An overflow

Emma and Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Sam Jackson, Arthur Blank, and John Krasinski at The American Institute for Stuttering (AIS) Gala.

An overflow crowd from the business, media and entertainment worlds attended The American Institute for Stuttering (AIS) Gala this past Monday evening to honor renowned business strategist Sander Flaum and acting icon Samuel L. Jackson with their Freeing Voices Saving Lives Award. The entire AIS Board of Directors, chaired by Nolan Russo, was on hand to salute the honorees.

Sir Harold Evans and Tina Brown were first to arrive on the Red Carpet but had to dash off to attend the 90th birthday bash in honor of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. The prominent crowd included communications guru Michael Sheehan, comedy writer Barry Blaustein, Fox Channel's John Stossel, comedian JD Lawrence, and Alan Rabinowitz, the "Indiana Jones of Wildlife Protection."

The radiant Emily Blunt, co-star of the upcoming Tom Cruise thriller All You Need Is Kill, was a charming Master of Ceremonies. Emily is on the Board of Directors for the American Institute for Stuttering.

Emily Blunt, Samuel L. Jackson, and Bruce Willis

Action movie star Bruce Willis made a surprise appearance to personally present the award to his good friend Samuel L. Jackson. Willis impressed the audience with his heartfelt and personal introduction of Jackson, highlighting his remarkable achievements. In his acceptance speech, Jackson said that stuttering caused him to be silent in school but after a few years he decided it was more productive to Fight Back which proved to be one of the evening's most memorable highlights.

Global business leader Tony Hooper introduced the award for Sander Flaum. He shared his personal challenges with stuttering and shared that his mother told him at a young age that he would have to work harder than anyone else because of his stutter but that he would be more successful. She was right.

Emily Blunt and AIS Clinical Director Heather Grossman with AIS client speakers

Arthur Blank, who overcame a childhood stutter to go on and co-found The Home Depot and become Owner and Chairman of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, was this year's Gala Co-Chair.

AIS is a pioneer in the treatment of stuttering and is one of the few non-profit organizations in the U.S. that provides assistance to people of all ages who stutter as well as to their families.

The Freeing Voices Saving Lives Award is presented to individuals who have overcome their stuttering disorders and later established themselves in rewarding and influential careers.

The Russo Family

Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, and Samuel L. Jackson

Sander Flaum and Tony Hooper

John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Tina Brown, and Sir Harold Evans

AIS Board Chair Nolan Russo Jr. Eve Tannery, Linda Russo, and Nolan Russo, Sr.

Sander and Mechele Flaum

Arthur Blank with Angie Macuga

Susan Jensen, David Rechardt, and friends

AIS Board Members Barry Blaustein and John Stoessel

Joe Moglia and Katrina Becker

Citi Joan Haffenreffer and friend

Michael and Riki Sheehan

Bruce Willis and Chris Madden

Jessica Alba, actress and author of The Honest Life: Living Naturally and True to You received the Champion for Children Award from the Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center (CEHC)at the Sixth Annual Greening Our Children Benefit Luncheon held late last month at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich. The award was presented by Philip J. Landrigan, MD, Director of the CEHC and Rhonda Sherwood, Founding Vice Chairman of the CEHC’s Executive Board and Founding Chair of the Greening Our Children Luncheon. It recognizes leaders whose vision, expertise, and energy significantly advance the CEHC’s mission and the children’s environmental health movement locally and globally. Ms. Alba recently published her book which reveals tips for making healthy living for her family fun, real and stylish.

Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, Honoree: Jessica Alba, and Rhonda Sherwood

In her acceptance speech, Ms. Alba spoke about her interest in making it easier for parents to buy safe products for their families as a reason for creating The Honest Company. Her dream and that of the company is to redefine the idea of the family brand. She applauded The Mount Sinai Medical Center and its CEHC for its commitment to studying childhood diseases and the impact of the environment on children’s lives. And she thanked Dr. Landrigan for turning his groundbreaking work into new laws to protect our children.

Last year’s award was presented to the late New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg.

Greening Our Children Chairs: Wendy Mindel Rubenstein, Rachel Weiss, Amy Moss Clark, Jeanine Behr Getz, David B. Murphy, Anne Ogilvy, Jill Brack, Maura Mandell, Lisa Ryan Boyle, and Annalise Stack

Wendy Mindel Rubinstein, Rachel Weiss, Amy Moss Clark, Jeanine Behr Getz, Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, Dr. Robert Wright, Anne Ogilvy, Jill Brack, Maura Mandell, Lisa Ryan Boyle, and Annalise Stack

The Children’s Environmental Health Center (CEHC) conducts groundbreaking research to identify the environmental causes of childhood disease. It translates these findings into solutions that protect children’s health — using research to educate families and change public policy.

