The Animal Medical Center Junior Committee, from left, Alieda Keevil, Co-chair Christina Floyd, Kris Huegel, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Co-chair Abigail Lash, Kristin Fisher Allen, and Dr. Ann Hohenhaus.

About 150 children and their parents recently attended “Don’t Be Ruff: Kids and Pets Play It Safe,” an interactive event about dog bite prevention held by the Animal Medical Center Junior Committee at Asphalt Green in Manhattan. The event coincided with National Dog Bite Prevention Week -- May 17 through 23, sponsored by The American Veterinary Medical Association, The United States Postal Service, and The Center for Disease Control. LeeLee Keevil with Clifford the Big Red Dog Dr. Sally Slavinski of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and assistant director of its zoonotic, influenza, and vector borne disease unit, was available to answer questions, as was Dr. Ann E. Hohenhaus, senior medical advisor at The AMC. Clifford the Big Red Dog greeted children and their parents. Several stations were set up throughout the park for both children and adults. Demonstrations included four safety steps for preventing dog bites, how to learn the difference between safe and unsafe dog activities, what to do if a dog starts to attack, and how to properly treat a dog bite. There were also interactive displays and demonstrations for children involving live dogs. Sponsors of this event included Asphalt Green, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting individuals of all ages and backgrounds achieve health through a lifetime of sports and fitness; State Farm Insurance; New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; Veterinary Medical Association of New York City; Ada Nieves and Prima Dog, and DoDo. “Dog bite prevention is a critical safety issue for families as children under 10 years of age are more likely to be bitten than adults and to suffer fatalities,” Dr. Hohenhaus said. “Dog bites, however, are a preventable injury and we thank our sponsors for supporting us in our effort to raise awareness about pet safety.”

Co-chair Abigail Lash and Austin Shapard with daughters, Hattie and Lucy with Clifford the Big Red Dog

The problem with dog bites often begins with the way the animal is treated, or rather mistreated, often innocently by children who are not taught how to be gentle and careful with a pet. This is the adult’s responsibility and it is often neglected. It’s the same as teaching children about the danger of matches: it’s only dangerous when they’re struck. Other facts include: • 40% of U.S. households have dogs • There are an estimated 4.7 million dog bites to humans each year • The rate of injury is highest among children 5-9 years of age • 70% of dog bite fatalities are in children under 12 • Only 25% of dog bites are inflicted by strays; most dogs are owned and 25% of them are family pets.

from left, Adeline Marshall, mom Lydia, and little sister, Helen, learn how to properly approach Ash the Border Collie

Dr. Leyenda Harley, veterinarian at The Animal Medical Center (AMC) in Manhattan, teaches Sanika Hajare, center, and her sister, Pranjel, 4, of Queens, how to make friends with Ash the Border Collie

The Animal Medical Center 2009 Junior Committee consists of co-chairs Christina Floyd and Abigail Lash, along with Travis Acquavella, Cass Adelman, Kristin Fisher Allen, Alexandra Gardiner Goelet, Curt and Kris Huegel, Alieda Keevil, and Emilia Fanjul Pfeifler. The Animal Medical Center was founded in 1910 and is New York City's largest facility for veterinary care, research and education. With nearly 90 veterinarians practicing in 17 different specialties, the AMC is uniquely qualified to handle more than 40,000 patient visits each year. The AMC is the only independent non-profit animal hospital in the United States, and serves the tri-state area with routine, specialty and emergency care for companion animals 24 hours a day, 365 day a year. A variety of free or subsidized Community Funds are available to those in need including the Frank V.D. Lloyd Fund for Guide Dogs, Seniors' Animal Veterinary Effort, and Patient Assistance Fund. For more information, please visit www.amcny.org.

Jordyn Ferrandino of Astoria learns how to play nice with Tequila the Chihuahua

NYPD Transit K9 Unit Officer with K9

LeeLee Keevil, right, daughter of Junior Committee member Alieda Keevil, and Walker Moore with Clifford the Big Red Dog

400 guests gathered on June 4th at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City to salute outstanding individuals who have made a contribution to international understanding through their lives and work, in the tradition of the late Senator J. William Fulbright. Harriet Mayor Fulbright served as Honorary Chair of the event. She spoke of her late husband’s legislation in 1945 which created the international exchange program that bears his name. She reminded guests that Senator Fulbright also created funding for programs such as One To World, to connect current Fulbrighters from around the world with Americans here. “His goal was to lay the groundwork for a worldwide network of intelligent and dedicated leaders to deal with critical issues together,” she said.

