Heart and Soul

An Evening of Chamber Music at Kristy and Jim Clark's Palm Beach home with the Perlman Music Program musicians.

On Saturday, March 8, The Perlman Music Program (PMP) held its seventh annual concert and dinner at Kristy and Jim Clark's Palm Beach home. Co-hosted by Emilia and Pepe Fanjul, and with over 200 arts lovers and philanthropists in attendance, the event honored Toby and Itzhak Perlman's dedication to nurturing the next generation of classical music artists.

"I was inspired when I first met Itzhak and Toby and learned about PMP," said Jim Clark. "I went to Shelter Island, heard some of the concerts, and decided to inspire people in Palm Beach to get behind chamber music. An incredible amount of talent has come through their school – and this is now their 20th year! It's turned into an incredible success." The Clarks pledged to personally match their guests' donations in celebration of PMP's 20th anniversary, continuing their extraordinary and longtime support of the Perlmans' mission.

Bill Koch, Suzanne McDonough, Jim Clark, David Koch, Page Lee Hufty, and Alex Griswold

The evening began with cocktails and champagne on the veranda, followed by a performance in the Clarks' elegant living room featuring several outstanding PMP students. The concert included quartets by Beethoven and a trio by Dohnanyi, presented by violinists Randall Goosby, Mariella Haubs, Alice Ivy-Pemberton, Sean Lee and KJ McDonald; violists Jameel Martin, Frida Oliver and Daniel Orsen; and cellists Gabriel Beigel, Daniel Hass and Sebastian Stoger. The talented and poised young performers introduced each piece and brought the composers to life in their own words.

PMP musicians with Toby and Itzhak Perlman and Kristy and Jim Clark

After the exceptional concert, Jim Clark moderated an informal Q&A with Toby Perlman. Their spirited conversation ranged from the unique way PMP educates and nurtures each child, to the Program's year-round concerts, residencies, and community outreach; and the recent transformation of PMP's historic Shelter Island campus with a state-of-the-art performing arts center endowed by the Clarks. Toby concluded with thanks for Jim and Kristy, Emilia and Pepe Fanjul, and PMP Board members Morgan Stark and Vicki Kellogg, and stressed that helping young musicians realize their gift is a responsibility shared by all. To bring the evening to a rousing close, the guests toasted the incredible music and beautiful weather at a festive dinner under the stars.

Kristy and Jim Clark

Vicki and Chris Kellogg, Itzhak Perlman, and Toby Perlman

Rose Heim and Anthony Kane

Toby and Itzhak Perlman

Emilia Fanjul, Pepe Fanjul, and Emilia Fanjul Pfeifler

Irma L Anapol

Ava Roosevelt and Christopher Twardy

Vicki Kellogg and Catherine Saxton

Barbara Grace, Howard Gottlieb, Marissa Payiavlas, and John Payiavlas

Charlie Schlangen and Elijah Duckworth-Schachter

Eleanora Kennedy, Toby Perlman, and Mary Walker

Dr David Altchek, Anne Altchek, Charles Altchek,and Cynthia Reede

Mary Walker, Katherine Mondadori, Eleanora Kennedy, and Ken Walker

Diane Lokey Farb and Gabriel Dror

Fred and Stephanie Clark

Paul Goldner, Michael Finn, and Sandra Goldner

Georgiana H Yang and Jean Weiner

Alex Griswold, Page Lee Hufty, Pepe Fanjul, Grace Meigher, and Chris Meigher

Morgan Stark and Jim Clark

Anka Palitz and Kristy Clark

General Carter Clarke, Irene Athans, and Marissa Payiavlas

John McTaggart and Nestor Rodriquez

Cindy Anderson and Peter Rock

Bill Koch, William Acquavella, Jim Clark, and David Koch

Peter and Amy Tunney

Pepe Fanjul, Kristy Clark, Lia Reed, Howard Cox, Rudy and Judith Giuliani, Emilia Fanjul, Jim Clark, and Bill Acquavel

