(New York, NY) – Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Columnist
Liz Smith, Mayor’s Fund Board Chair Rob Speyer and President Megan Sheekey today kicked off the Sixth Annual Fete de Swifty benefit in Manhattan. The event, founded by Liz Smith and hosted by the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, raises money to support the Family Justice Center Initiative, administered by the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence. The initiative reduces barriers faced by victims of domestic abuse, allowing them to access a variety of services, such as prosecutorial, counseling, housing and financial assistance, under one roof. Mayor Bloomberg opened the first Family Justice Center in Brooklyn in 2005. In 2007, a second center opened in Queens, and the City’s third center will open in the Bronx this winter 2010.  

This year’s Fete de Swifty Honorary Chairs were Tim Gunn, Mariska Hargitay and Nicole Kidman.  The steering committee included Liz Smith, Stephen Attoe, Robert Caravaggi, David Patrick Columbia, Deborah Krulewitch, Christopher Meigher, Gillian Miniter and Peter Rogers. Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, Mayor’s Criminal Justice Coordinator John Feinblatt and Commissioner Yolanda Jimenez of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence were also on hand for the event.

Since 2004, Fete de Swifty has raised more than $3.6 million to support public programs through the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.  This year’s event also featured an online auction hosted by CharityBuzz.  The auction, which runs until October 1^st, includes items such as: exclusive New York sports event packages, a first class trip to see Bette Midler in concert and meet her after the show, and a variety of fashion and luxury items.  The auction is online at www.charitybuzz.com/fetedeswifty.

Event partners also donated a wide array of items and services for the carnival-themed Fete.  LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Inc provided champagne and spirits and Brooklyn Brewery provided beer, Build-a-Bear donated prizes for the Family Justice Center Children’s Rooms, and Quest and Estée Lauder donated the door gifts. Matthew David Hopkins, owner of 360 Design Events, Ltd., an eco-friendly design company, designed the event and Glorious Food hosted the raw bar.