $650,000 to support the center's children's programs. Maggie Gyllenhaal attended the sold-out event as the Honorary Chair. Sponsored by Max Mara, the benefit drew over 300 attendees to the St. Regis New York.

The event included a silent auction of a series of unique dinner plates curated by Art & Advisory, LLC. The plates were designed and painted by artists Jonathan Adler, Todd Norsten, Jim Shaw, and Rob Fischer.

Dr. Gerald Loughlin, Dr. Laura Forese, Maria Giulia Maramotti, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Dr. Herbert Pardes

Gretchen Englander, Leslie Finerman, Ritu Sahai-Mittal, Anjli Bhandari, Vaughn Dorrian, Marcie Pantzer, and Angela Clofine

The benefit, hosted by Dr. Gerald Loughlin, Pediatrician-in-Chief at the Komansky Center for Children's Health at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, along with the Pediatric Support Committee and the Children's Advisory Council, raised funds for several children's programs: Child Life Services, a program that helps alleviate children's fears surrounding the hospital experience; The Pediatric Simulation Center, a multidisciplinary approach to clinical education, research, and patient safety initiatives; The Perinatal Center, which provides a multidisciplinary approach to fetal diagnoses, counseling and care; and the Residency Education Program, a three-year pediatric residency program designed to provide residents with the basic tools for the practice of pediatrics.

Guests included; Andrew Ross Sorkin, Maria Giulia Maramotti, Max Mara Retail Director for North America; Dr. Laura Forese, Group Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell and President of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System; Dr. Herbert Pardes, Executive Vice Chair, Board of Trustees, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital; Allison Aston, Marcie Pantzer, Veronica Beard, Vaughn Dorrian, Ammara Yaqub, Alex and Bara Tisch, and Aviva Drescher. Donny Deutsch served as the event's Honorary Auctioneer.

The Komansky Center for Children's Health at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell's 4th annual Plates for Pediatrics benefit at the St. Regis

NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Center for Children's Health, which is affiliated with Weill Cornell Medical College, provides the best available care in every area of pediatrics in a family-friendly and technologically advanced setting. NewYork-Presbyterian is the #1 hospital in the New York metropolitan area and is consistently ranked among the best academic medical institutions in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit http://nyp.org/komansky/.

Michael Clofine, Angela Clofine, Michael Dorrian, and Vaughn Dorrian

Allison Aston

Dr. Gerald Loughlin and Dr. Laura Forese

Manish Mittal and Ritu Sahai-Mittal

Marcie and Jordan Pantzer

Jill Kargman and Aviva Drescher

Veronica Beard

Maggie Gyllenhaal and Maria Giulia Maramotti

Jennifer Oken, Kathy Thomas, and Angela Clofine

Erica Samuels

Kristin Urrano, Erik Oken, and Jennifer MacLear

Monday night at the Pierre, the Drama League hosted its 30th annual benefit gala — A Musical Celebration of Broadway — and honored Neil Patrick Harris. Among those performing or speaking of the honoree were Judith Light, Kal Penn, Norm Lewis, Audra McDonald, Tim Gunn, Stephen Colbert, Tyrone Jackson, Zachary Levi, Patrick O'Neill, Anthony Rapp, Malcolm Gets, Kate Jennings Grant.

The Drama League galas are not "roasts" but rather tributes to the talents they honor. The performances are affectionate as well. But Neil Patrick Harris evokes something more than that. He's had a long career in what is still a short life, and he's participated and performed ably, successfully. He's admired and respected for his work as well as his openness about his private life and his family. And judging from the audience's response to it all, I'd say he's even beloved by a lot of people. A good evening, and fun.

Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka

Stewart Lane and Bonnie Comley

Zachary Levi and Kal Penn

Adam Shankman

Violinist Christian Hebel and Rachael Harris

Judith Light and Tim Gunn

Erin Davie

Christy Whitehead

Becky Ann Baker

Michael Mayer

Norm Lewis

Cady Huffman, Eddie Korbich, Brandi Burkhardt, James Barbour, and Marc Kudisch

Krysta Rodriguez

Samuel Barnett, Jano Herbosch, and Joseph Timms

This past Monday night, Second Stage Theatre celebrated its 27th annual All-Star Bowling Classic at Lucky Strike Lanes. For over 25 years, stars of stage and screen have come out to bowl in support of Second Stage's award-winning seasons and to assist the theatre in its fund-raising efforts.

