2016 CancerCare Gala Raises $1 Million

Event Honored Bloomingdale’s Frank Doroff and Bristol-Myers Squibb

April 21, 2016 – New York, NY – CancerCare, the leading national nonprofit organization providing free, professional support services to anyone affected by cancer, raised $1,000,000 at its annual Gala, which took place yesterday at Cipriani 42nd Street. More than 500 members of New York City’s philanthropic, fashion and health care communities attended the event, and honored the contributors who make it possible for people with cancer and their families to benefit from CancerCare’s services, including counseling, educational workshops and publications, childcare, transportation to treatment, and financial assistance.

Frank Doroff, Vice Chairman, Bloomingdale’s was honored with the 2016 Help and Hope Award for his commitment to supporting CancerCare’s mission. Bloomingdale’s Chairman and CEO Tony Spring presented the award to Doroff, acknowledging his decades of dedication to the organization, and highlighting his “unwavering commitment to the people who have sought CancerCare’s support.”

Bloomingdale’s Chairman and CEO Tony Spring presenting Frank Doroff, Vice Chairman, Bloomingdale’s with the 2016 Help and Hope Award

Upon receiving the award, Mr. Doroff, who lost his wife, Kate, to cancer at just 49 years old in 1993, shared “I was very lucky to have the support of my family and friends, as well as my Bloomingdale’s family, and often think about others dealing with cancer who do not have this same level of support and resources. I appreciate that CancerCare is there for them in so many ways, during such a difficult time for families and loved ones.”

CancerCare CEO Patricia J. Goldsmith announced a generous $100,000 gift made by Dorothy Schachne, CancerCare Board of Trustees member, in memory of her husband, David.

CancerCare CEO Patricia J. Goldsmith and Dorothy Schachne, CancerCare Board of Trustees member, who made a generous $100,000 gift in memory of her husband, David

Goldsmith proceeded to honor Bristol-Myers Squibb with the 2016 Partnership Award for the company’s dedication to helping people living with the disease, and acknowledged the vital role the company played in transforming CancerCare from a community organization to an incredible national resource over the past 73 years. Teresa Bitetti, Senior Vice President, US Oncology, Bristol-Myers Squibb accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

At the encouragement of Event Chairs Annette and Andrew Pizzo, attendees also offered enthusiastic applause for the CancerCare social workers who serve people with cancer and their families each day, more than a dozen of whom were in attendance. One of the most moving speakers of the evening was Michael Hahn, who lost his wife Karissa to cancer and was joined on stage by his 6-year old son Ryan.  Together, they shared how CancerCare’s Healing Hearts Family Bereavement Camp helped both of them, along with Ryan’s 9-year old brother Ethan, learn how to joyously celebrate Karissa’s life and connect with other families who were experiencing the same challenges.  Michael reinforced to attendees how important this was to his family, saying “You made a difference in our lives.”

 

Event Co-chairs Annette and Andrew Pizzo; Honoree Frank Doroff, Vice Chairman Bloomingdale’s; Ryan Hahn and dad Michael Hahn, who shared how they were helped by CancerCare; CancerCare CEO Patricia J. Goldsmith, and Michael Parisi, President, CancerCare Board of Trustees pose at the 2016 CancerCare Gala

Led by Sotheby’s auctioneer Hugh Hildesley, the live and silent auctions featured more than 100 selections of fine wines, exquisite dinners, luxury items, once-in-a-lifetime experiences and vacation getaways. These included a basketball signed by all 11 legendary members of the 1992 Gold Medal Men’s Olympic Basketball Team, tickets to the smash Broadway hit “Hamilton” with memorabilia signed by cast member and cancer survivor Javier Munoz, and two 5-course private dinners for 15 guests prepared by Chef Pasquale Martinelli. Auction Co-Chairs were Marsha Palanci & Edward Lauber.

CancerCare Gala 2016 Committee Members include Michael Baraldi, Carolyn Bernstein, John Brierty, Renata and Flavio Figueiredo, Susan and Paul Friedman, Carmen Garcia, Joshua Goldsmith, Jason Greenstone, Renee Nicholas, Elizabeth Ostow, Lori and Michael Parisi,  Heather and Michael Schechter, Cornelia and Rob Spring, Michael Tumminia, Susan Smirnoff and Kirk Zachary, Anna and Burt Zweigenhaft.

