Young members of the cast of Broadway’s Matilda join Grammy Award Winner Macy Gray on stage at Tuesday’s Children’s Annual Gala at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers on September 6th, 2012.
 

LET OUR PAST CHANGE THE FUTURE:

TUESDAY’S CHILDREN HONORS AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR OF STAGE & SCREEN STEPHEN DALDRY AT ANNUAL GALA

Grammy Award Winning Singer Macy Gray Performs

(Thursday, September 6, 2012 - New York, NY)  Members of New York City’s philanthropic, business, government and 9/11 communities came together at the Tuesday’s Children Annual Gala tonight at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers. The evening honored Academy Award nominated director, Tony Award winner and Tuesday’s Children Board Member, Stephen Daldry, for his work on the Warner Bros. film, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and for his generous support and commitment to the families of September 11^th. Titled Let Our Past Change the Future, the event raised $500,000 dollars to benefit Tuesday’s Children and its work with individuals impacted by September 11^th and those affected by terrorism worldwide. 

“Every year we come together to reconfirm our commitment to all of the individuals impacted by 9/11 and more recently, victims of terrorism and global conflict worldwide,” said Terry Sears, executive director of Tuesday’s Children.  “Year after year, with the generous support of donors and partners, Tuesday’s Children continues to meet the ever-changing needs of our families.”

Sears continued, “Tonight it is with great pride that we honor Stephen Daldry.  Throughout the production of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Stephen collaborated with Tuesday’s Children and took the time to really learn about some of our families. Since then he has not wavered in his support and commitment to helping the 9/11 community.  His generosity will enable us to continue to provide much-needed programs to our families and to expand our services.  With the anniversary upon us, it’s critical that we give thanks to people like Stephen who not only inspire us, but help Tuesday’s Children continue to be an important lifeline to so many.”

Daldry is an award-winning director of both stage and screen and the only director to receive Academy Award nominations for his first three films. In his most recent film, Daldry teamed up with Oscar^® winners Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, a film based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Jonathan Safran Foer. The film tells the story of a young boy who searches New York for the lock that matches a mysterious key left by his father before he was killed in the September 11^th attacks. Among Daldry’s other film credits are Billy Elliot, The Hours and The Reader. In 2009 his direction of a stage musical adaption of Billy Elliot earned him a Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical.    

The money raised at the Gala will support critical services and programs offered by Tuesday’s Children including mentoring, leadership training, life management for adults, counseling that benefits both 9/11 families and first responders and their families, college and career guidance, and Project Common Bond –Tuesday’s Children’s international leadership and peace-building program for teens who have lost a family member to an act of terrorism.

The evening also featured a poignant video presentation of a Tuesday’s Children family member. The videos showcased her life’s journey following that day and how Tuesday’s Children’s programs helped shape her future.  Project Common Bond was also highlighted in a powerful video. Long-serving Board Member Bert McCooey, Jr. and Event Chairman Thomas Shea also delivered remarks.

The event offered hors d’oeurves, a dinner and dessert buffet, an auction and a live performance by Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter, Macy Gray.

The crowd was treated to a performance by a chorus of some of Broadway's most brilliant kids who sang When I Grow Up, music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, from Roald Dahl’s MATILDA THE MUSICAL, the London smash hit, which is opening on Broadway in the Spring of 2013.

Gala sponsors included Roger & Margo Coleman & Family; Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; Alex and Ani; Howard Rubin; Foley, Inc; Shawn Matthews; Brendan and Rose Lavelle; John and Linda Powers; Richard and Terry Sears; Guy Carpenter & Company; and AON.

 Tuesday’s Children is a non-profit family service organization that has made a long term commitment to every individual impacted by the events of September 11, 2001 and those who have been impacted by terrorist incidents worldwide. Since 2001, Tuesday’s Children has promoted healing and recovery by strengthening family resilience, providing individual coping and life management skills and creating community through programs, mental health support and family engagement opportunities.  For more information visit Tuesday’s Children www.tuesdayschildren.org