Spring kickoffs

Judy Sonett, Michael Fosina, Linda Fosina, Nancy Sonett, and Josh Sonett

This past Tuesday at the Waldorf Astoria, New York-Presbyterian Hospital launched its campaign for Celebrating the Future ...

John J. Mack, David H. Koch, and Dr. Steven J. Corwin

Charlotte Ford and Dr. Steven J. Corwin

Heather McNamara

Ellen Corwin, Dr. Steven J. Corwin, and Phyllis Mailman

Laura Forese

Dr. Robert Kelly and Anna Kelly

Joel Bell, Marife Hernandez, Ellen Corwin, and Dr. Steven J. Corwin

Steph Perry

Lucille Coleman and Camilla Deja

David H. Koch, Julie Koch, Katherine Farley, and Jerry Speyer

Anthony Dawson and Consuelo Prol

David Feinberg and Marla Feinberg

Myrna Manners, John J. Mack, and Christy Mack

Dr. Steven J. Corwin, Ellen Corwin, David H. Koch, Nancy Wexler, and Herbert Pardes

Jaclyn Mucaria

Joseph Board and Judy Sonett

Joe Tiralosi, Janet Tiralosi, Joe Tiralosi, and Christina Tiralosi

Michael Fosina and Linda Fosina

Debra Romanoff and Richard Romanoff

Ron Crystal, Karen Crystal, Zez Rosenwaks, Richard Granstein, and Philip Stieg

Dr. Sheldon Feldman and Dr. Margaret Chen

Robert Lebuhn and Elaine Lebuhn

Iris Cantor

Robin Goland and Joseph Tenenbaum

Christy Mack, Ken Forde, and K. Forde

Fabrizio Michelassi and Caren Heller

Sarah Lesseradins

Gerald Modell, Nancy Wexler, Paula Modell, and Herbert Pardes

Lee Goldman and Jill Goldman

Ronda Benson and Mitchell Benson

Roger Altman, Jurate Kazickman, Bruce Lerman, and Karen Lerman

JoAnn Slattery and Peter Deutsch

Marie Wellshinger and Sandip Kapur

Also on Tuesday evening in Michael's Garden Room, the Nature Conservancy Kicked off Earth Month.

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.

Elizabeth Ward, Geof Rochester, and Teresa Duran

Diana Glassman and Geof Rochester

Marissa Freeman and Pamela Pagan

Kaitlin Moore, Lauren Miura, Rachel Winters, Jackson Izzo, and Sara McGuinness

Reina Miller, Ilyssa Somer, and Diane Stefani

Robin Dorian and Richard Roth

Ken Silverman and Jean Silverman

Dave Kiyak, Melissa Abramson, Teresa Duran, and Curtis Runyan

Ana Real, Jennifer Siebens, and Amy Burkholder

Jennifer Rowe Hearst and Amy Burkholder

Jen Fruzzeti and Thomas Farley

Chase Bodine, Emilia Wiles, Mark Hudspeth, Rachel Winters, and Jeremy Hurewitz

Mariam Asmar and Jennifer Tuft

Dee-Dee Pincott, Elizabeth Ward, and John Smith

Zeke Freeman and Sal Cataldi

Lea Giaquinto and Reina Miller

Melissa Abramson, Dave Kiyak, Elizabeth Ward, and Lauren Miura

American Friends of British Art recently celebrated its 10th anniversary at its annual Lecture & Luncheon held at the Colony Hotel in Palm Beach.

The guest speaker was Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, the international interior designer, author, (and eldest daughter of the 11th Duke of Marlborough).

The charity’s founder Dr. Michael Ridgdill introduced Lady Henrietta, who provided a visual presentation titled “The Life of the House; How Rooms Evolve,” which included photos and stories about her childhood home Blenheim Palace.

Dr. Michael Ridgdill, Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, and Hilary Geary Ross

Lady Henrietta’s talk was followed by a book signing. American Friends of British Art is a 501c3 nonprofit charity dedicated to funding the restoration and preservation of historic art and architecture in Great Britain. More information on the charity and its activities can be found on their website at www.Americanfriendsofbritishart.com.

Event sponsors included William R. Eubanks Interior Design, Fernando Wong Outdoor Living Design, Smith and Moore Architects, Jennifer Garrigues Interiors, andFine Art Connoisseur Magazine.

Tim Johnson, Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, Fernando Wong

Among those attending were Hope Alswang, Veronica Atkins, Bill and Maura Benjamin, Princess Sybil de Bourbon-Parme, Carolyn Buckley, John Cafaro, Senator Capri Cafaro, Terry and Linda Collier, Dr. Angela Culveyhouse, William Eubanks, Anne Fairfax and Richard Sammons, Leta Austin Foster, Jennifer Garrigues, Dr. Julian Hudson, Timothy Johnson, Daniel and Shanna Kahan, Brantley Knowles, Donna Long, Ross Meltzer, Mary Agnes Quinn, Virginia Oatley Berges, Hilary Geary Ross, Betsy and Wally Turner, Susan Wanamaker Leas, and Fernando Wong.

