Feb. 28th,
2009. New York City. The New York Center for
Children, (NYCC) hosted its 11th Annual
bowling event at AMF Chelsea Piers in Manhattan.
Lauren Vanoni Vernon, Christine Rales and Ken Marsel
were the events chairs. Lauren and Ken are also on
the Board of Directors of the NYCC.
Michael Caplin,
Board of Director and President of the NYCC said,
“Funds and awareness are needed now more than ever.
Due to tough economic times, unfortunately, child
abuse is on the rise. There is more tension in the
home due to parental unemployment and some people
without the proper coping mechanisms take out their
frustration on the child”. Some other board members
and sponsors of the event were Kate and Andy Spade,
Target, Pilar Guzman of Cookie Magazine, Michele and
Larry Herbert, Heidi and Colin Mitchell, and Diane
von Furstenberg and
Martin Richards,
Chairman Emeritus
The lights
were dim, the music was loud and each bowling lane
was adorned with a sponsors name on the score
board. Guests had the opportunity to design their
own capes and adorn themselves to become
“superheroes for the afternoon’s event”. Michael
Caplin had great luck. He bowled a 243 and won a NY
Jets football autographed by Kerry Rhodes. The event
was fun and free spirited with a raffle filled with
prizes and an abundance of children’s activities.
Adults got to become kids for the day and kids,
well, kids to be kids.
Not far from
those involved with the NYCC’s thoughts and my
thoughts as well was the true purpose of the event
and the hope that the monies raised would help a lot
of abused children get the help they so desperately
need.
Statement
from New York Center for Children:
Child abuse occurs with alarming frequency in New
York City. One in three children experience abuse by
the time he or she is 18 years old. Most often the
perpetrator is someone the victim knows and trusts.
The New York Center for Children provides
comprehensive support to child abuse victims and
their families. The Center provides evaluations,
medical exams, therapy, follow up and tracking,
crisis intervention and counseling,
multi-disciplinary services and educational
programs.
The New York Center for Children is a child-friendly
free clinic providing assessment and therapy
services to victims of child abuse. Each child
receives a thorough physical examination from a
medical expert, and sensitive interview and crisis
counseling from specially trained social workers and
psychologists.
NYCC works in coordination with the Police
Department, the District Attorney’s Office and the
Administration for Children’s Services, increasing
the effectiveness of each investigation, and
reducing the potential for additional trauma to the
child.
NYCC also offers professional training programs on
diagnosis and treatment of child abuse, and abuse
awareness and prevention programs for the general
public.
Founded in 1995, The New York Center for Children,
formerly known as the Children’s Advocacy Center of
Manhattan, is a non-profit, privately funded
organization in association with The Mount Sinai
Medical Center.
Services are:
-
Free of charge
-
Available in English and Spanish
-
Available for children, parents, families,
health-care professionals, schools and community
organizations.
To learn more please go to
www.newyorkcenterforchildren.org
For photos of the event go to
www.herbertcollection.com
And Rob Rich’s
www.societyallure.com
Story by Sara Herbert-Galloway
sara@blacktiemagazine.com