The following celebs turned out to captain a lane and show support for Second Stage: Zach Braff, Anika Noni Rose, Julie White, Constantine Maroulis, Perez Hilton, Aida Turturro, Ben Rappaport, Dylan Baker, John Carroll Lynch, Kevin Chapman, Sasha Cohen, Halley Feiffer, Tom Murro, Tim Blake Nelson, Patricia Richardson, Ben Shenkman, Usman Ally, Betty Gilpin, Vinny Guadagnino, Richard Kind, Lauren Molina, and Sonja Morgan.

Zach Braff

Richard Kind

Winners were:
1st Place - Bloomberg with Celebrity Team Captains, Julie White & Tim Blake Nelson
2nd Place - Select Equity with Celebrity Team Captain, Constantine Maroulis
3rd Place - Kirkland & Ellis with Celebrity Team Captain, Tom Murro

Silly Second Stage Honors:
Team Spirit Award - Barbara Whitman Lane with Celebrity Team Captain, Ben Rappaport
Looking Good While Doing Nothing - Phillip Sanchez from Time Warner Inc.
Lifetime Achievement - Celebrity Team Captain, Dylan Baker
Best Coach - Celebrity Team Captain Aida Tutoro from Deloitte's
Lane Most Stylish Male - Celebrity Team Captain Zach Braff from Lexington Partners
Lane Most Stylish Female - Andrea Taylor from Lindsay Goldberg's Lane

Perez Hilton

Anika Noni Rose

All proceeds benefit Second Stage Theatre's award-winning artistic and educational programming. Recent shows include Little Miss Sunshine, The Last Five Years, By The Way, Meet Vera Stark, Anna Deavere Smith's Let Me Down Easy, Next to Normal, Edward Albee's Peter and Jerry, The Little Dog Laughed, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Becky Shaw and Paul Weitz's Trust.

Ben Rappaport

Annie Parisse

Aida Turturro, Tom Murro, and Sasha Cohen

Sonja Morgan

Lauren Molina

Constantine Maroulis

Halley Feiffer

Patricia Richardson and Betty Gilpin

John Carroll Lynch

Photographs by Chris Lee & Linsley Lindekins (NY Philharmonic); Patrick McMullan (Drama League & Second Stage); BFA (Plates for Pediatrics).

Dinner guests at The Explorers Club for Empowers Africa's annual gala dinner.

Sponsored by its Women’s Board, The Boys’ Club of New York played host to over 450 supporters at its sold-out Winter Luncheon on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 583 Park Avenue. The luncheon raised over a half-a-million dollars, breaking all previous Winter Luncheon records. All proceeds from the luncheon will benefit the Club’s recreational, educational and social programs which annually serve over 4,000 disadvantaged New York City boys and young men via three clubhouses and a summer camp. The BCNY was founded in 1876, making it the nation’s oldest boys’ club.

A committee of twenty BCNY supporters were gathered to host the event and was comprising Women’s Board members Sara Ayres, Danielle Ganek, Amy Griffin, Brooke Harlow, Elaine Langone, Tiffany Moller, Calvert Moore, and Claudia Overstrom, joined by Kristin Allen and Tracey Huff, and BCNY Trustees Zack Bacon, Doug Band, Dick Cashin, Harry LeFrak, Alex Robertson, and Bill Tyree joined by Lee Ainslie, Tim O’Hara, Rob Pitts, and Stephen Sherrill.

Dahomy Agrippa, Brooke Harlow, Will Irwin, Kathy Irwin, Claudius Agrippa, Amy Griffin, John Griffin, and Malcolm Swisher

After a warm welcoming from Women’s Board President, Sara Ayres, the guests enjoyed a heartfelt violin rendition courtesy of Claudius Agrippa, a promising young student of BCNY’s own Josie Robertson School of Music and Art. After lunch, D. Brooke Harlow introduced the guest speaker, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and guests were privy to a lively and informative discussion between Governor Christie and BCNY supporter and founder of Blue Ridge Capital, John Griffin. Mr. Griffin and the Governor spoke on a wide range of political as well as personal topics including one close to both of their hearts; educational reform. As a proponent for learning in a safe and secure environment for over 138 years, the BCNY and its supporters were fully engaged in the dialogue.

