Monday, February 22nd: Print and Television media outlets convened at Hudson Terrace for a press conference to learn about Jay William's charity of choice: Rising Stars Youth Foundation.

After the briefing with Jay Will, his lovely Mother and Director of Development/Gifting- Althea Bowman Williams, Director of Operations- Dan Gimpel, and Paul Savramis- Founder/Nation Executive Director, the doors opened up for a kick-off cocktail party for the Rising Stars Gala, which will take place April 27th at The New York Athletic Club.

Jay Williams credits and is grateful to his positive and loving upbringing. However, he also recognized at an early age that while he was blessed with a talent that would ultimately lead to great success, education and a supportive community is imperative.

The one thing I am certain of is that everyone needs to understand the value of education in pursuing their dreams. In addition, they have to make certain that they are surrounded by individuals who can share their passions, provide support and direction, teach them the life skills necessary to be successful on and off the playing field, and make a positive contribution to our society. -Jay Williams

Althea agrees. After experiencing her son go through the Rising Stars program, watching his professional success, and now hands-on giving back to Rising Stars, Ms. Williams stresses the importance of the fundamental intellectual strength that develops in children and the need to capture, encourage, and cultivate it early on. She explained that children join Rising Stars in 4th grade and continue through High School Graduation. Ms. Williams also boasted that the first Girls' Basketball Team at Rising Stars will commence this Spring.

In addition, Rising Stars and the New York Knicks have partnered up to promote sports and education in the community. NY Knicks will conduct a series of clinics based on "instructional basketball through a platform that emphasises education and positive family and social values..."

About: Rising Stars Youth Foundation extends to both the public and private educational and business sectors of our society. Rising Stars outreach programs provide an educational model that develops leadership skills, responsibility, and accountability that prepare youth to make the important choices and decisions regarding their personal lives, education and conduct. With the assistance of trained, qualified educators, coaches and volunteers, Rising Stars has had a remarkable success rate on the outcome of both at-risk youth, as well as those youth who have strong parental guidance.

For more information or to learn how you can help, please visit: Rising Stars Youth Foundation.

*photos by Jerritt Clark

*photo 1: Althea Bowman Williams and Jay Williams

*photo 2: Patrick Tully (PR/PR), Jay WIlliams, Guest, David O'Leary (Irish Tenor)

January 24th at 6:30pm, marked a very important moment for the advanced team dancers enrolled in programs created by the non-profit National Dance Institute (NDI), as they prepared to perform their one-night-only show- IMAGINE: A Celebration of John Lennon. This distinguished evening benefited the NDI and celebrated the 25th Anniversary of LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, which have partnered for over 20 years.

IMAGINE featured 100 kids from the NDI programs dancing joyfully to the lively choreography, which carried a message of hope and wish for peace- as the evening's title suggests. An interesting mix of The Beatles greatest hits made the happening a real crowd pleaser, which concluded with a standing ovation for the young talents. A slideshows of images of John Lennon, The Beatles, and news clippings were projected throughout the evening for an added nostalgia effect thanks to Yoko Ono and Bag One Arts.

Noteworthy Performances: Beatlemania Invades New York City, in which "The Beatles" were being chased by hysteric fans, and the Give Peace a Chance scene, inspired by the famous bed photograph, where "John Lennon" and "Yoko Ono" were carried off stage on a bed by a group of younger performers, who had to join forces to succeed in dragging the weight demonstrating the power of unity.

NYC Ballet Dancer, Jacques D’Ambroise, founded NDI in 1976 with the belief that children engaged in arts are motivated towards excellence. Professional artists, a blend of dance classes and performances integrated with music, literature and the visual arts, enable kids to work together while reaching for the best of their ability. Through their programs, NDI has contributed to over 2 million children participating and excelling in the art of dance. In 1995, Ellen Weinstein took over the artistic direction of the association.

The celebration continued, as children and adults gathered after the show for a reception.

IMAGINE was sponsored by scünci, a division of Conair® Corporation, who strongly believes in the NDI mission and gave away headbands at the event.

Support NDI and its young talents by saving the date for the organization's Annual Gala on April 19th 2010 at the Nokia Theatre, honoring James D. Stern- Director and Producer of the documentary Every Little Step and Award-Winning Producer of Broadway shows including Hairspray and The Producers.

On Thursday January 21st at Prohibition Restaurant and Bar on the UWS, over 150 people gathered to help raise money to buy a paralyzed inner city boy, Blake Hunt, a new wheelchair. Organized and hosted by Diana Kuen, with the help of friends including my fave PR man extraordinaire- Patrick Tully of PR/PR Public Relations who also emceed the event, proved to be an overwhelmingly successful evening.

