A tale of two cities

At the Young Friends of the New-York Historical Society gala.

Paris and New York were the inspiration for last week’s Young Friends of the New-York Historical Society gala. More than 120 attended this festive event celebrating the cultural and historical connections shared by these two great cities. There was dancing, glamorous attire and cocktails. Proceeds will benefit the New-York Historical Society’s educational programming, which reaches thousands of New York City’s children every year.

Young Friends Board: Christy O'Keefe, Charles Zivancev, Lauren Liles, Darius Nemati, Marcy Lerner, Lauren Willig, Nancy Goslee, Aaron Sorkasian, Amy Biasotto, Hayley Van Antwerp, Kristin McGinnis, and Chris Turcotte.

Katie Braham, Sue Gilbert, James Gilbert, Susan Lago, Dan Lago, Hayley Van Antwerp, and Bragg Van Antwerp

The benefit chairs of the event were Lauren Liles and Hayley Van Antwerp. Committee members included Amy Biasotto, Nancy Dennery Goslee, Alison Harmelin, Joey Koch, Marcy Lerner, Christy O’Keefe, Kate Parker, Polly Ryerson, Aaron Sokasian, Christopher B. Turcotte, and Lauren Willig.

Pallavi (Bebe) Yalamanchili and Eric Wall

Jennifer Cavalier and James Brief

Aaron Sokasian and Stephanie Pasicov

Hayley Van Antwerp and Erin McDonald

Stella Ray and Shama Zehra

Christina Beckett, Cahterine Love, Jane Harper-Hicklin, and Jill Waddell

Andrew Friedman

Robert Buka and Katrina Boden

Dani Wandersee, Kay Shiels, and Linda Pratka

Amy Shugar and Nathalie Brochu

Chris Allison and Jeremy Salter

Aaron Sokasian, Kristin McGinnis, and Josh Malkin

Lauren Liles and Hayley Van Antwerp

Charles Zivancev, Chris Turcotte, Susan Turcotte, and friend

Susan Turcotte

The fifth annual Fountain House Symposium and Luncheon was held in the Grand Ballroom of The Pierre. They honored Senator Robert A. Antonioni and raised a record-breaking $1.15 million to fund mental health services.

The symposium, entitled, “Close to the Vest: Men and Depression,” featured a panel discussion of this taboo subject by three leaders in the fields of mental health research, treatment, advocacy, and public policy: Gerard Sanacora, MD, PhD; Dennis S. Charney, MD; Philip Burguières.

The event’s Chairs were Patricia Begley, Lorna Hyde Graev, Alexandra Herzan and Anne Mai. The Program Chair was Lynn Nicholas, PsyD., and Glenn Close and Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy were Honorary Chairs. Consuelo Mack served as Master of Ceremonies.


	Dr. Sanacora, Consuelo Mack, and Philip Burguieres

The afternoon began with a reception followed by the symposium. During lunch, panelists and chairs took to the stage to begin an inspiring and informative explanation of mental illness and depression in men. It also touched on the important and meaningful work of the 60-year-old award winning non-profit organization.
Fountain House provides housing, employment, wellness and educational services to men, women and young adults with major mental illness. Guests then viewed Lance’s Story, a film about the life of a current Fountain House member.

Fountain House has served over 16,000 men and women with severe mental illness. It is estimated that each year, depressive illnesses affect more than seven million men. Twice as many women as men report having depression but most researchers believe men do not recognize or report their illness. Men are also less likely than women to recognize the symptoms of depression, and therefore seek treatment far less often. Men are also more likely to self-medicate inappropriately with alcohol or non-prescription drugs. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in young men.

Vice Chairs and Committee members included Ann Barish, Brook and Roger Berlind, Sharon Handler and Ambassador John L. Loeb, Jr., Geoffrey R. Hoguet and Annalu Ponti, Richard Holbrooke, George and Mariana Kaufman, Kari and Carl Tiedemann, Denise Wohl, Jeff and Peggy Bewkes, Ambassador and Mrs. William McCormick Blair, Frances Beatty Adler and Allen Adler, Arthur G. Altschul, Jr., Barbara Bancroft, Dana Buchman, Barry Friedberg and Charlotte Moss, Marjorie Reed Gordon, Betsy and Victor Gotbaum, Fernanda W. Niven, Laura and Richard Parsons, Elizabeth T. Peabody, Pauline Pitt, Hilary Geary Ross, Fernanda Kellogg and Kirk Henckels, Patricia and John Rosenwald, Diana L. Taylor, Topsy Taylor, Louise Potter Ross, Sydney R. Shuman, Laurie M. Tisch, Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch.

The afternoon was also well attended: Lauren Bush, Alexia Hamm Ryan, Audrey Gruss, Gail Hilson, Jeanne Lawrence, Michèle Gerber Klein, Ann Rapp,Susan Fales-Hill, Kitty McKnight, Emilia Saint-Amand, Courtney Allinson Arnot, Wendy Breck, Lesley Stahl, Barbara de Portago, Marlene Hess, and Mark Gilbertson.