Chef Pasquale Martinelli, founder of WarmPalate.com, who donated two dinners to the CancerCare Gala Live Auction which raised $36,000

Cipriani 42nd Street is set up in style for the 2016 CancerCare Gala

 

Supporters John and Gerry Gentile, CancerCare CEO Patricia J. Goldsmith and Michael Parisi, President, CancerCare Board of Trustees

Cornelia Spring ,Board of Trustees member, Chef Pasquale Martinelli, and Rob Spring

About CancerCare

Founded in 1944, CancerCare is the leading national organization providing free, professional support services and information to help people manage the emotional, practical and financial challenges of cancer. Our comprehensive services include counseling and support groups over the phone, online and in-person, educational workshops, publications and financial and co-payment assistance. All CancerCare services are provided by oncology social workers and world-leading cancer experts. Headquartered in New York, NY, CancerCare maintains three additional locations in Norwalk, CT, Ridgewood, NJ and Syosset, NY.

To learn more, visit http://www.cancercare.org or call 800-813-HOPE (4673).

The Beauty of a Magnificent Memory… and More About a French Manicure

 By Dr. Shelley Pazer, Director of Learning & Development,
The Learning Rx, Jericho, New York

One of the most dazzling things you can show off is not the latest Sacai Luck leather bomber. Remembering someone’s name and what they last told you is one of the most beautiful things a person will notice about you. If you think you’re stuck with a weak memory – think again. Memory is just one of the many cognitive skills that can be trained, strengthened and enhanced with the right type of mental exercises.

Many memory-building techniques rely on mnemonics, or learning techniques that use things that are easy to remember to represent things that are harder to remember. The human brain more easily recalls information that is personal, emotional or sensual, so assign strong multi-sensory associations to help remember things that are otherwise mundane.

Here’s an example of how this technique could work for a grocery list. Start with four items: bacon, toilet paper, eggs and lettuce. To link them in a memorable way, picture a sizzling strip of dancing blue bacon joyfully dripping hot grease onto the next item on your list – toilet paper. The animated toilet paper roll is in agony. He’s burned all the way through and is desperately trying to patch himself up with egg whites. Stuck in the gooey mess of broken shells is an angry head of lettuce who’s trying to escape before her leaves wilt. If you can’t quite hold on to that image – build upon it with silly details until you can. Make the lettuce a Southern Belle with a nasal twang who’s irate because her new French Manicure is covered in egg yolks.

Brrrrr… 3 Ways to Pamper Yourself on Extremely Cold Winter Days

The bitter cold winter can be tough on our looks, so here are 3 tips to keep warm and look hot!

1. Make sure your hands are dry from the cold winter with your favorite pair of gloves. We personally like leather gloves; they are chic and protect hands beautifully- especially when they are lined.  Remember to apply hand moisturizer a few minutes before donning a good pair. Keep it close by and reapply often.

2. Lips are always exposed to the elements so we need to avoid the dry, flaky consequences of leaving them bare. Make sure to re-apply lipstick, and use chap stick, lip gloss, or any lip balm at all other times to create a protective layer.  Soft kissable lips are possible all year round if you take care of them!

3. Cold, grey dreary days are depressing, so try to occasionally head to the spa or salon. Make sure you take time to pamper yourself.  Get a haircut, manicure, pedicure, back massage. Any of these are wonderful pick-me-ups, and come with the bonus of lovely lasting effects. Hang in there ladies!!

4 New Fashion Events in NYC: Siman Doonan, Hack Day 2012, FFF Fashion Week & More!

Just posted on the Fashion Societe Directory…. Check them out to be up on the latest in what’s around town!

Wilhelmina Open Call for W Runway Division Tuesday, June 12 12:00p to 3:00p

at Wilhelmina Models Inc., New York, NY

NYC Fashion Hack Day 2012 Saturday, June 16 8:00a

at Gilt Groupe Hq, New York, NY

Click here to read them all!

Fighting Lupus is the Fashion for May Lupus Awareness Month

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More than 300 New York’s leading “bag” ladies gathered April 25th at the fourth and largest annual S.L.E. Lupus Foundation’s New York Bag Ladies Luncheon in NYC.  The gala raised $250,000 for those struggling with the devastating disease lupus. Kicking off May Lupus Awareness Month, the event included a silent auction of 140 donated designer and celebrity handbags.

Two outstanding women were honored for their long-time support of the work of the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation: Matilda Raffa Cuomo, Former First Lady of New York State, Founder and Chair of Mentoring USA National/International and author of the new book The Person Who Changed My Life, and Mary E. Belle, President, Licensing at The Jones Group which includes iconic lifestyle brands such as Anne Klein, Jones New York and Nine West.

Serving as Mistress of Ceremonies, opera legend and S.L.E. Lupus Foundation Board member Jessye Norman honored Mary Belle. Introduced by good friend and S.L.E. Lupus Foundation Board President Richard DeScherer, Governor Mario Cuomo had the special privilege of presenting his wife with her award.

Board member Jennie DeScherer presented the most moving honor of the afternoon. In memory of the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation’s co-founder who died this month at nearly 102, the Foundation’s New Investigator Grant Program will be named: The Morrie Golick New Investigator Awards in Lupus.