In attendance were Giants Superbowl XXV MVP Ottis Anderson, Stephen Baker ‘The Touchdown Maker’ and CharityBuzz.com CEO Coppy Holzman. Celebrities that could not attend, still lent their support. Lorraine Bracco donated an ‘evening of dinner & billiards with Lorraine Bracco’, Jimmy Wahlberg donated a movie premier package for The Fighter, starring his brother Mark Wahlberg & Christian Bale. Penny Marshall donated her LA Clippers tickets. Various autographed items from celebrities such as: Madonna, Jim Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs, Justin Tuck, John McEnroe, and the late great- Mickey Mantle, just to name a few. James Nederlander stepped in to help the cause with the donation of tickets to his hit Broadway shows, Rock of Ages & Westside Story. Tickets to SNL were also up for bid! Monetary donations were also received from Rosie O’Donnell and Dyan Cannon.  

The evening was made complete by the masterful mixes spun by the world-famous DJ MADLINX, who graciously waived his fee for the evening. Absolut Vodka heeded the call and donated a considerable amount of Absolut to the event.

I believe the community responded so strongly to the cause because they were able to see first hand where every penny was going. Their contribution made a direct impact and changed a boy’s life. I knew we’d raise the money, so I went ahead and ordered the chair so we could surprise Blake with it at the event. It was a very special moment to witness. Ottis Anderson & Stephen Baker from the Giants did the honors. While the new chair is an amazing, life-changing gift, even more special is the memory he will have forever. ALL of those people came out for him! You can only imagine how much that impacts a nineteen year old kid who sits alone in a nursing home on Christmas. -Diana Kuen

The invitation to Cocktails for a Cause was sent out on January 6th. In 16 days, they raised over $30,000 for Blake’s new chair and education.

I asked Ms. Kuen to tell me about Blake and to help us understand why insurance wouldn't pay even a portion of a new wheelchair for Blake that he so desperately needed.

About Blake:  Blake was paralyzed during a high school football game his junior year. Blake now lives in an awful, state run facility with very little resources. Blake is alone. He has no family support or money. Please take a moment to read an article about Blake that ran in the New York Daily News in June 2008. It will give you a better understanding of Blake's struggle and why he's so inspirational. Despite what the article says, his father is not in his life, and his grandmother moved to Atlanta a couple of years ago. Click to read: NY Daily News Blake Hunt Article

How Diana Kuen Met Blake: I met Blake about 2-1/2 years ago through my close friend Penny Marshall. Penny's good friend was a victim of a hit and run accident in NYC and since, suffers from a traumatic brain injury. While Penny was visiting her friend at Mt. Sinai, she met Blake, as well as some other children on the floor. Penny asked me to come meet them too. Blake touched Penny's heart and even though Penny is based in LA, she loves him deeply and is a constant source of support in his life. Blake also stole my heart and has become like a little brother to me. We go to Mets games and I bring him dinner, clothes and money as often as I can. I’ve watched him turn from a depressed, confused boy to a happy, outgoing, fun, young man. He knows he can count on me. I just want to make his life better. I can’t change the world, but I can certainly make a difference.

Blake represents a population of young people that will fall through the cracks unnoticed, unless we take notice. Blake is now set with his new ultra-light wheelchair with ‘power-assist’ wheels. Our next step is college. We plan to visit Hunter College soon and he is very excited to attend in September. He wants to be a graphic designer and eventually move out on his own. Blake wants independence more than anything. He’s not looking for a handout, just a little help. 

Facts: The average age of a spinal cord injury victim is 16-30 yrs. old. The medical costs are staggering. The first year alone will cost close to $150,000. Out of the approximately 11,000 spinal cord injury victims a year, 90% are discharged into private homes, while the rest are sent to nursing homes or group homes.  While the facility Blake lives in is awful and depressing, at least he’s not on the street. Unfortunately, while he’s living in the facility, insurance will not pay for a new chair. He must use whatever they give him. He has nowhere else to go, so he would never get a new chair.

A couple months back, I took Blake to Mt. Sinai to be examined and measured for a new chair. The results were heartbreaking. His chair was old, heavy, too small and lacked back support, so it was actually making his condition worse!  As if being paralyzed wasn’t bad enough. A ‘curve’ had formed in his already broken spine, and his posture was painfully uneven. Pushing the heavy chair made his already crippled hands even more rigid. He needed a new chair without question. I called my friends to help and everyone jumped on board. 