Ron Senkirk, Weegie Antle, Kerry Del Rose, and Ken Wyse

Vicki Reynolds, Pat Cook, Robert Nederlander, Brian McIver, and Pamela McIver

Michael Schultz and Hazel Rubin

Kathy and John Giovenco with Barbara and Murray Hazan

Eric Stonestrom, Carter Pottash, and Pam Pantzer

Judi and Rudy Giuliani

Hillie Mahoney, Jim Clark, Kristy Clark, and Stephen de Angelis

Itzhak Perlman, Cynthia Friedman, and Gabriela Dror

Andrews and Anjelika Walker

Bill Koch, Anka Palitz, and Chris Kellogg

On Thursday, March 20, nine premier retailers on Madison Avenue hosted "Shop with the Dancers" receptions, where New York City Ballet (NYCB) company dancers made in-store appearances giving guests the opportunity to engage with the dancers and to celebrate NYCB's 50th Anniversary at Lincoln Center. Proceeds from "Shop with the Dancers" benefited NYCB's Toe Shoe Fund, as a year in pointe shoes costs NYCB $600,000.

Dancers in attendance were Sara Mearns, Megan Fairchild, Jared Angle, Savannah Lowery, Olivia Boisson, Lara Tong, Unity Phelan, Cameron Dieck, Megan Johnson, Stephanie Chrosniak, Emilie Gerrity, and Alina Dronova. As guests traveled up and down the Avenue during "Shop with the Dancers", they could view the dazzling window displays of historic NYCB costumes from Swan Lake, Jewels, Coppelia, and A Midsummer Night's Dream on the Avenue. They were also greeted by Honorary Committee hosts Indre Rockefeller at Tory Burch, Alicia Quarles and William H. Wright at Bally, Maria Cristina-Anzola at Longchamp, Brynn Jinnett at Agent Provocateur, Ann Moore at Mulberry, Sharon Novak and Rachel Mann at Alice + Olivia, Hayley Kucich and Megan Kessler at Kate Spade New York, and Nell Kucich at Schutz Shoes.

"Shop with the Dancers" was a part of a weeklong event called, On Your Toes on Madison Avenue, presented by the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) from March 15-22. The world's most prestigious retailers including Agent Provocateur, Alice + Olivia, Bally, Barneys New York, Chanel, Kara Ross New York, Kate Spade New York, Longchamp, Mulberry, Ralph Lauren, Schutz Shoes and Tory Burch will raise an estimated $40,000 to benefit New York City Ballet.

Chanel kicked-off the weeklong celebration with a preview cocktail celebration on March 13 at their Madison Avenue store honoring Ballet Master in Chief, Peter Martins and NYCB dancers Faye Arthurs, Olivia Boisson, Claire Kretzschmar, and Unity Phelan. On Saturday, March 15, Barneys New York tempted shoe-lovers, selling keys with a chance to win by unlocking boxes with free designer shoes and tickets to the ballet. Select stores also featured dazzling window displays of historic NYCB costumes from Swan Lake, Jewels, Coppelia, and A Midsummer Night's Dream on the Avenue.

Hilary Palmgren, Jared Angle, Riley Palmgren, and Sara Mearns

Hector Carrasquillo and Johanan Merino

Megan Johnson and Cameron Dieck

Alicia Quarles, Mimmo Mariottini, Unity Phelan, and Olivia Boisson

Mojgan Sobhi, Stephanie Chrosniak, Cathy Paul, Edward Marchese, and Karen Leies

Nell Kucich and Alina Dronova

Fredrick Wodin, Galina Khitrova, and Matthew Bauer

Lydia Haug, Karen Uphoff, Rachel Hamrick, and Brynn Putnam

Savannah Lowery and Brittany Sellers

Harrison Ball, Sharon Novak, Megan Fairchild, and Rachel Mann

Lara Tong, Matthew Bauer, and Indre Rockefeller

Saudeeqah Ali, Krystal Ugo, Josephine Utate, Emilie Gerrity, and Christine Wu

The Heart & Soul Charitable Fund celebrated its 25th Anniversary Auction on Thursday, March 6th at the historic Great Hall of The Cooper Union. Noted documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, twice-nominated for the Academy Award and two-time Emmy Award winner, was presented with the 2014 Forrest Church Award for humanitarian service by Carolyn Buck Luce, in honor of her late husband, Rev. Dr. Forrest Church.

Ken Burns and Carolyn Buck Luce

Heart & Soul was founded in 1988 to raise funds for two long-running meal programs, Monday Night Hospitality and Friday Soup Kitchen, which together serve 28,000 meals annually at All Souls Church. Now 25 years later, it continues to fund these programs in addition to over a dozen Youth Services and Community-Based programs in New York City, including Navigators USA, Girl Scout Troops in East Harlem, New Amsterdam Boys & Girls Choir, TADA! Youth Theater and the Time In Children's Arts Initiative.

