 | |
The Food Allergy Initiative Spring Luncheon
|
|
|

Co-chairs Roxanne Palin, Abbey Braverman.
|
|

Todd Slotkin, chairman FAI; Leslie Cornfeld.
|
The
Ninth Annual Spring Luncheon, presented by the Food
Allergy Initiative (FAI), took place on Tuesday, April 15
at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. The event raised
more than $700,000. All proceeds benefited the Food Allergy
Initiative's research activities and educational programs aimed
at effectively treating and raising awareness of life-threatening
food allergies.
Abbey Braverman and Roxanne Palin were
this year's co-chairs. Lee Goldberg, meteorologist,
WABC-TV, Eyewitness News, and the parent of a food-allergic child,
was the Master of Ceremonies. Mary Richardson Kennedy,
wife of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., spoke at the event and introduced
parent advocate Sara Shannon, the driving force
behind “Sabrina's Law.” This landmark legislation,
which protects Ontario schoolchildren with food allergies, was named
after Sara's 13-year-old daughter, who lost her life to a severe
allergic reaction in 2003. Julie Menin, chairperson
of Manhattan Community Board 1, presented FAI's 2008 Leadership
Awards to Amanda Bromberg and Jill Mindlin,
who were instrumental in the passage of the 2007 law that calls for
schools throughout New York State to adopt guidelines that protect
children with food allergies. Liana Silverstein Backal,
Melissa Meyers and Stephanie Winston Wolkoff were
this year's Raffle co-chairs. Harriette
Rose Katz and her daughter, Melissa Rosenbloom, donated
the event-planning expertise of Gourmet Advisory Services for this
year's luncheon.
The Food Allergy Initiative is a national, non-profit
organization dedicated to finding a cure for life-threatening food
allergies. In addition to funding research worldwide, FAI supports
public policy initiatives to create safer environments for those
afflicted with food allergies. The organization has also created
educational programs for schools, health and child care workers,
and members of the food service and hospitality industries to increase
awareness about food allergies.
|

Honorees Jill Mindlin and Amanda Bromberg; Sara Shannon, Mary Richardson
Kennedy, Julie Menin.
|

Gayfryd Steinberg, Laura Tisch Broumand.
|
|

Liana Silverstein Backal, Aryan Shayegani.
|

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Barbara Winston.
|

Heather Mnuchin, Caryn Zucker, Nina Davidson.
|

Melissa Rosenbloom, Harriette Rose Katz.
|
|

Lee Goldberg, Roxanne Palin.
|

Christine Mack, Jennifer Creel.
|

Abbey Braverman, Catherine Pierorazio, Carole Steele.
|
|

Samantha Brous, Susan Bram, Melissa Meyers.
|

Abbey Braverman, Roxanne Palin, Julie Menin, Council Member Jessica Lappin.
|

Lizzie Tisch, Cathy Schwartz, Lisa Wilff.
|

Nina Shapiro, Simone Levinson.
|
|

Marci Garson, Julianne Jaffe Cohen.
|

Muriel Fabricant, Beverly Weissman, Lynn Schwartz.
|

Dean and Roxanne Palin.
|
|

Mary Richardson Kennedy, Julie Menin.
|

Lauren Muss, Erica Karsch, Julie Israel.
|

Sara Pilot, Ramy Sharp, Joyce Scharfer.
|

Meryl Poster, Nina Shapiro.
|

Dr. Scott Sicherer, Julie Leff.
|
| Photos:
Julie Skarratt |