Penny Marshall and I plan to start a foundation to help more kids like Blake. We already have a tax-deductible education fund set up for Blake, and the other kids, through the Renaissance Charitable Foundation under the name of Urban All-Stars. Once we form the 501-c3, we will transfer the funds and really get to work. We are changing lives, and in a sense, saving lives.  Blake is the first of many.  Blake will become the face of Urban All-Stars. He knows he’s been blessed with a few guardian angels and he wants to help others like him.

For more information or to make a contribution, please visit: http://www.supportblakehunt.com/

*Photos by: HELENA DE VENGOECHEA

*Photo 1: Blake Hunt

*Photo 2: Patrick Tully and Diana Kuen

*Photo 3: Blake being presented his new chair by Ottis Anderson & Stephen Baker

*Photo 4: Guests including Mr. and Mrs. Scott Lehmann

*Photo 5: Blake Hunt and Diana Kuen

*Photo 6: Guests

On January 19, 2010, over 150 young professionals gathered at SOB's, on Varick in Lower Manhattan, for American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s (JDC), the world’s largest Jewish humanitarian assistance organization, HELP HAITI NOW Benefit. The benefit, which raised more than $8,000, was organized over three days by young JDC volunteers to rally additional support in the wake of crisis.

Guests enjoyed food, drinks and entertainment by DJ Spike Ti from The Manhattan Haitian Dance Party. 100% of the proceeds from the evening benefited JDC’s Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund, which is providing immediate medical aid, equipment and food to victims of the earthquake and aftershocks in Haiti. The evening was hosted by: Daniel Eckstein, Jonathan Mael, Dina Kadisha, Joy Sisisky, Rachael Sage, Jamie Flesh and Doron Goldstein.

The benefit also kicked-off JDC’s HELP HAITI NOW Mobile Giving Campaign which allows mobile phone users to text “JDCHAITI” to 8-5-9-4-4 to donate $10. Havana Central and Linda and Jeremy Merrin are sponsoring JDC’s HELP HAITI NOW Mobile Giving Campaign and will match all mobile donations dollar for dollar up to $3,600.

To Make a Contribution:
Online: www.jdc.org
By Phone: 212-687-6200
By Mail: check payable to
JDC-Haiti Earthquake Relief
P.O. Box 530
132 East 43rd St
New York, NY, 10017
Text “JDCHAITI” to 8-5-9-4-4 to donate via mobile

Since 1914, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) has given global expression to the principle that all Jews are responsible for one another.  Working today in over 70 countries, JDC acts on behalf of North America’s Jewish communities and others to rescue Jews in danger, provide relief to those in distress, revitalize overseas Jewish communities and help Israel overcome the social challenges of its most vulnerable citizens.  JDC also provides non-sectarian emergency relief and long-term development assistance worldwide.  For more information, please log on to www.JDC.org.

*Photo 1: Dina Kadisha, Benefit Host, welcomes the crowd to JDC’s HELP HAITI NOW Benefit.
*Photo 2: Hadassah Rubinstein, Daniel Eckstein, Yael Diamond, Yoel Eis
*Photo 3: Leora Kadisha, Samuel Goldberg, Dina Kadisha, Joshua Stern

Thursday, January 7th, Autism Speaks hosted their 2nd Annual Autism Speaks to Young Professionals Winter Gala at Simyone Lounge. A fantastic crowd was brought together at the perfect venue in the Meatpacking District, to raise awareness of the disorder now affecting 1 in every 110 American children.

Co-chairs, Amanda Niederauer and Danny Ryan, drew more than 200 guests and raised over $30,000. Amongst the ambient lighting and fab DJ beats, the young professionals enjoyed various cocktails, Blue Moon, Coors Light, and wines by Montecastelli Selections. Guests definitely were not shy about snagging bites of the delicious hors d'ouerves, nor showing their support by sporting the signature Autism Speaks blue puzzle piece pin.

The gala was designed to bring together young professionals from all industries to help educate them about this complex neurobiological disorder. Autism inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges... The prevalence of autism increased 57 percent from 2002 to 2006. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.

Autism Speaks, though only founded 5 years ago, is the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization. The organization has committed over $131 million to research and developing innovative new resources for families through 2014.

This past October, I witnessed the strides the foundation has made first hand at the Autism Speaks to Wall Street benefit. It is one thing to write a check to a wonderful cause, but it is an inspiration to see what your help and contributions can accomplish.

Ticket sales from the successful 2nd Annual Young Professionals Gala sponsored by RBS and Alacrity Financial, will go toward funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism.