Governor Christie and John Griffin

Guests joining the Host Committee on Tuesday included BCNY Women’s Board members Merrill Curtis, Nathalie Kaplan, Cynthia van Eck, Victoria D’Agostino, Louise Grosvenor, Gabrielle Bacon, Mai Hallingby Harrison, Ros L’Esperance, Diane van Amerongen, Elizabeth Pyne, Dara O’Hara, Anjali Melwani, Burwell Schorr and husband Chip, Thorunn Wathne, Alexia Hamm Ryan and husband Baird, Kathy Irwin, Cosby George and husband Tim, Jamee and Peter Gregory, Jackie and Gene Williams, Shabnam Henry and husband Tom, Barbara Robnson and husband John, Kathryn Miller and husband Corbin, and Betsy Pitts. BCNY Trustees in attendance included its President Edward Rappa and Chairman Si Anthony, Dwin, Scott Wilson, Dave Rappa, Bob Ireland, Jeff Moslow, and Executive Director Stephen Tosh.

William McLanahan and Gabrielle Bacon

Amy Griffin, Sara Ayres, and Brooke Harlow

Among the many guests were Kelly Gaines, Parker Gilbert, David Howe, Julia Koch, Simone and Chris Mailman, David Tyree, Eliza Nordeman, Kathryn Tyree, Alexandra Robertson, Travis Acquavalla, Alison Brokaw, Tory Burch, Mariana Kaufman, Karen and Richard LeFrak, Serena Boardman, Diana DiMenna, Sarah and Spencer Robertson, Fiona Rudin, Carter and Talbott Simonds, Mark Gilbertson, Ferebee and Brook Taube, Craig Huff, Anne Smithers, CeCe Black, Jill Roosevelt, Carolyn Reece, Peggy and Paul Bitler, David Ganek, George Braniff Moore, Gunnar Overstrom, Sloan Overstrom, Maria Villalba, Elizabeth Ainslie, Sharon Jacob, Nancy Sambuco, Liz Peek, and many, many others.

Christina Dedona and Eleanor Ylvisaker

Nathalie Kaplan and Coralie Charriol Paul

Julia Koch and Diana DiMenna

Icy Frantz and Nicole Hanley Mellon

Dara O'Hara, Cathy Price, Tiffany Moller, Amy Griffin, and Peggy Bitler

Blaire Husain, Sara Ayres, and Peggy Bitler

Lara McLanahan and Sallie Giordano

Danielle and David Ganek with Tory Burch

Simone Mailman and Jill Roosevelt

Frances Beatty Adler and Jamee Gregory

Larry and Sarahmay Robbins, Amy Griffin, and Brooke Harlow

Empowers Africa, a non-profit foundation based in the United States that supports programs on the ground in Sub Sahara Africa, held its annual gala dinner at The Explorers Club in New York City on February 6th, 2014. The event raised over $130,000 for human empowerment and wildlife protection in Africa.

Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Richard Wiese, Host and Producer of ABC series “Born to Explore”. The Auctioneer was Eliza Osborne, Vice President, Sotheby’s.

Cocktails at The Explorers Club

Guest included: Beth Rudin DeWoody, Nina Griscom, Chris Mack, Jenny Kennedy, Donna and Mike Corbat, Jennifer Creel, Zack Bacon and Flo Fulton. The auction consisted of prints by Nick Brandt and exotic trips to Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Nick Brandt prints

Empowers Africa is a 501(c)(3) that focuses on funding programs in communities that surround protected conservation and wildlife areas or World Heritage sites; programs in urban communities where tourism is a strong source of development; and programs that support the protection of wildlife and land conservation. Visit the organization’s website at www.empowersafrica.org.

Nina Griscom, Jenny Kennedy, Hillary Scurtis, Lydia Touzet, Donna Corbat, and Zita deZagon

David Croland and Beth Rudin DeWoody

Dr Karl Krieger and Krista Krieger

Donna Corbat and Bonnie Pfiefer Evans

Catherine Yelberton and Laura Traphagen

Carrie Mantha

Flo Miller, Lindsay Fox, and Marisa Brown

Yesim Philip, Nada Navab, and Kami Lightburn

Brad Livingstone Black and Taylor Gildersleeve

Wayne and Pat Isom

Laura Welch and Kathleen Histon

Ted Henderson and Zack Bacon

Paola and Arnold Rosenshein

Roy and Mary Judelson

Jenny Kennedy, Chris Mack, and Michele Gradin

Jon Cummings and Holly Hegener

Keith Langham

Michael and Donna Corbat with Krista Krieger

Molly Sims, Lisa Lewis, Zita de Zagon, and Donnat Corbat

Nina Griscom and Nicci Young Wiese

Patrica Price and Laurie Rising

On February 4, 2014, The Playground Partners of the Women’s Committee of Central Park hosted its inaugural Playground Partners Winter Luncheon at the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park. More than 200 guests attended the event. The event began with a festive reception followed by a luncheon, which included a special conversation between designer and New York City mother Lela Rose and hergood friend and Contributing Correspondent for NBC News’ TodayJenna Bush Hager. They spoke about Lela’s life, work, and love of New York.

