Fall Gala 2005

Scott Bommer, Jay and Kelly Sugarman, Donya Archer Bommer, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Andrea Scoppetta, Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta and Susan Burden

Over 700 guests joined New Yorkers For Children at our Fall Gala, held on September 21, 2005 at Cipriani on 42nd Street in New York City.  The event raised 1.3 million in funds to support New York City’s children who are in foster care.

Co-chaired by Oscar de la Renta, Jessica and Jerry Seinfeld, Donya and Scott Bommer and Kelly and Jay Sugarman, the Gala brought together some of New York City’s most influential people from the worlds of entertainment, fashion, government, business, philanthropy and society to show their support for the nonprofit partner of the New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services.

During the program, Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke about the significance of NYFC’s work and presented Marian Wright Edelman, Founder and CEO of The Children’s Defense Fund, with the Nicholas Scoppetta Award for Service to Children.  NYFC Founder and current NYC Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta gave a brief history of the organization and presented hip-hop legend and CEO of Rush Communications Russell Simmons with the Business Leadership Award for his work with inner-city youth.  Children’s Services Commissioner John Mattingly highlighted the unique nature of the partnership between NYFC and Children’s Services and presented Glenn Coleman, a senior at Howard University who entered the foster care system as a teenager, with the Freddie Mac Spirit Award and a $10,000 scholarship for his educational achievement and mentoring involvement.  Grammy Award winner and Time magazine “Hero” Melissa Etheridge finished the evening with a spectacular performance.

NYFC is especially grateful to our Gala co-sponsors DeBeers, the Scott and Donya Bommer Foundation and Jay and Kelly Sugarman.  Our thanks also go to Roberto Cavalli, who provided the vodka for the evening, Teen Vogue, who dressed the young women and Banana Republic, who dressed the young men in foster care attending as guests of NYFC.

With the support of co-chairs, sponsors, donors, and guests, NYFC’s Tenth Anniversary Fall Gala was a great success—giving NYFC 1.3 million more ways to support youth in foster care.

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