Whom You Know: NIGHTLIGHT: The New York Women's Foundation Hosts Stepping out and Stepping Up, Honoring Robert De Niro, Grace Hightower De Niro & Ancient Agnes Gund

Thursday, December 2, 2010

NIGHTLIGHT: The New York Women's Foundation Hosts Stepping out and Stepping Up, Honoring Robert De Niro, Grace Hightower De Niro & Ancient Agnes Gund

It's not who you know, it's Whom You Know, and ever since the French Heritage event we have seen Jean Shafiroff everywhere in support of some of Manhattan's greatest charities. We met her because Peachy loved her dress and had to say so, and we've seen her at the Plaza for Lighthouse International and at Scully & Scully for Memorial Sloan Kettering. Jean is a sincerely warm, giving person and she suggested this event. We were especially pleased to see Ancient Agnes Gund honored! Of course Peachy is one too and so is recent Mover and Shaker Ariel Zwang. And of course you avid readers know Whom You Know is named after Peachy's English class at Miss Porter's...

The New York Women’s Foundation®’s (NYWF) hosted its 23rd Annual Stepping Out and Stepping Up, honoring Agnes Gund as well as Grace Hightower De Niro and Robert De Niro at New York City’s Gotham Hall. Good Morning America’s Juju Chang hosted the special evening, which began with an address by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg to the nearly 300 guests in attendance, which included filmmakerJane Rosenthal, Muffie Potter Aston, philanthropist Anne Bass, Mexico’s Deputy Consul General in New York Ismael Naveja Macias, as well as Gala Vice Chairs Jean Shafiroff, Susan R. Cullman, Carolyn Buck Luce and Gala Co-Chairs Hyatt Bass and Somers Farkas with husband Jonathan Farkas. Mayor Bloomberg praised Agnes as having “singlehandedly changed our city’s cultural landscape,” and the De Niros, saying “these two New Yorkers really couldn’t be more deserving…they care deeply about this city.” You know we love Mayor Bloomberg and interviewed him at Fete de Swifty...and we interviewed Georgina first!

City Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Kate Levin presented The Stepping Up Award to Agnes Gund. Accepting her award, Agnes expressed her gratitude and emphasized her belief that “funding the arts is funding the well-being of children…to clarify who they are…to communicate who they are,” praising the hard work of her organization, Studio in a School.

Before the presentation of their award, iconic film director Martin Scorsese, who incidentally is married to an ancient (we told you Miss Porter's is everywhere) wished to say a few word about the De Niros but was unable to attend, as he was filming in Italy; a special pre-recorded video message from him played for guests, in which Martin congratulated the couple of their honor, saying “Grace, I applaud the exceptional work you’ve done…Bob, I’ve seen you give so much to the city.” Following the video, Gala Vice Chair & NYWF Board Chair Diana L. Taylor presented the award to Grace Hightower De Niro and Robert De Niro. Accepting the award, Robert remarked “I have the feeling I’m receiving this honor not for anything I’ve done, but for what Grace has contributed.” Following Robert, Grace encouraged guests, saying “let us give praise to those women…in sink or swim situations everyday…who choose to better their lives.”

As NYWF President & CEO Ana L. Oliveira explained, the Foundation is “not a traditional foundation…it is a public foundation [producing] community-based authored solutions;” Ana also reinforced the message that “when we invest in mothers, we invest in children…when we invest in children, we invest in our future.”

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 systematic change, mobilizing leaders and community partners as philanthropists and change agents. NYWF funds programs in that promote economic security and justice, health and sexual rights, positive development of girls and young women, and safety.

For further information about The New York Women’s Foundation®, please visit www.nywf.org.

Recent Testimonials by Brand Ambassadors on their Experience with Whom You Know

"I work with Peachy Deegan because she's prolific at what she does. She's a hard worker, she's thoughtful and she's tasteful at what she writes which is very important. Peachy gets the facts correct, and just that alone is worth its weight in gold."