The Loeb Boathouse

The Lake at the Loeb Boathouse

The event raised over $100,000 for the preservation, care, and daily inspection of Central Park’s 21 Playgrounds.

Anne Harrison, President of the Women’s Committee, was joined by luncheon Co-Chairmen Clarita Fodor, Cena Jackson, Nancy McCormick, Amy Tarr, and Amanda Waldron. The luncheon event was generously supported by Goldman Sachs Gives.

Lela Rose and Jenna Bush Hager

Guests included Douglas Blonsky, President & CEO, Central Park Conservancy and Central Park Administrator, Sarah Kurita, Paige Hardy, and Sharon Teles, Co-Chairmen of the Playground Partners Committee, Suzie Aijala, Jill Bikoff, Samantha Topping Gellert, Tracey Huff, Nyssa Kourakos, Kamie Lightburn, Michelle Marra, Gillian Miniter, Dara O’Hara, Valerie Ohrstrom, Coralie Charriol Paul, Yesim Philip, and Jenny Price.

Sharon Teles, Amanda Waldron, Clarita Fodor, Cena Jackson, Doug Blonsky, Amy Tarr, Nancy McCormick, Paige Hardy, Sarah Kurita, and Anne Harrison

Amanda Waldron, Cena Jackson, Nancy McCormick, Lela Rose, Clarita Fodor, and Amy Tarr

Gillian Miniter, Paige Hardy, Coralie Charriol Paul, and Helene Comfort

Diane Chachas, Suzie Aijala, and Tracey Huff

Maggan Daileader, Cecily Denny, and Stacy St. Rose

Yesim Philip, Anne Harrison, and Vicki Foley

Kamie Lightburn and Jenny Price

Michelle Marra, Jane McGarry, and Kimberly Klimczak

Gillian Miniter and Lela Rose

Shannon Henderson, Angela Clofine, and Paige Rustum

NBC’s TODAY co-host, journalist, personality, author and breast cancer survivor Hoda Kotb joined the Young Professionals Committee (YPC) of Susan G. Komen® Greater New York City for the sixth annual Painting Wall Street Pink event on Thursday, February 6, 2014. Painting Wall Street Pink began with a reception on the Trading Floor of the New York Stock Exchange and was followed by an after-party at Cipriani Wall Street. The evening raised well over $120,000.

The goal of Painting Wall Street Pink is to introduce the greater New York City Gen X and Y community of professionals to the life-saving work of Susan G. Komen, Komen Greater NYC and the YPC. The evening began at 7:00 p.m. on the Trading Floor of the New York Stock Exchange with a cocktail reception and short program, which featured Komen Greater NYC CEO Linda McNeil Tantawi, Komen Greater NYC Board president and YPC founder and chair Sandra L. Kozlowski, and Ms. Kotb.

Special guest Hoda Kotb and Komen Greater NYC CEO Linda McNeil Tantawi

Komen Ambassador Eric Brinker, Komen Greater NYC Board President and Young Professionals' Chair Sandra Kozlowski, and Congressman Aaron Schock

An after-party followed immediately at 9:00 p.m. at Cipriani Wall Street, featuring cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a light supper, a silent auction and dancing to DJ Jason Fioto.

Komen Greater NYC’s Young Professionals Committee consists of rising young executives and professionals whose goal is to engage a new generation in the culture of philanthropy — inspiring them to help Komen for the Cure and Komen Greater NYC achieve their vision of a world without breast cancer.

Special guest Hoda Kotb (fourth from right) with Komen Greater NYC Young Professionals Executive Committee (L-R) Steve Simmons, John Petzold, Pablo Ogarrio, Sandra Kozlowski, Dawn Reinholtz, Nicole Sebastian and Bobby Waldele

The YPC is dedicated to finding new ways to raise awareness and monies to fund innovative grassroots breast health programs that provide services to underserved residents in New York City, Long Island, Westchester and Rockland Counties.