To learn more, please visit Autism Speaks.

For more candid picts, please click SBS Photos.

Avenue Antiques & Art at the Armory celebrated its opening night preview Wednesday, December 2nd, once again at the Park Avenue Armory on New York’s Upper East Side. This year’s show, which will be running and available to the public December 3rd through the 6th, kicked off it’s annual event with a private and highly exclusive cocktail party to benefit The American Cancer Society’s HOPE LODGE Jerome L. Greene Family Center (NYC).

Among those in support of last night’s cause and luxuries were New York’s social elite, Avenue Magazine Publisher Julie Dannenberg, benefit chairs Cricket Burns, Diana & Richard Feldman, Richard & Marcia Mishaan, and Pamela Gross. A special appearance by Gossip Girl’s Kelly Rutherford (Lilly van der Woodsen on the CW hit series) was also part of the evening’s festivities as she celebrated and previewed her December cover of New York Family Magazine.

With over 70 exhibitors lining the walls and filling the room at the lofty and extravagant Park Avenue Armory affair, one couldn’t help but envision a headline that reads, “Where the Upper East Side Does Happy Hour”.

Dealers specializing in antique English and American silver shared the space with an assortment of dealers showcasing contemporary and vintage jewelry, antique American, English, and Swedish furniture, American, Asian, and European porcelain, Russian antiques, antique flags and rugs, rare books, and other objets d’art. Designed for consumers and aficionados who regularly pursue the best of everything, last night’s Avenue Antiques & Art at the Armory was also catered toward those in the gift-giving mindset, with this year’s date running along side the holiday season. Richard Mishaan, one of New York’s most prominent interior designers, and Creative Director for the event stated, “A well-decorated home is filled with pieces of all periods and prices. It is the mix that creates excitement."

With several full bars and multiple hors d’oeuvre stations sprinkled throughout the venue as well, attendees, consumers, and exhibitors alike were in for a night of luxury and opulence that both satiated the eye and the pallet... and let’s not forget the wallet. 

Official Charity, HOPE LODGE NYC provides cancer patients and their loved ones a free, temporary place to stay when their best chance for effective treatment and hopeful recovery requires them to be in New York City.

Official Sponsors of this New-York-elite event were Brooks Brothers, The Pierre New York, Great Performances, Champagne Ayala, and Xavier Flouret wines.

Exhibitor’s List:  http://avenueshows.com/exhibitor-list.php
Website:  http://www.avenueshows.com/

*photo 1 courtesy of WireImage  (by Joe Kohen/WireImage): Kelly Rutherford

*photo 2 courtesy of Getty Images (by Amy Sussman/Getty Images): Kelly Rutherford and Julie Dannenberg

*photo 3 courtesy of Getty Images (by Amy Sussman/Getty Images): Kelly Rutherford

The designated New York City interior landmark Gustavino's, held the 30th Annual Dinner, Dance and Awards Ceremony last night for The Carter Burden Center for the Aging.

Supporters and friends gathered under the soaring granite arches and catalan vaulted tiled ceiling to celebrate Heroes for Hard Times: Strength & Resilience, to support The Carter Burden Center's continuous efforts to help older people of Manhattan's Upper East Side to live independently, safely and with dignity.

I had the pleasure of being introduced to William J. Dionne, Executive Director and Marlena Vaccaro, Director of Volunteer Services. Mr. Dionne was being presented with the Humanitarian Award for Staff during the awards ceremony which also honored; Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, Roger Altman, David V. Pomeranz, Regis High School, and Sally Bott.

Mr. Dionne and Ms. Vaccaro informed me of all the opportunities and programs The Center offers including; social activities, meals, adult day care, counseling, events, home services, and support groups. Through speaking with them, I learned one of the most important benefits of the center- choice. Mr. Dionne, who has worked at The Center for over 15 years, explained how the programs have altered since The Center was founded over 35 years ago. "That generation was known as the G.I. Generation. They were used to being told what to do and when to do it. Now, people like to have a choice of what to eat or what activities to do."

Ms. Vaccaro adamantly agrees, "They don't want to be put in a bracket just because they are of a certain age." They told me a lovely story about a visit Ms. Vaccaro had recently with a woman who is an artist, like Ms. Vaccaro (who also heads the making Art work studio and gallery). After perusing some of her art work, Ms. Vaccaro innocently proclaimed that she would like to be her friend. The women paused and said, "Wouldn't that be amazing? To make a new friend at my age."

That is exactly what The Carter Burden Center for the Aging offers; possibility, friendship, and independence.