Senator John Kerry, Harriet Mayor Fulbright, Dr. Vanessa Bradford Kerry, and Dr. Brian Nahed

Wenke Thoman Stern and Alexis Rudisill

Honoree Vanessa B. Kerry, M.D. a 2005 Fulbright Scholar currently in medical residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, spoke of working with the Vaccine Fund and Partners in Health to address health needs in Ghana, Rwanda, and Cuba. She thanked her father, Senator John Kerry (who attended in her honor) for “giving me the example of public service from almost the day I was born,” and saluted One To World for creating “discourse among international groups, nations, and students, and keeping the Fulbright legacy alive.” The evening’s corporate honoree was William R. Rhodes, Chairman and President of Citibank and Senior Vice Chairman of Citi, who provided insight from the global financial arena confirming that international and cross-border relationships are “now more important than they have ever been.”

Andrea Moo-Young, William Ferguson, and Jorge Bermudez

Stephen Moseley, Barbara O'Grady, and Tracy Snyder

Stephen F. Moseley, President and CEO of the Academy for Educational Development, was honored for his leadership at AED over the past two decades to improve education, health, and social and economic development in more than 150 countries around the world. He saluted the “special support provided by One To World which enhances the Fulbright experience for so many,” calling these “essential and important parts of the global fabric of peace and understanding.” Matt H. and Melanie L. Yildizlar, founders of the Yildizlar Education Fund (YEF) at University at Buffalo, were honored for creating full scholarships for undergraduates from Turkey to attend UB. Former U.S. Congressman from Connecticut Christopher Shays and international education leader Betsi Shays served in the Peace Corps together and were honored for dedicating their careers to international cooperation.

Matt and Melanie Yildizlar

Serdar Paktin, Haider Abdul Razak, Betsi Shays, and Christopher Shays

Betsi Shays called on all those present to be “luminaries” who are “passionate about raising up a generation of kids who undestand the world, themselves, and others,” and making “global -ready learning an essential part of the curriculum.” She cited the One To World goal of opening students’ minds “to the deeper realities, complexities, and values of other countries and cultures. Co-Chairs of the evening were Meera Gandhi (she and her husband Vikram Gandhi of Credit Suisse are living in Hong Kong but she returned for this event); Wenke Thoman Sterns, Managing Director, Industrial Mineral Holdings and Chair of One To World; J. Michael Adams, President, Fairleigh Dickinson University and a One To World board member; and Kevin Brennan, Managing Director, The Bank of New York Mellon and a One To World Board member. Awards were presented by current Fulbright scholars Jehann Jack from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Victoria Shubenina from Russia, Andres Zamora from Venezuela, Serdar Paktin from Turkey, and Manu Vatish from the United Kingdom. Executive Director Tracy Snyder expressed gratitude to all present. “Every person here could have used the economy as a reason not to be here. And yet here you are,” she said. “Your generosity supports One To World programs that bring Americans and students from around the world face-to-face to share their lives and perspectives.”

Jehann Jack, William Rhodes, and Christopher Burnham

Eugenie Birch and Ashley Hufft

John Draghi, Adda Gogoris, and Linda Smith

Kenneth Ford, Mariam Assefa, and Peter Roggemann

Marian Coffey and Tracey Thorne

Joseph Massaquoi and Erika Muhammad

El Museo's ‘09 Gala took place at Cipriani 42nd Street. The Gala chairs were again Yaz and Valentín Hernández with Isabel and Ruben Toledo. The gala honored the President of the Ford Foundation, Luis Ubiñas; Tony Award winning composer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda; and the extraordinary musical producer/ performing artist team of Gloria and Emilio Estefan. In a first time collaboration, Ruben Toledo, together with children from El Museo’s Classroom Connections program, created a whimsical gallery of 68 portraits, including some of the most famous faces in Latin American history and culture, as well as leading Latino New Yorkers. The pictures decorated the El Museo Gala ’09. Each portrait, priced at $500 sold that evening directly benefited both El Museo’s Classroom Connections program and Amber Charter School in East Harlem Charter School. El Museo’s director, Julián Zugazagoitia said, “We are thrilled to be able to join Ruben’s tremendous talent with the fresh eyes of children, to depict some of our most cherished Latino icons.” The Latino icons represented in the collection included designers Maria Cornejo, Francisco Costa, Carolina Herrera, Narciso Rodriguez, Angel Sanchez, Isabel Toledo, artists Salvador Dali, Frieda Kahlo, Jose Clemente Orozco, Diego Rivera, and celebrites Christina Aguilera, Penelope Cruz, Placido Domingo, Salma Haeykm John Leguizamo, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, and more.