Who’s Who of Attendees Touched by People with Lupus
In addition to Governor Cuomo, several members of their family including Dr. Margaret Cuomo, Maria Cuomo Cole and Cristina Greeven Cuomo were among the audience recognizing Matilda’s contributions. Additional S.L.E. Lupus Foundation Board members in attendance include Founder and Vice President Susan Golick; Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg, wife of Senator Frank Lautenberg and Michelle Gadsden-Williams, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Credit Suisse. Also from the Foundation’s Board were Fern Tessler; Betsey Selkowitz; Carol Weisman and Kate Kelly.

Working Miracles
The event turned generously donated designer and celebrity handbags into pocket-books full of miracles; a silent auction raised funding for the science needed to find a cure for lupus as well as the necessary services to help patients live with the disease day-to-day.

“The funds raised today literally work miracles for those faced with lupus,” said Margaret Dowd, Executive Director, S.L.E. Lupus Foundation. Dowd also announced that the 2012 Life Without Lupus Gala will be held November 19 and will honor the very active Foundation Board member and noted philanthropist Fern Tessler.

About Lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or lupus, is a chronic, complex and serious autoimmune disease affecting more than 1.5 million Americans. In lupus, the immune system, which is designed to protect against infection, creates antibodies that attack the body’s own tissues and organs — the kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, blood, skin, and joints. Lupus is difficult to diagnose, difficult to treat, and a leading cause of premature cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and stroke among young women.

The Center for the Women of NY celebrated its 25th anniversary with a Gala Luncheon

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A beautiful afternoon was spent Saturday April 28th at the Douglaston Manor and Golf Club Douglaston, NY. I met a terrific group of caring people who support this organization filled with hard-working volunteers who are dedicated to women achieving full equality in society.

This their 25th year’s honorees include:
Woman of Distinction, Matilda Raffa Cuomo, Former First Lady of New York State
Community Service Award, Hon. Catherine Nolan, NYS Assemblywoman, Chair of Education Committee
Hon. Elizabeth Crowley, New York State Councilwoman
Hon. Catherine Glover, Esq., NYS Democratic State Committeewomen
Sasha Greene, LMSW, Director, UFT Retiree Social Services
Hon. Grace Meng, New York State Assemblywoman
Hon. Evelyn Roth, Nassau County Commissioner for the Aging
Sue Sutera, Physical Ed. Coach, Jamaica High School

CWNY “Good Guy” Awards are for men who support their efforts and share their goal of achieving equal rights for women:
Hon. Edward C. Braunstein, New York State Assemblyman
Alan Kaufman, Treasurer, CEO, Melrose Credit Union
Fred Papert, President, The 42nd Street Development Corp.
Gregory Clague, CLTC, LUTCF, Financial Services Executive, MetLife

The Center under the guidance from Ann Jawin, has shown that women working together can be an effective force. We are a voluntary, non-profit organization existing primarily on dues from our members and on the volunteer efforts of business, professional and community women. The Celebration of “Women in Leadership” Awards honors women of diverse backgrounds who are committed to women’s rights and have made significant contributions to our community.

What Spring Shoe Sizzles for What Style?

Running on with our theme of how the shoes make the man (or woman), it’s essential to know what silhouettes go with what shoes. For example, pencil skits look fantastic with a stiletto and the newest stilettos with the covered platform are fantastic for work.

Fashion Societe loves this look for the office.

These shoes also look great with slim-fitting ankle-length pants.

Ballet flats are still getting tons of traction in the fashion world, but it’s important to remember that flats can make thick calves look thicker, so we recommend wearing them with pants, just like timeless Audrey Hepburn did in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

And now that warmer weather is upon us, don’t forget about cork wedges, which go great with everything, from skirts to shorts and every length pants in between!

Belly Up To The Bar, by Samantha von Sperling of Poished Social Image Consultants

Fabian Perez, 3 Girls in Bar Painting

One of life’s simple pleasures is to belly up to the bar, tell the bartender what you’re thirsty for and drink in a little ambiance, collect your thoughts, escape from the rain,escape from home, a glass of courage, for all the reasons we go to bars and all the kinds of bars we go to, bars are a wonderful institution.

One of the best parts about being at a bar is that it’s one of the last places left where we get to have face to face conversations with people. A still thriving arena for human social interaction. The three martini lunch, a collective viewing of a big game, meeting point for a blind date, chance encounter, therapy session with the bartender, there are millions of excuses to go for a drink. Bars are an oasis of socialization.

It is because bars are vital to our social survival, let’s consider some of the do’s and don’ts that keep the good cheer going-

Do:

-Be polite

-Tip your bartender well

-When out with friends take turns buying rounds of drinks

-Give a busy bartender a down payment on the nights tip so they will take good care of     you with the unspoken promise of a good tip later.

