Dressed to the nines, the black-tie guests danced till near midnight to the music of Bob Hardwick and his orchestra.  The tropical décor was designed by Full Moon.  As has become her tradition, Mary Snow (wearing head-to-toe red lace) hosted the largest table in the room boasting friends including Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, Laura and Diego Garcia, Alexandra Lind Rose, Lesley Schulhof, and Marie Louise Slocum.

Adding gravitas to the evening Felix Urrutia Jr explained “The neighborhood we serve – the South Bronx – depends on us. On a daily basis we are dealing with the families that are anxious, combative, and stressed, but they are also hopeful and resilient. The help they get from organizations like Casita Maria is critical – some attention and some affirmation, not a great deal, bus some love. With your support, Casita Maria can fulfill our promise to remain responsible stewards.”

Grammy Winning Producer Nelson J. Albareda, former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco David Fischer with wife philanthropist Jennifer Fischer, and SOMOS Community Care Founder Dr. Ramon Tallaj were honored. Jennifer Fischer from the stage shared, “David and I have spent our lives believing that children’s future is the future of all of us. Whether it’s a job or self-esteem, or someone believing in you, or in our class that gives you a moment’s respite. Casita Maria lives with this dream to the max. We’re incredibly honored to receive this.” Nelson J. Albareda said “I’m honored to be here tonight, sharing this beautiful evening with all of you, in celebration of an organization that I think is not only groundbreaking, but breaking ground for many, many years in the Latino community. This organization creates a safe environment that empowers our community. It’s not every day a Cuban American boy from Miami makes it to New York City to be honored so I share this with all Latinos.”Guests included Board Members and Trustees Martha Bograd, Miguel A. Fuentes Jr., Michéle Gerber Klein, Patrick Moran, Gautam Patel, Benigno Rodriguez-Cubeñas, as well as Peter Bacanovic, Edgar Batista, Tina Beriro, Estrellita & Daniel Brodsky, Sharon Bush, Carlos Campos, Lee Fryd, Bradley Gibson, Margo Langenberg, Alicia Lubowski-Jahn, Tony Marion, Juan Montoya, Darlyn Portes, Marc Rosen, Gabriel Rivera-Barraza,Victor Roquette, Alexandra Seegers, Kenny Thomas, Barbara Tober, and Charlie Ward.

Casita Maria creates a safe and welcoming community, enriching and uplifting youth and families towards success, through shared cultural, art and educational experiences and programs. Headquartered in the South Bronx, Casita Maria was established in 1934 by Claire and Elizabeth Sullivan as the first charitable organization to serve Latinos in New York City. Operating from a five-room tenement apartment in East Harlem, the Sullivan sisters, public school teachers who were also relatives of TV personality Ed Sullivan, had a primary mission to offer after school enrichment and recreational activities for the children of newly arrived families from Puerto Rico. Today, Casita Maria remains dedicated to its original mission, delivering services to the mostly Latino youth, and families of the Hunts Point community it serves in the Bronx. In 2009, Casita Maria inaugurated a state-of-the-art facility encompassing performance spaces, exhibition gallery, dance, and music studios, and more on its Simpson Street campus. This 90,000 square foot, six-story educational and cultural facility in collaboration with the Department of Education has enabled Casita Maria to expand its scope and capacities as a beacon of excellence.

The post Fiesta Gala hosted by Casita Maria appeared first on NY UNDRESSED.

Throughout the party guests including Martin Shafiroff, Rita Cosby, John Catsimatidis, Aleks Mehrle, Aline Mehrle, Dr. Lee Philips, Martha Stine, Guy Stanley, Jonathan De Winter, Victor De Souza, Malan Breton, Janna Bullock, Michael Adams, Bill McCuddy, Jackie Weld Drake, Lee Fryd, Susan L. Taylor, heavy weight gold medal boxing champion Michael Spinks, Liliana Cavendish, Tony Bowles, Gloria Lee, Dee Rivera, Flo Anthony, Terry Corbett, and Randi Schatz enjoyed champagne and passed hors d’oeuvres provided by Cornelia Guest Catering. Midway through the night, Jean took the floor to speak about how thankful she was for her friends, family, and the blessings that life has provided her, before speaking about the importance of donating to the Mission Society that night.