Michelle Paterson, NY Govenor Richard Paterson, and Yaz Hernandez

The gala’s stellar honorary committee included Jonathan Adler, Jose Solis Betancourt, Tory Burch, Iris Cantor, Edmundo Castillo, Maria Cornejo, Francisco Costa, Christian Cota, Simon Doonan, Patricia Field, Alex Gonzalez, Carolina and Reinaldo Herrera, Reed Krakoff, Isaac Mizrahi, Candy Pratts Price, Brian Reyes, Narciso Rodríguez, Ralph Rucci, Zang Toi, Richard Turley, Diane von Furstenberg, and Jason Wu. The Gala Vice Chairs were Joseph and Carmen Ana Unanue, Ramiro J. Ortiz, and Sarah Wolfe. Coromoto Atencio, Mayra Hernandez, Michel Heredia, Lusiana Mendoza, Jana Pasquel de Shapiro, Leticia Presutti, Gabriel Rivera, Samantha Thompson, and Whitney Wolfe were Junior Chairs. The chairs have turned the annual El Museo’ Gala into one of the most glamorous evenings on the New York social calendar. Guests fly in from South America, the Caribbean, and Europe. It’s the deeply Latin influence that has taken hold.

Mariachis

The evening began with mariachis during the cocktail hour. The Bob Hardwick Orchestra, played a specially-selected program of Latin music. Heralded by The New York Times as “an institution in its ascendancy,” El Museo del Barrio is recognized as the nation’s premier institution presenting and preserving Latino, Caribbean, and Latin America art and culture. As the only museum in New York City that specializes in representing these cultures, El Museo del Barrio continues to have a significant impact on the cultural life of New York City. Currently El Museo is undergoing a $28 million-dollar facelift, which will be unveiled this fall in a series of reopening celebrations.

Angel Sanchez and Yaz Hernandez

Jason Wu

Liliana Dominguez

Jean Shafiroff

Isabel and Ruben Toledo

Sylvester and Gillian Miniter

Julian Zugazagoitia, Michelle Harper, and Victor Desosa

Valentin Hernandez, NY Govenor Richard Paterson, Michelle Paterson, and Yaz Hernandez

Jarvis Slade, Carmen Slade, and Yaz Hernandez

Whitney and Sarah Wolfe

Litto Gomez and Ines Gomez

Gabriel Rivera Barrazza and Jana Pasquel

Meredith Melling Burke and Brian Reyes

Carolina Herrera and Emilio Estefan

Geoffrey Bradfield and Yue Sai Kan

The Children’s Health Fund (CHF) hosted a benefit at the Sheraton that raised more than $1.5 million dollars of urgently needed funds for children and families affected by the current economic crisis. With a persistent and deepening recession, more than 16.5 million children (more than one in five American children) are likely to be living in poverty by next year. This is up from 12.8 million in 2006. Funds raised will help CHF meet the growing needs for services. The event was hosted by Co-founder and President, Dr. Irwin Redlener, Co-founder Paul Simon and Executive Director, Karen Redlener.

Group Shot (L to R) – Greg Irace, Skip Keesal, Garry Trudeau, Honorable David N. Dinkins, Bernard Poussot, Jane Pauley, Steve Hensley, Dr. David Pulman, Karen Redlener, and Irwin Redlener

Dr. Redlener has been a powerful influence in the development of mobile medical centers for children in economically underprivileged communities around the city. He is one of those people who are authentic community heroes. With awards presented to: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Steve Hemsley, President and CEO UnitedHealth Group, and Samuel A. Keesal, Jr., Esq. Partner Keesal, Young & Logan P.C. The evening’s Benefit Chair’s included: Bernard Poussot, Chairman, President, and CEO, Wyeth; David Pulman, Ph.D., President, Global Manufacturing and Supply, GlaxoSmithKline; Tim Rothwell, Former Chairman, sanofi-aventis U.S.

Willie Nelson performing

Paul Simon, also a co-founder of The Children’s Health Fund – another community hero -- performed, along with the evening’s headliner Willie Nelson. The Children’s Health Fund is committed to providing health care to the nation’s most medically underserved children and their families through the development and support of innovative primary care medical programs, response to public health crises, and the promotion of guaranteed access to appropriate health care for all children. The evening emcee was Jane Pauley, and the Presenter the Hon. David N. Dinkins. The evening’s guest of honor was Chris Duhon of the New York Knicks.

