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(May
4,
2011,
New
York,
NY)
The
29th
Annual
Frederick
Law
Olmsted
Awards
Luncheon,
hosted
by
the
Women’s
Committee
of
The
Central
Park
Conservancy,
was
held
in
the
six-acre
Conservatory
Garden,
the
Park’s
only
formal
garden.
It
was
a
smashing
success,
raising
3.2
million
dollars
to
support
the
Conservancy’s
work
in
maintaining
and
preserving
Central
Park.
Guests
filled
123
tables,
including
the
corporate
tables
sponsored
by
Barclays
PLC,
Thomson
Reuters,
Bloomberg,
Dior,
Durst,
Chanel,
Saks
Fifth
Avenue,
Con
Edison,
Douglas
Elliman,
Stribling,
Corcoran,
and
Warburg
Realty
Partnership.
Women’s
Committee
President
Gillian
Miniter
and
Co-Chairs
Virginia
Apple,
Anne
Harrison,
Julia
Koch
and
Lizzie
Tisch
greeted
over
1,200
supporters.
Most
of
the
guests
wore
glamorous
or
amusing
hats,
which
is
why
the
event
has
been
nicknamed
the
“Hat
Luncheon.”
The
benefit
committee
has
completely
underwritten
the
event
so
that
a100
percent
of
the
ticket
purchases
went
toward
the
operation
of
the
Park.
Mrs.
Miniter
opened
the
Awards
program,
welcoming
guests
and
acknowledging
Norma
Dana,
one
of
the
Founders
of
the
Women’s
Committee;
Adrian
Benepe,
Commissioner
of
the
New
York
City
Department
of
Parks
and
Recreation;
Bill
Beinecke,
Founding
Conservancy
Chairman;
Tom
Kempner,
Chairman
of
the
Conservancy’s
Board
of
Trustees;
Betsy
Barlow
Rogers,
founder
of
the
Central
Park
Conservancy
and
Doug
Blonsky,
President
of
the
Central
Park
Conservancy
and
Central
Park
Administrator.
Honorees
of
this
year’s
event
included
Corporate
Chairman
Robert
E.
“Bob”
Diamond,
Jr.,
Chief
Executive,
Barclays
PLC,
who
raised
over
$150,000.
In
his
acceptance
remarks,
Diamond
made
everyone
smile
at
the
rainy
day,
when
he
said,
"Invite
a
British
Bank
and
you
get
British
Weather."
The
Frederick
Law
Olmsted
Award,
given
to
an
individual
whose
remarkable
leadership
and
extraordinary
generosity
contribute
to
the
Park’s
lasting
health,
was
presented
to
Judith-Ann
Corrente,
a
member
of
the
Board
of
Trustees
and
a
generous
supporter
of
the
programs
of
the
Women’s
Committee
as
well
as
the
Conservancy.
She
recently
funded
the
upcoming
renovation
of
the
East
110th
Street
playground
and
has
also
endowed
a
zone
gardener
position
in
the
North
End
of
the
Park.
Gillian
acknowledged
Evelyn
Lauder
and
her
team
for
the
beautiful
redesign
of
the
luncheon
materials
featuring
the
classic
Vanderbilt
Gate
and
for
donating
the
wonderful
party
favors.
The
Women’s
Committee
thanked
Thorunn
Wathne
for
the
lavender
umbrellas,
a
longtime
Luncheon
tradition
--particularly
handy
this
year,
Abigail
Kirsch
Catering
and
Andrew
Pascoe
Flowers.
Leading
the
applause
were:
Martha
Stewart,
Deborah
Norville,
Blaine
Trump,
Muffie
Potter
Aston,
Michelle
Paige
Paterson,
Noreen
Buckfire,
Wendy
Carduner,
Karen
LeFrak,
Cynthia
Lufkin,
Sue
Newhouse,
Mary
McFadden,
Liz
and
Jeff
Peek.
Allison
Rockefeller,
Hilary
Ross,
Eleanora
Kennedy,
Susan
Rudin,
Tara
Rockefeller,
Dayle
Haddon,
Sheila
Labrecque,
Elyse
Newhouse,
Alexandra
Lebenthal,
Lorry
Newhouse,
Ranjana
Khan,
Lois
Chiles,
Suzanne
Cochran,
Grace
Hightower
De
Niro,
Amy
Fine
Collins,
Fe
Fendi,
Jamee
Gregory,
Rachel
Hovnanian,
Prudence
Solomon
Inzerillo,
Suzanne
Johnson,
Karen
Klopp,
Kamie
Lightburn,
Betsy
Messerschmitt,
Muffy
Miller,
Marcia
Mishaan,
Nancy
Missett,
Nancy
Paduano,
Jenny
Paulson,
Betsy
Pitts,
Janet
Ross,
Donna
Day
Schwartz,
Daisy
Soros,
Elizabeth
Stribling,
Rene
Syler,
Patsy
Tarr,
Dori
Cooperman,
Sharon
Bush,
Somers
Farkas,
Mai
Hallingby
Harrison,
Peter
Lyden,
Toni
Peebler,
Anna
Safir
and
Mary
Wallach.
About
the
Central
Park
Conservancy:
The
Women's
Committee
is a
group
of
dynamic
women
who
are
dedicated
to
fundraising
for
Central
Park
and
enhancing
the
Conservancy's
programs
in
education,
conservation
and
horticulture.
The
Central
Park
Conservancy
is a
private,
not-for-profit
organization
founded
in
1980
as a
public-private
partnership
with
the
City
of
New
York.
Thanks
to
the
generosity
of
many
individuals,
corporations,
foundations,
and
the
City,
the
Conservancy
has
invested
more
for
than
$550
million
to
date
into
the
Park,
transforming
it
into
a
model
for
urban
parks
worldwide.
The
Conservancy
provides
85%
of
Central
Park’s
annual
$37
million
operating
budget
and
is
responsible
for
the
maintenance
and
management
of
the
Park.
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