On
Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 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 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.
The evening’s attendees
included Mayor Michael Bloomberg, 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.
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.
