NIGHTLIGHT: The New York Women’s Foundation hosted its Fall 2009 Dinner, Stepping Out & Stepping Up, honoring Elizabeth and Herbert Sturz and Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas D. Kristof

We first told you about this lovely event yesterday:
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2009/10/nightlight-stepping-out-stepping-up.html


Today we have even more to say!  



The New York Women’s Foundation hosted its Fall 2009 Dinner, Stepping Out & Stepping Up, honoring Elizabeth and Herbert Sturz and Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas D. Kristof. The evening began with a Cocktail Reception attended by such guests as Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, which was followed by dinner, dancing and a special performance by Grammy Award-winning recording artist, Mary J. Blige.

October 14, 2009: Last night The New York Women’s Foundation welcomed the who’s-who of New York society for its Fall 2009 Dinner, Stepping Out & Stepping Up. The evening’s attendees included Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who arrived to support his girlfriend and co-chair of the event, Diana L. Taylor, designer Catherine Malandrino, record executive Steve Stoute, and New York socialites, Muffie Potter Aston, Ann Rapp, Sharon Bush, Denise Rich, Somers and Jonathan Farkas, Debbie Bancroft, Katlean De Monchy, Susan R. Cullman, Agnes Gund, and Jean Shafiroff, who co-chaired the night’s festivities at Gotham Hall. The evening culminated with a private performance and moving speech by Grammy award- Winning R&B songstress Mary J. Blige.

The New York Women’s Foundation

hosts

Stepping Out & Stepping Up

honoring

Elizabeth & Herbert Sturz

and

Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas D. Kristof

with a special performance by

Mary J. Blige

WHO: 
Consul General of Mexico Ruben Beltran                                              

Mary J. Blige, Guest Performer

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg                                                                

Commissioner Lilliam Barrios-Paoli                                                       

Commissioner Jeanne Mullgrav                                                             

Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn                                                       

Manhattan Deputy Borough President Rosemonde Pierre-Louis              

Ana L. Oliveira, President and CEO of NYWF                                     

Carolyn Buck Luce, Chair of NYWF                                                       

Abigail Disney, Honorary Chair of NYWF                                             

Diana L. Taylor, Vice Chair of NYWF                                                     

Susan R. Cullman, Board Member of NYWF                                              

Somers W. Farkas, Board Member of NYWF                                             

Elizabeth Sturz, Honoree                                                                         

Herbert Sturz, Honoree

Sheryl WuDunn, Honoree                                                                        

Deborah Roberts, Host

Samuel Peabody, Presenter                                   

Vincent Mai, Honoree Chair

Muffie Potter Aston

Debbie Bancroft

Ann Bass

Hyatt Bass

Sharon Bush

Katlean De Monchy

Agnes Gund

Dorothy Lichtenstein

Catherine Malandrino

Ann Rapp

Denise Rich

Jack Rosenthal

WHAT: The New York Women’s Foundation’s Stepping Out and Stepping Up honored Elizabeth and Herbert Sturz and Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas D. Kristof. The Stepping Up Award is presented to recognized New Yorkers who serve as role models of courageous leadership, vision and commitment to women and girls as individuals and as partners. The evening began with a cocktail reception attended by General Consul of Mexico Beltran, Mayor Bloomberg, Council Speaker Quinn, which followed with dinner, dancing and a special performance by Grammy Award-winning recording artist, Mary J. Blige, who sang stunning renditions of her hits “No More Drama” and “One” to an amazed crowd. Mary dedicated her performance to the power and unity of women.

Ana Oliveira, CEO & President spoke about NYWF’s expertise in leveraging strategic partnerships to build economic security for women and families in New York City.  Honorees Elizabeth and Herbert Sturz who founded 24 nonprofit and government agencies between them, saluted the Foundation for their work in supporting women. Sheryl WuDunn spoke movingly about the importance of investing in women and girls locally as a prerequisite to investing globally.  Nicholas Kristof praised NYWF for holding up ‘two thirds of the sky.’ Islyn Matthews, a successful entrepreneur and participant of WHEDCo, a long-time NYWF grantee partner, moved audiences with a personal story of transformation, embodying the mission of the Foundation.

Co-Chairs for the evening included Hyatt Bass, Sayu V. Bhojwani, Aiyoung Choi, Susan R. Cullman, Grace Hightower De Niro, Somers W. Farkas, Margaret Munzer Loeb, Carolyn Buck Luce, Jean Shafiroff, Diana L. Taylor, Jacqueline P. Togut, and Barbara Brizzi Wynne.

Established in 1987 as a public philanthropy, the New York Women’s Foundation is a cross-cultural alliance of women, serving as a force for change for women. From the outset, the Foundation’s founders strove to identify innovative organizations that were affecting change in the communities they served for women. NYWF strategically funds organizations and programs that move women, girls and families towards long-term economic security through individual transformation and systemic change, mobilizing leaders and community partners as philanthropists and change agents. Over the past twenty-two years, NYWF surpassed $20 million ($20,350,445) in grants to over 240 nonprofit organizations, improving the lives of five million women and girls in New York City.   This year, NYWF responded to the economic crisis by launching RISE-NYC!, a partnership initiative and increasing its grant-making by more than 20%.

NYWF funds programs in that promote economic security and justice, health and sexual rights, positive development of girls and young women, and safety.