The cocktail reception

The Forrest Church Award, named for the late Rev. Dr. Forrest Church, author and humanitarian, is given to an individual who demonstrates a capacity for moral courage and selflessness while working towards the betterment of our world. Former recipients include Gail McGovern, President and CEO of the American Red Cross; former U.S. President Bill Clinton; Mary Robinson, the former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; the Hon. Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York; and Dr. Paul Farmer, founder of the international health and social justice organization Partners In Health.

George Collins, Mitchel Gray, and Lissa Gundlach

The celebratory evening included Franciacorta from Guido Berluchhi and wines from Vias Imports Ltd., and raised funds through both Live and Silent Auctions featuring Judith Ripka jewelry and art from Time In.

The Live Auction was led by Robbie Gordy of Christie's, with an online auction hosted by charitybuzz.com. The entertaining and inspiring evening raised over $300,000 for more than a dozen community-‐based programs in New York City.

Robin Bossert and George Wing

Zoe Greenbaum and Cyndie Berthezene

Robbie Gordy of Christie's leads the Live Auction

Miles Chapin, Carolyn Buck Luce, and Ken Burns

Steven Richardson

Tiina Blum and Tom Blum, Board Treasurer

Marilyn Collins, Jeff Friedlander, and Marjory Friedlander

Dana Ivey and George Dorsey

Ashley Leutner, Lucy Drummond, Cory Desalvo, and Bethany Merryman

Bill Bechman, Board President, with Pamela Healey and Joshua Lane

Stillman Brown and Meg Raftis

Kirsten Hilleman, Greg Slamowitz , and Paul Jensen

Anthony Sacchetti, Judy Chang, and Nils Hasche-Vasquez

Carol Kirkman Berman and Richard Dottin

Northon Melo and Jamie Hamilton

Bob Gatje and Susan Witter

Robert Kuhbach and Sherrell Andrews

Walter Klauss, Minna Buck, and Helen Buck

Galen Guengerich and Robbie Gordy

Linda Rousseau and Charles Mackenzie

Nicole Orzo and Logan Holzman

Barbara Tober, the Museum of Arts and Design’s Chairman Emerita and Chairman, Global Leadership Council, and Nimesh Kampani, Chairman of the JM Financial Group, were the honorees at the inaugural Giving Back Foundation Gala held Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at the Pierre Hotel. Actor/director Phylicia Rashad emceed the event.

The cocktail reception and dinner were followed by a live auction and entertainment with DJ Logic providing the music, with singer Lara Anderson and Bina Menon’s dance troupe from the Kalashri School performing.

Meera Gandhi, CEO and Founder of The Giving Back Foundation, said, “We are truly delighted to honor Barbara Tober and Nimish Kampani. Both Barbara and Nimesh represent the true spirit of “giving back.”

Among the co-chairs were Raymond Bickson; Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi; His Highness Maharaja Gajsingh II of Marwar-Jodphur; Chris and Grace Meigher; Deborah Norville; actor Tim Blake Nelson; Hugh Warrender; designer Elizabeth Emanuel; Patricia Valesquez, singer Priyanka Chopra, Arshad Zakaria and many more.

Live auction items were a couture designer outfit by Elizabeth Emanuel; luxurious vacations at the Taj Hotels and Palaces in India and at Elite Island Resorts in the Caribbean; art by renowned artists such as Tarik Currimbhoy; Qadri from Sundaram Tagore Gallery; Kelli Bickman; Parris Jaru and Juan Bernal; a design consultation with interior designer Clodagh; an exclusive handbag from Samia Kamar of London; a designer pet carrier by Emre Erturk of Emre NY; jewelry by Jyoti Singhvi and photographs by Anders Corr and Daniel Aubry.

Phylicia Rashad, Barbara Tober, and Meera Gandhi

The Giving Back Foundation’s mission is education to empower and uplift young people, with a goal to alleviate poverty, illness and suffering, and to support the arts through philanthropy. The Giving Back Foundation, a 501 (3)(C) entity with headquarters in New York and operations in London, Hong Kong and New Delhi, was established in 2010 by Meera Gandhi.