-Edward Tricomi, Master Stylist and Owner of Warren-Tricomi
https://warrentricomi.com/

"No one has yet to express their taste for our cuisine better than Peachy Deegan on Whom You Know. Thank you for transforming our flavor into words, unlike any other before.
Sometimes WHOM YOU KNOW, really makes a difference and Ammos Estiatorio is grateful to know Peachy Deegan!"
-
Dimitris Nakos, Founder and Owner of
Ammos Estiatorio
https://ammosnewyork.com/

“Whom You Know has done an amazing job of featuring our company over many years [seven]. Peachy has worked tirelessly to create a well-curated selection of topics and brands that are clearly of relevance to her growing audience of readers. Her articles are filled with great insights based on first-hand experience. She does her research, knows her business and is a pleasure to work with!”

-David Sasuga, Owner of Fresh Origins Microgreens
www.FreshOrigins.com

"Peachy Deegan has the pulse of the nation and highlights exceptional opinion leaders in more than 23,000 inspiring and entertaining posts. Her 100,000 twitter followers are a true testimony to Peachy’s ability to inspire, motivate and entertain. She is a feminine force to be reckoned with and an exemplary example of an influential voice in today’s world."

-Mica Mosbacher, author of the new book The Hurricane Factor: Stormside Patriots and tv political commentator

"It was an honour to be chosen for Movers and Shakers by Peachy Deegan. The questions in the interview were intelligent and insightful and I thoroughly enjoyed answering them. The reaction to the interview has been overwhelmingly positive and has helped bring my art practice to a wider audience."
-Damien Flood, Internationally Acclaimed Artist
http://www.damienflood.ie/

"We were so fortunate to hit Peachy’s radar. Her review of our Warmies was spot-on and came at a great time in our company’s early history.
Peachy has such a strong relationship with her readers. She provides honest and real comments; she is truly a trusted source in a very large circle
of consumers."
-Scott Wehrs
President
Intelex U.S.A.
http://www.intelexusallc.com/

"We at Primola love working with Whom You Know and are proud to have been a highly-ranked Manhattan restaurant by Peachy Deegan since 2012, and are featured seasonally. We appreciate the fantastic work Peachy does highlighting our cuisine with her sublime writing style and the whole neighborhood of the Upper East side. Also, we are glad that she has started a Made in Italy column! If you have the opportunity to be considered for review, we'd highly recommend working with her."
-Giuliano Zuliani, Owner of Primola Restaurant
https://www.facebook.com/Primola-Canaletto-restaurants-NYC-135616799831091

"
Peachy Deegan is a gem. She is wonderful to feature our Irish brands in 'Whom You Know'! The articles are beautifully and passionately presented, bringing products and brands to life, making both relevant and fun for her many faithful followers to read. I am immensely proud for our hand-crafted products to be included in this venue!"

-
Bill Follett
President, Belleek Group North America
www.Belleek.com

"As you know from my past features, Peachy Deegan and I were in the same class at Boston College prior to either of us becoming entrepreneurs. When we played together on the BC Alumni softball team in Central Park years ago, she mentioned she could not find a great dentist in Manhattan and could often be found networking on her phone in the outfield hiding from the ball. She was my second patient ever in 2006 when I opened my dental practice; I was one of the first sponsors on Whom You Know and the first Mover and Shaker featured in 2009 and have worked with her continuously since. She's even talked her friends that are doctors into being my patients, and they subsequently send their hospital colleagues. I don't know anyone that is as great of a networker and writer as Peachy, nevermind that she is upstanding and always good for her word. Cosmopolitan Dental is so happy to be in the company of the caliber of major brands she works with today, and although she will tell you a million ways to get your teeth dirty between Peachy's Picks, Terrific Takeout and Peachy's Pantry, Peachy Deegan will tell you there is only one way to get your teeth clean!"
-Dr. Garo Nazarian, Founder and Owner of Cosmopolitan Dental
http://cosmopolitandental.com/