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The scene at FAO Schwarz Fifth Avenue for The Associates Committee of The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's 22nd Annual Bunny Hop. |
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| On Tuesday, March 5, 2013, The Associates Committee of The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center hosted the 22nd Annual Bunny Hop at FAO Schwarz Fifth Avenue, New York’s legendary toy store. A Society tradition and the most high-profile family event of the year, the Bunny Hop is a thrilling and magical evening for families and children of all ages. Sponsored by Tiffany & Co., almost 900 guests attended including The Society’s members, celebrity guests and New York families. The Event Co-Chairs were Alexandra D. Edwards, Nina Garcia Conrad, Melissa Meister and Marcie Pantzer, with Debra Messing serving as Honorary Chairman. |
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| Guests enjoyed a variety of hands-on activities including: games by Kids In Sports; face painting by BongarBiz and Faces by Derrick; cookie decorating by The Cookie Party; Freeze Frame Giant Piano Photos; costume dress-up areas provided by Let’s Dress Up!; sand art by Craft Studio; live animal presentation by A Touch of Nature; entertainment by Magic Al the magician; Sammie and Tudie; Miss Pinkie’s Playhouse; Todd Neufeld’s Twisted Balloon Company; musical entertainment by MME Entertainment; Wendy the Pipe Cleaner Lady; and a live musical performance by Broadway Babies. |
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| The event raised over $311,000 to benefit the Pediatric Family Housing Endowment. The fund pays for overnight stays at special nearby accommodations when children and their families come from out of town for treatment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s renowned Pediatric Department and are unable to afford this expense. Guests included: Rachel Roy, Shoshanna and Josh Gruss, Alexandra Edwards, Melissa Meister, Marcie Pantzer, Dr. Annette U. Rickel, Muffie Potter Aston and Dr. Sherrell Aston, Eleanora Kennedy, Gretchen Gunlocke Fenton, Shabnam Henry, Dara O’Hara, Kate Pickett, Anna Safir, Eleanor Ylvisaker, Ferebee Taube, Allison Aston, Kate Allen, Jennifer Oken, Jill Kargman, Kate Doerge, Leslie Heaney, plus many more. |
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Ali Edwards, Melissa Miester, and Marci Pantzer |
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| On the last night of February, Fountain Gallery welcomed nearly 500 guests at Skylight West for Mad About Art, the Gallery’s Annual Art Auction and Benefit. Fountain Gallery is the premier venue in New York City representing artists living with mental illness. The evening was New York City-themed in décor, food – and art. The art, strikingly arrayed on two floors dubbed “Uptown” and “Downtown,” included representations of city landmarks, streets and scenes, and more than 30 Fountain Gallery artists were on hand to discuss their work with guests. The atmosphere was electric and bidding was electronic, facilitated by a stylish squad of “bidding valets” sporting illuminated hats and iPads. Auction participants tracked bids on large screens, and art sales topped those of any Fountain Gallery event since 2001, when this annual benefit launched as Celebration of Life. |
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| WABC-TV’s Lucy Yang introduced William Wegman, the recipient of the Esther Montanez Award, established in memory of Fountain Gallery’s founding director. Mr. Wegman was recognized for his inclusive artwork and his support of artists living with mental illness. Mr. Wegman –who is probably best known for the endearing photographs of his Weimaraner dogs Man Ray, Fay Ray and Fay’s progeny – has created work for Sesame Street on PBS and has appeared on Saturday Night Live. The author of numerous children’s books (Penguin will publish his next in the fall), he has exhibited his photographs, videos, paintings and drawings in museums and galleries throughout Europe, Asia and the U.S. His art is inclusive, full of humor, generous of spirit and broad in its appeal. Mr. Wegman donated a piece to the auction, as did legendary entertainer Tony Bennett, Paul Davis, Bentley Meeker, Jason Rohlf, Harriet Sawyer, Ungano & Agriodimas, and The Walther Collection. |
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| The dedicated Chairs who worked tirelessly to ensure the evening’s success were: John P. Casaly, Peter L. DiCapua, Rick Froio, Carmel and Brett Fromson, Dario Gristina, Leslie Harwood, Mary Pontillo, Bonnie and Frank Pratt, Jerry Schumm, and Gabriel Stefania. Among the notable attendees were:Tommy Agriodimas, Lorraine and John Ambrosini, Pauline Anderson and Kenn Dudek, Elena Brower, Ines Elskop and Christopher Scholz, Danielle Fennoy, Elizabeth Fiore, Richard Greene, Agnes Gund, Rich Hiler, Susan and Peter Hinrichs, Jevaun Howell, Guinevere Johnson and Jason Rohlf, Suzanne and Emmanuel Lemakis, Jim Luce, Bentley Meeker, Asia Mernissi, Lynn Nicholas, Sasha Nicholas and Steven Caputo, JuneAnn Patrick, Pam Perkins, Dawn Reinholtz, Harriet Sawyer and Richard Demato, Susan and David Schwartz, Betsy Seidman, Fern Senior, Sue Stoffel, Kristin Thomas, and Julian Ungano. |