Since its founding in 2007, philanthropic donations have allowed the CEHC to generate close to $9 million in grants, recruit world class scientists, and make important policy changes, including banning the chemical BPA from baby bottles, sippy cups, and cash receipt paper in Connecticut and Suffolk County, New York. www.CEHCenter.org

Honoree Jessica Alba

Susie Schnall, Rachel Weiss, and Judith Martin

Mount Sinai Greening Our Children Benefit Luncheon Men's Committee: Carl Zuckerberg, David Sherwood, Robert H. Getz, Reginald Brack, David F. Ogilvy, and Lloyd Mandell

Susan Saunders, Lisa Ryan Boyle, Rhonda Sherwood, and Kathy Arrix

Vivian Panou, Tony Polyviou, and Christine Kostantakis

Abigail Hendel Levy, Catherine Tompkins, and Meg McAuley Kaicher

Debbie Miron and Carrie Heffernan

Carrie Emery, Crissy Foster, Dana Getz, Lisa Fry, and Lindsay Durfee

Brittany Chamberlin, Jennifer Boyd, and Mizar Turdiu

Victoria Lunt and Anne Ogilvy

Carl and Courtnie Zuckerberg

Lisa Lawrence, Tanya Lapinski Murphy, and Patricia Toogood

Heather T. Jervis, Jennifer Brooks Clark, and Debi Flower

Jill Coyle and Eunice Burnett

Margo Crespin, Nicolas Rubinstein, and Wendy Mindel Rubinstein

Nancy Fazzinga and Ashley Allan

Betsy Evans and Natalie Tallis

Alexandra Bergstein, Jiyuen Lee, and Hyunja Kenner

Rachel Khanna, Kathy Cohen, Amy Kalafa, and Audrey Chan

Kathy Lozier, Jeanine Behr Getz, and Crashy Brown

Debbie Conolly, Jill Brack, and Toby Cone

Susan Khanna, Sharlene Cameron, and Anne Noel Dawson

Ellen Lautenberg

Pamela Frame

Nan Johnson, Allyson Cowan, and Cynthia Chang-Scanlan

Susie Schnall, Nancy Weiser, Jennifer Mann, and Elisabeth Wolfe

Jennifer Boyd, Gil Kernan, and Brittany Chamberlin

Susan Sleeper, Meredith Feurtado, Tia Mahaffy, and Ashley Allan

Jill Coyle, Carol Henderson, and Wendy Henderson

Margot Weinstein, Kim Sands, Debbie Needle, and Francessca Dunn

Bottom Row: Dr. Joel Forman, Robert H. Getz, David F. Ogilvy, Reginald Brack, and David Sherwood. Top Row: George Getz, John Hannon, Carl Zuckerberg, and Lloyd Mandell

The Fresh Air Fund recently held its annual "Salute to American Heroes" benefit at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers. Carla Hall, co-host of The Chew, hosted the evening, and along with actress Christina Ricci and New York Jets linebacker Muhammad Wilkerson, they honored New York Knick center Tyson Chandler and his wife Kimberly. The benefit dinner drew 800 guests from the corporate, fashion entertainment and sports industries, including New York Giants wide receiver and The Fresh Air Fund's 2012 Spring Benefit honoree Victor Cruz and fashion designer Thakoon. The evening raised over $1.1 million.

Fresh Air Fund's annual "Salute to American Heroes" at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers

The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. More than 9,000 New York City children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund vacation programs annually. Each summer, over 4,000 children visit volunteer host families in rural, suburban and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. 3,000 children also attend five Fresh Air camps in the summer on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. Close to 2,000 young people participate in year-round educational programs at camp and in New York City.

Join The Fresh Air Fund in its 137th summer of providing free summer experiences to New York City children! For more information on how you can help give a New York City child the gift of fresh air, visit www.freshair.org.

Katherine Ransdell and Misfit Dior

Victor Cruz

Jenny Morgenthau, William Lauder, and Carla Hall

Muhammad Wilkerson

Elaina Watley and Victor Cruz

Thakoon

Tyson and Kimberly Chandler

Linda Johnson, Leonard Lauder, and Dr. A. Joseph Rudick

Christina Ricci

Chris Mack and Sandi Farkas

Caryn Zucker, Steve Wolf, and William Lauder

Tropical storm Andrea didn't keep anyone away from the Black and White Extravaganza, hosted by The Children's Storefront's Parent Gala Committee on Friday, June 7. The event was held at the Riverside Church at 91 Claremont Avenue in Harlem, and featured dinner, dancing and a 50/50 Raffle.

Honorees for the evening were the Storefront's own Kathleen McCarthy-Skyranz and Magnolia Jones for their years of hard work and dedication to the school. Also honored were the Morgan Stanley Black Employee Networking Group, in recognition of their volunteer efforts and their continued commitment to our students.

Black and White Extravaganza at Riverside Church

The evening was more than a fundraiser, it was a chance for trustees, administration, faculty, parents, volunteers, supporters and alumni to celebrate the amazing work that The Children's Storefront does.

The Children's Storefront is an independent, tuition-free school in Harlem, providing a private school experience to students who would not otherwise get the opportunity. Located on East 129th Street, the school is a safe haven for 174 students from pre-K through 8th grade, teaching them core values which take them to some of the most prestigious high schools in the area. The Storefront also teaches the whole child, offering students experiences that encourage them to succeed in their lives away from the school.