“As a breast cancer survivor, I am thrilled to support the Komen Greater NYC Young Professionals at their annual Painting Wall Street Pink event,” said Ms. Kotb. “ I was diagnosed in my early 40s and now it seems like I keep meeting more and more young people who are battling the disease – people in their 30s, even 20s. What I like about this event is that it helps create awareness and support and does it in a fun way – with music and dancing. Right up my alley!”

Guests on the Trading Floor listen to the program

The event was made possible through the generous support of Patrick Crosetto (Mid Cap Sponsor); Sonia Anand, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, The Waldele Family Foundation, The Wall Street Journal, and WTAS (Small Cap Sponsors); Alternative Investment Management and Korn/Ferry International (Supporters).

For further information about Komen Greater NYC’s Young Professionals Committee, please visit www.komennyc.org/YPC.

Komen Greater NYC Board President and Young Professionals Chair Sandra Kozlowski (top, center) surrounded by (clockwise from left) guest, YPC Executive Committee member Dawn Reinholtz, Lisa Garfinkel, and Sarah DeSantis

Komen Greater NYC Board member and his fiancée Amy Tremonti

Guests enjoy the after-party

Dancing to DJ Jason Fioto

With paddles shaped like wine goblets, guests found it easy to raise a glass for the spirited bidding during the Seventh Annual Palm Beach Wine Auction on Thursday, January 30 at The Mar-a-Lago Club. Nearly 200 arts patrons and oenophiles toasted to record-breaking funds for the award-winning education programs at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts as they indulged in an evening of fine wines and a star-studded menu.

Chefs Zach Bell, Douglas Katz, Andrew Carmellini, Lindsay Autry, Aaron Fuller, Joshua Hasho, Graham Randall, and Conor Hanlon

Under the direction of Michael Troise, retired Auction Director for NY Wines/Christie's Fine and Rare Wine Department, the live auction segment of the evening nearly doubled funds raised from last year. Vintner participants included Beau Vigne, Buccella, Carte Blanche, Colgin Cellars, Domaine Serene, Krug, Rémy Martin, Rudd Oakville Estate, The Stag’s Leap division of Chateau Ste. Michelle, and Antinori's Antica Winery among others.

While the catalogue listed 42 rare and coveted auction lots that would rival the finest wine auctions throughout the country, there were two unlisted lots which drew the evening’s highest bids. Generously donated on the spot by House of Krug President and CEO, Margareth Henriquez, the “Dinner of the Century” was snapped up by a lucky bidder at $65,000. Featuring a magnificent eight-course meal prepared by a chef in the bidder’s home and paired with Krug’s finest vintages, the item set the bar for an evening of high bidding.

Lindsay Autry and Zach Bell

Chef Aaron Fuller

Rivaling the record-setting Krug “Dinner of the Century” lot was an unlisted chance for guests to “bid” on underwriting opportunities to send area youth to the Kravis Center’s popular camps and other education programs. More than $55,000 in heart-felt donations came as guests waived their goblet paddles all in the name of “the kids.”

The Kravis Center’s education programs have served nearly 2 million children of all ages over the past 21 years. In its seventh year, the Palm Beach Wine Auction event has uncorked more than $2 million to provide children in our region with an introduction to the arts, which they might not otherwise have had an opportunity to experience.

Charcuterie, Joshua Hasho

Amuse Bouche, Chef Douglas Katz

First Course, Andrew Carmellini

Second Course, Lindsay Autry, and Zach Bell

Dessert, Graham Randall

Entree, Aaron Fuller

Following a reception featuring Krug Grande Cuvée champagne and charcuterie by the Chicago Omni Hotel’s Joshua Hasho, five delicious courses gave guests an opportunity to peruse the auction catalogue and strategize bidding on their favorite lots.

Palm Beach Wine Auction sponsors included Madeline and Roderic Fink, Barbara and Jerome Golden, Steven M. Gottlieb and Laurie Raber-Gottlieb, Chris N. Kritikos, Stacey and Mark Levy, Rochelle and Craig Menin with Menin Development, Inc., Jane M. Mitchell, Park Foundation, PNC Wealth Management, Lewis M. Schott, Laurie Silvers and Mitchell Rubenstein, Tiffany & Co. (Gina and Jeff Sabean), Classical South Florida Radio and Gulfstream Media publications.