Crohn's & Colitis Foundation
Women of Distinction Luncheon
Luncheon chairs Elyse Newhouse , Michele Swarzman, Ellen Crown, and Michelle Sweetwood pose with Honorary Luncheon chair and chairman emeritus of the Greater New York Chapter, Nancy Brown (center).
Honoree Nancy Lynn with event hostess Cynthia McFadden.
The
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, Greater New
York Chapter, hosted its Fifteenth Annual Women
of Distinction Luncheon at the Waldorf=Astoria on Wednesday, April
30. The event, honoring women in business, broadcasting,
and those affected by Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis—chronic
and painful digestive diseases that affect 1.4 million Americans—featured
a fashion show by Bergdorf Goodman and the Ultimate Raffle. Honorees
included Leslie Stahl, 60 Minutes, CBS
News correspondent and Nancy Lynn, director, Corporate
Relations, American Museum of Natural History. Cynthia
McFadden, co-anchor, ABC News, Primetime and Nightline
broadcasts served as hostess for the festivities. The event was
attended by over 800 people and raised $1.4 million. Ellen
Crown, Elyse Newhouse, Michelle
Swarzman, and Michele Sweetwood wereLuncheon
chairs.
Funds raised will benefit patients like 5-year-old Lea Orbach of
the Greater New York Chapter who has lived most of her life with
ulcerative colitis. Like the other 150,000 children suffering from
Crohn's and colitis, Lea has battled more than a child should
have to go through, diagnosed at just 1 year old. Her mother, Jessica,
spoke about the incredible challenges that Lea has overcome in her
young life.
A portion of the proceeds from the Luncheon and raffle will benefit
pediatric patients like Lea by going toward the newly launched Pediatric
Challenge Initiative, the Foundation's first-ever commitment
to understanding how Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
effect the youngest patients.
Honoree Lesley Stahl with Cynthia McFadden.
Lea Orbach poses with her physician, Keith Benkov, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatric Gastroenterology at The Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Bergdorf Goodman presented this Oscar de la Renta gown created exclusively for the store.