Storefront Parent April Bobyn, Cheryl Goodwin-Pittman, Jim Anderson and Assistant Head of School Michael Williams

Ellie Lipschitz, Corporations and Foundations Director Mary Quinlan, Faculty member James Amodeo and Trustee Dorian Brown

Trustee Michael Stubbs with Franz Skryanz, Honoree Kathleen McCarthy-Skryanz, and Storefront Artist in Residence Matthias Leutrum

Storefront parent Al Gumbs, Head of School Wendy Reynoso, and Storefront parent Shareen Gumbs

Storefront Teacher Candace Cardwell, Roberta Cardwell, Storefront Teacher Joanna Horwitz

Trustee Michael Stubbs, Honoree Kathleen McCarthy-Skryanz, Chief Operations Officer Alex Castro, Caroline Castro

Director of H.S. Placement and Alumni Affairs Teneka Hardy and Assistant to the Head of School Leah Lescouflair

Storefront Alumni

Dean of Students Mel Chan with Storefront Faculty Joe Brenner and James Amodeo

Storefront Alum Oneshia Shade-Portlette, Trustee Elsie Aidinoff, Kathleen McKelvy and Trustee Michael Stubbs

Honorees from the Morgan Stanley Black Employees Networking Group Bianca Smith and Dana Hariton

Honoree Magnolia Jones with Trustee Christine LaSala

Storefront Development Associates Charles Sanchez and Paulette Clark

On June 4th Publicolor hosted Top Coat cocktail party at the healthy restaurant 4Food (286 Madison Avenue at 40th Street). A small group of young Publicolor advocates enjoyed cocktails, healthy hor d'oeuvres, music and dancing. The event celebrated the young professionals committee and their support that helps transform one NYC public school from dark and dreary to safe and vibrant.

Co-Chairs included Hannah Bronfman, Lilly Gunn, Emma Hall, Lexi Komisa, Kait Margraf, Brooke Savone, Kevin Walker. Jemme Aldridge and Nancy Twin headed up the Steering Committee.

Ruth Lande Shuman and Michael Shuman

Marc Stein and Lexie Komisar

4Food mission is to De-junk fast food™. They bring fast food that's fresh, delicious, and nutritious to all ages, lifestyles, incomes, and ethnicities. No fads, fillers, or anything artificial. They are revolutionizing counter culture, in real-time. Michael Shuman, who is a board member of Publicolor and the son of Ruth Shuman, is one of the founders of 4Food Restaurant.

David Townsend, Lily Gunn, and Rachel Barnett

Publicolor was founded in 1996 by Ruth Lande Shuman with the mission to counter inner-city public schools' alarming dropout rate by engaging disconnected youth in their education through a continuum of design- based programs and academic support. It directly addresses two of the root causes of poverty in America: the under-education of inner-city public school students and their lack of preparedness for the workforce. Unique to Publicolor—and central to its mission—is the beautification and revitalization of public and civic spaces through the hard work of Publicolor students and the power of paint, color, and design, and collaborations that engage students and the community as a whole. Publicolor students transform schools, playgrounds, and community centers from dreary and hopeless to vibrant and stimulating. Their work is the quickest, most cost-effective way of bringing in a culture of rigor, a new sense of safety, and a new sense of belonging—vital for productive teaching, learning, and personal growth.

Casey Benjamin, Michael Shuman, and George Motz

DJ Keili Hamilton

Mikayla Nissan, Ilan Nissan, and Ruth Lande Shuman

Garrett Brignoli, Megan Przywara, Stephanie Koscielski, and Joy Salazar

Mireya Rios

Vevlyn Wright, Elizabeth Jacoby, and Vicki Winters

Joelle Abi-Habib and Ashley Margraf

Joshwin Hall and Andre Grun

Kayla Jones and Ram Bhavsar

Marie Roy, George Motz, and Keili Hamilton

Megan Przywara, Stephanie Koscielski, and Joy Salazar

Ruth Lande Shuman and Eddie Sacasa

Sydney Siegel and Kevin Walker

Hunter College recently hosted a reception to celebrate the launch of its new art exhibit at the Marianne Boesky Gallery on East 64th Street in Manhattan. The gallery space was donated by Marianne Boesky and the exhibit features the work of the first two recipients of the C12 Emerging Artist Award, Nobutaka Aozaki and Alex Nunez. The artists' fellowships are funded by C12 Capital Management.

Guests at the reception were a who's who in the New York art world, including Carol and Arthur Goldberg, Barbara Tober, Susan Crile, exhibit curator Max Weintraub, Sarah Watson, Michael Cohn, Jane Power, Kathy and Doug Landy, Penny Aaron, Charles and Joan Lazarus, Barbara Schwartz, Laura Steltzner, Barry Schwabsky, Reiner Leist, Lisa Corinne Davis, Andrew Blum, Jenny Jaskey, Tatiana Pages, and Aniko Berman.

The C12 Emerging Artist Award is bestowed each semester on graduating students from Hunter College's highly competitive MFA in Studio Art program. The new exhibit will run until June 15, 2013.