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| 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, please visit: www.fountaingallerynyc.com. |
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| On Tuesday, March 5th, the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) hosted its annual Gala Awards Dinner. Held at The Plaza Hotel, more than 250 of the country’s foremost scholars, government officials, diplomats, business leaders, and philanthropists gathered in support of the NCAFP’s initiatives. In addition, the evening honored former President of Finland, Nobel Laureate and Chairman of the Board, Crisis Management Initiative, The Honorable Martti Ahtisaari and Chairman, President and CEO of The H.J. Heinz Company, William R. Johnson. |
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| Recipients of the 21st Century Leader Award were Rhodes Scholar, human rights and global youth advocate, Ronan Farrow, and esteemed writer and editor, Nicholas Thompson who were recognized for their commitment to furthering the United States’ strategic policy interests. Proceeds from the evening benefitted the National Committee’s educational programs and Track 1 ½ and Track 2 diplomatic meetings that address security challenges facing the United States. National Committee Co-Chair, The Hon. Paul A. Volcker kicked off the night with a few opening remarks and passed the torch to Mr. Warren Hoge, Senior Adviser for External Relations at the International Peace Institute who led the evening as Master of Ceremonies. The 2013 Hans J. Morgenthau Award was awarded to The Hon. Martti Ahtisaari for his impressive accomplishments in preventative diplomacy, peacemaking and conflict resolution, particularly with conflicts in Namibia, Kosovo, Indonesia, and Northern Ireland. |
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| As a former Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Ahtisaari is one of the world’s preeminent leaders in the promotion of peaceful dialogue and conflict resolution. American diplomat, President of the Council on Foreign Relations, and previous Hans J. Morgenthau Award recipient The Hon. Richard N. Haass, presented the award to Ahtisaari. Following the presentation of the Hans J. Morgenthau Award, William R. Johnson was honored with the Global Business Leadership Award, presented in part by the 2012 honoree Muhtar Kent, Chairman of the Board and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, via an inspirational video message Kent prepared for him. Johnson received this award for his leadership at the H.J. Heinz Company, overseeing innovative business initiatives that set an impeccable standard for globally oriented corporate citizenship and serve to promote U.S. national interests around the globe. |
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| The evening also honored the achievements of two individuals under the age of 40 with the 21st Century Leader Award. Ronan Farrow, Rhodes Scholar, and human rights and global youth advocate, served as the State Department’s Special Adviser for Humanitarian and NGO Affairs in the Office of the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Nicholas Thompson is the current Senior Editor of The New Yorker.com and, as an acclaimed journalist and author, has penned some of the most celebrated political biographies and articles of this decade. Notable attendees included: The Hon. Martti Ahtisaari, William R. Johnson, Ronan Farrow, The Hon. Paul A. Volcker, The Hon. Richard N. Haass, Jon Lovett, Brendan McGuire, Nicholas Thompson, Warren Hoge and many more. |
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| Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City's (BBBS of NYC) Young Professionals Committee recently hosted "BIG Night Out" – an annual black tie optional casino night that transformed Cipriani Wall Street into a one-night only casino. In its eight year, BIG Night Out attracted over 800 successful, young workings professionals who enjoyed a top-shelf open bar, dancing, casino games, live music by DJ Mode, a poker tournament, gourmet tasting stations and a silent auction. Proceeds from the event benefitted the mentoring programs of BBBS of NYC, the nation's first and New York City's largest youth mentoring organization. |
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Photographs by Frank Rocco (Big Brothers); Saskia Kahn & Arnold Brower (MAD); BFAnyc.com (Buuny Hop); Angela Pham/BFAnyc.com (NCAPF). |