Winter Luncheons and Gala Dinners

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.