-put your cell phone on vibrate.

-Give a lady a seat

-Know your limit

-Have your money ready when ordering

-Set up a tab if you are going to be ordering more than one drink.

-Stay home if you’re a belligerent drunk

-The person intent on paying should do the ordering

-When in a group order all your drinks together

Don’t:

-Don’t be rude to the Bartender

-Don’t put your sunglasses on the bar (#1 cause of lost pairs)

-Don’t order if you are not the one paying

-Don’t be cheap- eeew!

-Don’t leave your drink unattended, unfortunately these days leaving your drink unattended can be dangerous

-Don’t slurp, or play with your ice. Manners count here too!

-Don’t bang on the bar, would you do that at your mother’s table?

-Don’t talk on your cell phone at the bar. Take it outside.

-Don’t get offended if you get carded. Take it as a compliment darlings.

(it could mean that all the alcohol you have been drinking is keeping you remarkably well preserved)

-Don’t beg for a drink after last call, it’s undignified and unfair to the bartender who deserves to go home after a long night of serving you. The bar can lose their license if they serve you after hours.

Don’t be loud, it’s rude.

We have had a long standing penchant for upscale hotel bars.  The decor, the level of service, the elaborate nut mix and soft background noise with the patrons that are themselves mixed nuts both locally grown and imported make for interesting people watching and occasionally a verbal exchange between people from different universes as opposed to on line “chat”.

Access to this kind of interaction does not require a computer, reservations or being on the velvet rope’s “list”. Just make yourself presentable, take your wallet and go explore any one of the cities wealth of watering holes. Take in another scene, have an expertly mixed cocktail, and open yourself up to the experience at one of last places in our society where we can just meet and have a chat with some cheer.

Have a happy and safe St. Patrick’s Day. We’re all Irish on the 17th apparently.

Hospitality and Linguistics, by Samantha von Sperling of Polished Social Image Consultants

New York is the great social experiment of the planet. We are the example of how eight million people from all over can share this small piece of real estate peacefully.  Here we are, melting pot of the universe.  Walk down the street, hop the train, attend a function at the UN and count the number of languages you hear.

As the world becomes smaller and our  communication technology like SKYPE has made things we once only watched on cartoons like the Jetsons a reality.   More than ever before in the history of the world, just to be able to have a chance to compete and function on an international level we must speak at least three languages.  This is a new concept for most Americans who’s Americentric education has given us a worldwide reputation for being bad tourists.  We have always imposed that everyone else learns to speak English for our benefit.  That no longer flies.  Today, most decent schools around the world do their best to produce generations of people that can compete in the global market place by speaking three or more languages.  The Swiss for example are known for this benefit to their educational system.

Protocol dictates that at gatherings, the  chosen language be the one understood by the majority.  On the other hand, if one person is left out, the polite thing to do is to translate from time to time, so everyone is included in the conversation.

Recently I found myself in South America where I could practice my French. Like, Americans, Francophiles tend to flock together no matter where they are in the world, and so, I found myself at the most sophisticated lunch with my family, where, although everyone at the table spoke three languages in common, French was the language at the table. French is technically my second language but in practice my third.  My command of Spanish is far greater than my French, which although fully comprehensible, is not eloquent.  So ashamed by my poor handle of my mother’s tongue, I reserve it for when I must.  Whereas with Spanish I feel totally comfortable from habitual use and forgiveness by others for my small grammatical errors.

Immediately, I was transported back to the family reunions of my childhood where meals consisted of smiling politely, dying to be included, yet being seen but not heard.  Following the topics of  Swiss private banking and the price of vacation properties in the south of France, or Florida versus Colombia were not hard to follow, just simply out of my realm.

It makes one appreciate the language of pets, where depending on the intonation, a woof, growl, meow or purr is universal…

Communication is the key to everything.  If you find yourself in a situation where someone is not communicating with you I suggest making the effort to find out why. If you are in a group, try to make sure everyone is included so nobody feels ignored, especially if you are the host.  When you ignore someone’s presence you minimize their existence. Ultimately we are our words, it’s what makes us human: humorous, interesting, boring, a prick, or just kind.

We are now 9 billion people that share this finite space called earth.  We had better start communicating…

Welcome to January 2012 at Fashion Societe

The crazy 1st week of 2012 is over, and!
Fashion Societe has a spanking new venue to hold its workshops…
got tapped to be featured on an episode of Jerseylicious… and
we had a ton of fun snagging designer discounts at the first Makeover on the Go shopping trip of the year.

Oy but why should we stop there? It’s time to roll out our Monthly Fashion Themes, and with this being usually the chilliest month- here we go with our debut of January: Cold Weather Clothes!

Stay tuned for facts, figures and anything else warm and interesting about how we dress and prepare for cold weather.