Long time supporter and Board Member, Honorable David N. Dinkins and Joyce Dinkins with Children’s Health Fund’s Dennis Johnson

CHF Executive Director Karen Redlener, Bill Shore, Clare Pulman, and Corporate Council Chair David Pulman, Ph.D.

Clare Pulman, David Pulman, Ph.D., Carlisle Campbell, and Laura Yost

David N. Dinkins, Jane Pauley, and Garry Trudeau

Jane Pauley and Honorable David N. Dinkins

NY Knicks Chris Duhon and CHF Advisory Council Member Charles Grodin

Garry Trudeau and Anthony Edwards

Willie Nelson and CHF Co-Founder Paul Simon

Bernard Poussot, Delphine Poussot, Karen Redlener, and Bob Essner

CHF Executive Director Karen Redlener, CHF Co-Founders Paul Simon and Irwin Redlener, MD, and Willie Nelson

Beth and Skip Keesal (Founder’s Award Honoree)

Last week at Chelsea Piers New Yorkers For Children held a “Sports Network For Success” Benefit For Youth in Foster Care. Guests included Alonzo Mourning, Kevin Liles, Selita Ebanks, Alina Cho, Roland and Maggie Betts, Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Marisa Noel Brown, Monique Betton.

Alina Cho and Rory Hermelee

Cie-Jai Brown

Alonzo Mourning and Mike Lupica

David Newman and Allison Aston

George Pyne

Maggie Betts and Dr. Marvell Scott

Alisha Anderson, Alonzo Mourning, and Alina Cho

Ron George, Vitoria Cuttita, and Francis Cuttita

Alonzo Mourning, Amy McFarland, and Kevin Liles

Anthony Taveras, Tina Butler, and Justin Tuck

David Newman and Allison Aston

George Pyne

Maggie Betts and Dr. Marvell Scott

Dr. Marvell Scott and David Newman

Hasan Williams, Ron Gardner, and Selita Ebanks

Susan Magazine, Nicholas Scoppetta, and Susan Burden

Todd Jacobson and Alonzo Mourning

Jennifer Carr and Victoria Cuttita

Lydia Fenet, Martin Gibson Dessoffy, Maggie Betts, Amy McFarland, and Alina Cho

Justin Tuck, Lauran Tuck, George Pyne, Michelle Malone, and Kevin Liles

Roland and Maggie Betts

The panel.

Elsa Hiraldo, Alonzo Mourning, and Laquisha Dykes

Julie Macklowe and Susan Shin

Selita Ebanks, Justin Tuck, and Lauran Tuck

The highly anticipated Workshop Performance Benefit of the School of American Ballet was held last Monday night. These evenings are the School’s only public performances and they offer the rare opportunity to get a sneak preview of the ballet world’s up and comers.

Students of SAB

An all-Balanchine program in celebration of the School's 75th anniversary year featured Serenade, the first ballet George Balanchine choreographed in America using students from SAB in 1934.  Serenade, also celebrating its 75th anniversary, endures as a classic work that is performed today by ballet companies around the world.

A benefit dinner followed the performance, and attracted more than 550 arts patrons, corporate VIPs and New York’s social leaders for dinner and dancing in the SAB studios, which were transformed into elegant dining rooms for the evening.      Proceeds from the Workshop Performance Benefit support all aspects of the students’ training, including an extensive $1.3 million scholarship program ensuring that all children who are accepted to the School – including those from disadvantaged backgrounds – are able to attend.

Stuart Coleman and Marjorie Van Dercook

Darci Kistler and Peter Martins

Lindsay Armstrong and Alexandra Vickers

Alexandra Lebenthal

Amy Mazzola Flynn and Tad Flynn

Gillian Miniter

Ed Lewis and Joan Hornig

Olivia Flatto

Reginald Van Lee and Pamela Joyner

Coco Kopelman, Arie Kopelman, and Will Kopelman

Elizabeth Darst

Liz and Jeff Peek

Paul McGill

Doria de la Chapelle and Liz McCreery

Photographs by Virginia L.S. Freire Photography (Fulbright); Lyn Hughes (AMC); ©PatrickMcMullan.com (SAB, CHF, & El Museo).

Click here for NYSD Contents