Terry and Linda Collier

Mark Arena and Jason Arbuckle

Tony Beyer, Shanna Kahan, and Daniel Kahan

Ashley Copeland and Veronica Atkins

Carolyn Buckley and William Eubanks

Maura and Bill Benjamin

Last Thursday, designer Francesca Rappaport and her son marketing guru Errol Rappaport welcomed friends and committee members of the upcoming National Meningitis Association Give Kids a Shot Gala to an elegant cocktail reception in their art and antique filled aerie decorated by dear friend fashion icon Iris Apfel on Central Park South, with its expansive, breathtaking views of park as the backdrop.

Errol has long been a driving force behind the gala as his close friend GarySpringerands son Nick had been stricken by the vaccine preventable disease 14 years ago which cost him his legs and arms. Despite that trauma, Nick went on to captain the Para Olympic Gold Med winning rugby team at the Olympics in China. Both Gary and publisher Suzanna Bowling were effusive in their thanks to the Rappaports for opening their home for the cause.

Gary Springer pays homage to Judy Gilbert

Rod and Judy Gilbert, Errol Rappaport, and Francesca Rappaport

The evening had a delightful Russian tilt to it with rare Orovela cabernets from the country of Georgia and veal stuffed pastries and mushrooms among the bountiful hors d'oeuvres.

Among the many committee members of the Gala which takes place on April 22 at the New York Athletic Club were NHL great Rod Gilbert and his wife Judy, Katherine and Les Schecter, Click Models founder Frances Grill and her daughter Stephanie, designer Sonja Caprone, interior designer Lutfi Yilmaz, actor, director and filmmaker Anna Wilding with her beau restoration architect James Sved, Thomas McGovern, Howard Rosen, Gerri and Ron Pufall, Ulrika andRedand Nilsson and Mark Pfister, Richard Thomas, Rita Crosby, Heather Randall , Sara Herbert Galloway , Chau-Ciang Thi Nguyen, Thomas Cook, David Hryck, Kevin McGovern , Cindy Marinangel, Erica Lacombe, Tammy Eristavi and Alexander Francois Oppenheimer, Susan James, Craig P. Stone, Gordon Von Brook, actress Jaye Rosenberg and Joseph Marvullo and Kathy Kaye Herman.

Gerri and Ron Pufall, Rod and Judy Gilbert, and Errol Rappaport

Francesca and her late husband fashion manufacturer, designer and painter David Rappaport founded Damon Knitwear and the David Rappaport Tie Collections that were featured in Barney's and Saks Fifth Avenue. Her donation of a collection of his signature Italian silk ties sparked others to donate gifts for the Gala and auction. Famed fashion photographer Robert Farber, whose work is currently the subject of a 40-year retrospective at the Museum of Dubrovnik, donated one of his iconic images; arts publicists Edward Callaghan and John Wegorzewski contributed VIP passes to the upcoming Art Southampton. Thomas Cook offered a week's stay for 12 at the spectacular Cliffside villa Casa Iguana in Acapulco and Tamara Eristavi donated Premiere Orovela Wines from Georgia.

As it was both Errol's and Judy Gilbert's birthday, actress Nora Davis sang several of their tunes to the pair, ending with a melt your heart rendition of "Somewhere, Over the Rainbow." Artist and writer Erica Lacombe, who catered the event, presented Errol with a charcoal portrait of him and his beloved mother which followed by a lusty round of "Happy Birthday" to the celebrants.

Suzanna Bowling displays the famous Rappaport Ties

National Meningitis Association annual Give Kids a Shot Gala takes place at the New York Athletic Club on Monday, April 22, 2013. Cocktails and Silent Auction begin at 7:00 PM followed by dinner and the NMA Awards. Master of Ceremonies is iconic actor Richard Thomas, a longtime supporter of NMA and winner of the organization's Nancy Ford Springer Inspiration Award.

Honorary Chairs are Ambassador John L. Loeb, Jr. and Para-Olympic Gold Medalist Nick Springer; Gala Chairs Lenore Cooney, Cooney/Waters Group, Sara Herbert-Galloway and Gary Springer, Springer Associates PR; Vice Chairs, Joanna Goldenstein, KPMG, LLP; Barry J. Klarberg Monarch Wealth and Business Management.: Ulrika andRedand Nilsson, Redcircle International, Inc. and Heike M. Vogel, Arent Fox LLP; Auction Chairs, Matt Klarberg, Monarch Wealth and Business Management and Errol Rappaport.

Tamara Eristavi, Francesca Rappaport, Erica Lacombe, and Errol Rappaport

2013 Honorees are William Schaffner, M.D., Health Achievement Award; Cindy Krejny, Moms on Meningitis Award; Massachusetts State Senator Jack Hart, Nancy Ford Springer Inspiration Award; Samantha and Kyle Busch, The Kyle Busch Foundation, Community Leadership Award.

For more information visit www.nmaus.org