The Mission Society began in 1812 to provide food, clothing, and other materials to the urban poor of the 19^th century in New York City. The organization has continued to evolve over the years through what the main concerns were in the city. Currently the organization is focused on ending multigenerational poverty by facilitating academic enrichment, college access, and workforce development in Harlem and at 12 public school programs in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Since their beginning, Mission Society of NYC has provided life-changing opportunities to over 6.5 million New Yorkers and continues to reach approximately 5,500 children and parents each year. 

About Jean Shafiroff:

Jean Shafiroff is a philanthropist, humanitarian, TV host, writer, and the author of the book “Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life by What You Give”. Jean has often been called the first lady of philanthropy by many publications because of her generosity and hard work as a philanthropic leader. She serves on the boards of many charitable organizations and each year chairs upwards of eight different charity galas. Among the many causes she champions are those involved in women’s rights, rights of underserved populations, health care, and animal welfare.

Jean serves on the boards of the American Humane, The New York Women’s Foundation, Southampton Hospital Association, NYC Mission Society, Couture Council of the Museum at FIT, French Heritage Society, Casita Maria, Global Strays, and Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation Honorary Board. A Catholic, she has served on the board of the Jewish Board for 28 years and now is one of their honorary trustees.

 Jean served as the national spokesperson for the American Humane’s “Feed the Hungry” Covid-19 program, an initiative that raised $1,000,000 to provide food for over 1,000,000 animals living in 109 different shelters across the United States.  She is the Ambassador for the Southampton Animal Shelter. 

For her philanthropy Jean has been honored many times by groups including the American Humane, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, French Heritage Society. New York City Mission Society, Southampton Animal Shelter, Surgeons of Hope, Samuel Waxman Cancer Research, Operation Warrior Shield, Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, the Ellen Hermanson Foundation, Pet Philanthropy Circle, Animal Zone International, Health Advocates for Older People, Youth Counselling League, the NYC International Film Festival Foundation, the Jewish Board, and the Hadassah. In December 2020 Dan’s Paper named her Philanthropist of the Year at their Long Island Power Women’s Award Ceremony. On September 22, 2022, Shafiroff received a Proclamation naming her the” First Lady of Philanthropy of New York” from NYS Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright representing the New York State Assembly. On November 17, 2022, Jean received a Congressional Recognition in the Congressional Record of the 117th Congress.  This was presented to her by NYS Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright on behalf of Carolyn Maloney and the 117th Congress. 

Jean is the producer and host of the television show “Successful Philanthropy” which airs six times weekly through LTV studios in East Hampton, NY, and then several times each week on Sun20TV in Southampton, NY. On her TV program Jean interviews politicians, celebrities, business leaders, philanthropic leaders, and has even interviewed a U.S. presidential candidate.

Jean Shafiroff is passionate about style and fashion.   She owns a large collection of both couture and ready-to-wear designer ball gowns that she plans to donate to a museum one day.  The collection includes many gowns by Malan Breton, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Mary McFaddan, Victor dE Souza, Zang Toi, B Michael and a number of other designers.  

Jean Shafiroff earned an MBA in Finance from the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University and a BS in Physical Therapy from the College of Physicians and Surgeons. She worked on Wall Street in public finance and private partnerships.  Before that she worked as a physical therapist at St. Luke’s Hospital in NYC.

Jean Shafiroff has over 1.000,000 instagram followers where she promotes positivity, philanthropy, and her love of fashion. 

