Erica Jong, Margo Catsimatidis, Wendy Williams, Barbara Tober and Hon. Jeanine Pirro.
Photo by:  Howard Wechsler

POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE HOSTS

25^th ANNUAL WOMEN OF THE YEAR LUNCHEON

On Wednesday, December 11, 2013, the Police Athletic League (PAL) hosted its 25^th Annual Women of the Year Luncheon, honoring Erica Jong, Hon. Jeanine Pirro, Barbara Tober and Wendy Williams. The luncheon, held at The Plaza, welcomed 300 guests and raised $350,000 for the nonprofit. The event was emceed by Judy Gold and was chaired by Margo Catsimatidis, with Honorary Chair Amelia Bernstein.

Special Guests at the event included Robert M. Morgenthau, Raymond W. Kelly, John B. Osborn, Rosanna Scotto, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Pamela J. Newman, Diana Taylor, Veronica Kelly, Melania Trump, Karen E. Burke, M.D., Ph.D., Mark Simone and John Catsimatidis.

Erica Jong is a Poet, Novelist and Essayist whose works have been influential all over the world. Her first novel, Fear of Flying, sold over 27 million copies and celebrated its 40th Anniversary with new editions in many languages. Erica is the author of seven widely honored volumes of poetry, eight novels and seven non-fiction books.

Hon. Jeanine Pirro is a highly respected District Attorney, Judge, politician, author and TV personality.  As assistant DA in 1978, she headed one of the first domestic violence units in the nation, and was the first female to prosecute a murder case in Westchester County. She won that and every case thereafter. Jeanine was elected County Judge and served as the first female DA of Westchester. Judge Pirro won an Emmy in 2011 for her own syndicated TV court show, and now hosts “Justice with Judge Jeanine.”

Barbara Tober, Chairman, Global Leadership Council, is President of Acronym, Inc. Her Foundation has funded programs such as Quilts Across America, a national arts-education project for children, as well as aid to artists whose studios were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Barbara spent 43 years in publishing and advertising, most notably as Editor in Chief of Bride’s Magazine.  She is the author of The Bride: A Celebration.

Wendy Williams, Host of The Wendy Williams Show, was named one of the “35 Most Powerful People in Media” by The Hollywood Reporter in both 2012 and 2013. She built a devoted fan base during her 23-year career in radio on “The Wendy Williams Experience.” She is the author of The New York Times best-seller The Wendy Williams Experience, as well as several novels.

            New York City’s Police Athletic League is the first and finest civilian-run PAL in the country. Founded in 1914, PAL has served the city’s young people for 100 years.  PAL provides recreational, educational, cultural and social activities to 40,000 boys and girls annually.  It is also the city’s largest, independent, nonprofit youth organization.  For more information, please visit www.palnyc.org.