The New York Center for Children (NYCC) is a child-friendly Center, providing free, comprehensive evaluation and therapy services to victims of child abuse and their families. NYCC also offers professional training on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of child abuse. NYCC hosted its 24th Annual Spring Celebration Benefit at The Peninsula New York in New York City. NYCC celebrated 24 years of helping the most vulnerable children achieve their full potential. The annual benefit helps raise funds for the Center’s work in healing, prevention, and education. This year’s event featured a “The Magic of Hope” theme, which reflects the organization’s aim to bring about hope to victims of child abuse and help these children achieve their dreams. All of the evening’s proceeds will benefit the center. The event raised $200,000 toward the organization’s mission to support victims of child abuse and their families.
NYCC honored Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus Vance, Jr. with the Champions for Children – Innovation Award. D.A. Vance’s achievements include takedowns of major gun traffickers and international cybercrime operations, as well as the first-ever convictions on New York State terror charges. He has reduced unnecessary incarceration and ended the prosecution of thousands of low-level, nonviolent offenses annually, most recently ending the criminal prosecution of marijuana possession and smoking, as well as subway turnstile-jumping. D.A. Vance was definitely deserving of the award.
The benefit also featured live music by the Dennis Alan Jazz Trio, and a silent auction which included exciting travel offers, fine dining, tickets to cultural performances, fashion accessories and more. Jeremiah Evarts, Director of the Di Donna Galleries, was the Master of Ceremonies and Auctioneer for the event.
Other notable attendees included: John Allen, John Diebold, Martin S. Foont, Betsy Hoover, Adam Kudelka, Isabel Marcal, Christine Rales, Christine Crowther, Swati Sawjiany, Linda Schoenthaler, John Troisi, Jean Shafiroff, Leesa Rowland and Michele Herbert.
This year’s benefit committee included: Glenn Askin (Event Chair), Linda Schoenthaler, Betsy Hoover, Isabel Marçal, Meghan Pardi, Christine Rales, Barbara Rosen and Lauren Vernon.
For more information on New York Center for Children, visit newyorkcenterforchildren.org.