Follow Jean Shafiroff on social media:

 I: @JeanShafiroff 

F: @JeanShafiroff

T: @JeanShafiroff

Website: www.jeanshafiroff.com

About The Mission Society of NYC:

The Mission Society began in 1812 to provide food, clothing, and other forms of material assistance to the urban poor of 19th century New York City. Over time, our outreach adapted to the evolving needs of our neighbors – from offering aid to a growing and diverse immigrant population to serving the city’s Black and Latinx communities. Two centuries later, we remain active in the lives of many New Yorkers by providing transformative educational programming for K-12 students from low-income households.

A foundational charity in New York City history, the Mission Society has been a trailblazer, engaging with the diverse population of a growing metropolis through innovative service programs. In 1965, the Minisink Townhouse opened at 646 Malcolm X Boulevard on the original site of the Cotton Club, bringing most of our educational programs under one roof and creating a vibrant community center in the heart of the neighborhood.

Today, the Mission Society is committed to ending multigenerational poverty by unlocking the potential of the city’s most underserved families. We facilitate academic enrichment, college access, and workforce development programs in Harlem and at 12 public school programs in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Since our founding, we have provided life-changing opportunities to over 6.5 million New Yorkers and continue to reach approximately 5,500 children and parents each year.

For more information, please visit https://www.missionsociety.org/

The post Jean Shafiroff Host’s Thanksgiving Party Dedicated to Mission Society of NYC appeared first on NY UNDRESSED.

Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education celebrated Fiesta 2017 on Tuesday, October 17th, 2017 at New York’s Plaza Hotel. Each year at Fiesta, the Casita Maria Gold Medal of Honor is awarded to outstanding individuals in recognition of their contribution to the worlds of arts, education, and philanthropy. This year, Casita Maria honored three exceptional women: Rosaura Henkel, the Mexican philanthropist extraordinaire for her work with “Duerme Tranquilo” and service to numerous hospitals; New York’s own Elizabeth T. Peabody for her dedication to mental health and compassionate leadership to The Maria Droste Counseling Services, and Julia Salvi, the co-founder and visionary behind the renowned Cartagena International Music Festival. The evening’s host was FOX TV’s Audrey Puente, the daughter of the great Latin percussionist Tito Puente, himself a Casita alumnus and former honoree. The Dinner Chairmen were Jacqueline Weld Drake and Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia. The Gala Co-Chairmen were designer Carolina Herrera and husband Reinaldo Herrera. Casita Maria’s annual benefit was an elegant, festive evening that commenced with cocktails, followed by seated dinner, music and dancing to The Bob Hardwick Sound. 

The post Casita Maria Celebrates Fiesta 2017 appeared first on NY UNDRESSED.

TABLES: 

GOLDEN SPONSOR @ $75,000 

Two premium tables for ten guests each

Recognition on invitation, program, and website

Back cover Celebration Page in the journal

SILVER SPONSOR @ $50,000

One premium table for twelve guests

Recognition on the invitation, program, and website

Inside cover Celebration Page in the journal

BENEFACTOR TABLE @ $25,000

One prime table for ten guests

Recognition on the invitation, program and website

One Full Celebration Page in the journal

PATRON TABLE @ $15,000

One preferred table for ten guests

Recognition on invitation and program

SUPPORTER TABLE @ $12,500

One table for ten guests

Recognition on invitation and program

TICKETS:

SILVER TICKET @ $5,000 each with premium seating

BENEFACTOR TICKET @ $2,500 each with prime seating

PATRON TICKET @ $1,500 each

SUPPORTER TICKET @ $1,250 each

PACHANGA (LIMITED AVAILABLITY FOR THOSE 40 AND UNDER)

PACHANGA PATRON TABLE OF 10 @ $5,000

PACHANGA SUPPORTER TABLE OF 10 @ $3,500

PACHANGA PATRON TICKET @ $500 each

Please note the non-deductible portion of each ticket is $225.00.

To purchase table & tickets or to receive more information about Fiesta 2017, please contact: MK Event Studio, Ms. Mary Keating 

The post Celebrate Art, Education and Philanthropy With Casita Maria Center for Art and Education appeared first on NY UNDRESSED.