Anne Mai, Patricia Begley, Lynn Nicholas, Alexandra Herzan, and Lorna Hyde Graev

The 2008 Honoree, Senator Robert A. Antonioni, spoke candidly about his personal experience with depression, as well as his decision to be open about his illness during a moving and intimate acceptance speech of the 2008 Fountain House Humanitarian Award. He has been a vigorous advocate for better funding for mental health issues, including suicide prevention, medical services and mental health court systems. Antonioni said, “As an elected official, the challenge that every man or woman brings to that job, is to look for an issue to call his/her own to define themselves as a public figure. Nine years ago, my issue found me. On April 29th, 1999 my younger brother John committed suicide. What my family attributed to moodiness was in fact severe depression.”

Glenn Close followed with a moving and intimate statement in which she talked about the members of her family who have mental illness – her “heroes.” Close stated, “I’ve come to Fountain House and I feel like I’ve come home to this issue that connects us all. I have dedicated myself to do whatever I can for Fountain House and the whole issue of mental health in this country. I’m going to put my face on it, and I’m proud to have such heroes in my family.” Close discussed how she has volunteered at Fountain House and feels it’s her duty to continue both volunteer and advocacy work.

Lorna Hyde Graev ended the afternoon on a high note, announcing the $1.15 million that was raised, proving that the annual luncheon is gaining momentum and that individuals across the country recognize Fountain House as being at the forefront of ending stigma associated mental health. Ms. Graev was presented with a painting by an award-winning artist, a member of Fountain House, for her “passion, courage, and commitment to people living with mental illness.” For more information regarding Fountain House, please visit www.fountainhouse.org [3].

Sharon Handler and Susan Fales-Hill

Louise Potter Ross and Deeda Blair

Kenn Dudek and Glenn Close

Hilary Geary Ross

Lauren Bush

Michele Gerber Klein and Ann Rapp

Sydney Shuman

Alexia Hamm Ryan and Audrey Gruss

Kilean van Renssalaer, Lil Phillips, and Mark Gilbertson

Gail Hilson and Jeanne Lawrence

Alice Burguieres, Lauren Bush, Lorna Hyde Graev

Dr. Charney, Senator Antonioni, Dr. Sanacora, and Philip Burguieres

Senator Antonioni

Ann Barish and Denise Wohl

Kitty McKnight

This past Sunday, friends of The Latin American Health Foundation (LAHF) gathered at jewelry designer Aurora Lopez’s beautiful SoHo loft along with Maria Luisa Leviant and Sylvana Soto-Ward, who was joined by her fiancée, Adam Bloomingdale, to launch the charity in New York and announce plans for LAHF’s upcoming gala, “A Tropical Affair,” on June 5th at the Americas Society.

Guests were invited to sip champagne in the airy loft, furnished with items specially designed by Madeline Weinrib for ABC Carpet + Home to benefit LAHF. Designers Angel Sanchez and Christian Cota enjoyed the beautiful afternoon through the open windows, as Chairman Luisana Mendoza and committee member Jana Pasquel lounged on the colorful, springy pillows that were scattered on throws throughout the loft.

Among those attending were foundation co-chairs Jane Durrett, in addition to Berry Bloomingdale, Hayley Bloomingdale, Topper Mortimer, Pat Kerr, Whitney Wolfe, Elizabeth Jacoby, Samantha Thompson, Guillermo Rossel Jaffee, Valentina Van der Dys, Thomas de Neufville, John de Neufville, and Philippe and Ana Laffont.

The LAHF is committed to building healthy futures for children in Latin America by supporting and strengthening institutions that address basic health and educational concerns in Latin American communities. The foundation seeks to mobilize and incite Latin American interests within the US community for this purpose.

Andrea Gutierrez and Maria Luisa Mendoza

A. Lopez and Luisana Mendoza

Angel Sanchez

Christian Cota

Geraldine Paz, Mayra Hernandez, and KC Maury

Alina Pedroso and Eugenio Mendoza

Jane, Berry, and Hayley Bloomingdale

Andres Sucre, Danielle Perez, and Jose Sucre

Michel Herebia, Samantha Thompson, and Whitney Wolfe

John De Neufville, Amy Lemons, and Gonzalo Mendoza

A. Montermarrano and Jana Pasquel

John MacMurray and Janine Carendi

Maria Luisa Leviant

Sylvana Soto-Ward and Adam Durrett

Guillermo Rossel and Jonathan Marder

Vanessa Brown, Marisa Tomeson, and Janine Carendi

Luisana Mendoza and Jana Pasquel

Kamyar and Yasmine Nemazee

The scene at Aurora Lopez’s SoHo loft

The National Institute for Reproductive Health and NARAL Pro-Choice New York held its annual Champions of Choice Award Luncheon at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

This year they honored Lisa Perry for her lifelong commitment to women’s reproductive choice and her dedication to expanding participation within the pro-choice movement. The National Institute and NARAL New York are thrilled to have raised an impressive $1.4 million for this event.

The Champions of Choice Award is presented to an individual who has fearlessly and incomparably impacted the field of reproductive rights. Past honorees have included Glamour magazine Editor-in-Chief Cindi Lieve and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

Event Co-Chairs included Kelly Behun, Lorna Brett Howard, Jeffrey Kalinsky, Julie Leff, Margaret Munzer Loeb, Jane Och, Fiona Rudin, Diane Rosen, Ann Tenenbaum, Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, Michael Wolkowitz and Natasha Ziff. Also in attendance were Isaac Mizrahi, Leslie Harwood, Beth Rudin DeWoody, and Laurie Tisch.