New York, N.Y - The
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), Greater
New York Chapter, hosted their Eighteenth Annual Women
of Distinction Luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria on
Thursday, April 28th. This year’s luncheon
was hosted by WABC Channel 7’s Eyewitness News Anchor
Diana Williams.
This year, the Women of
Distinction Luncheon honored three outstanding women.
CCFA Board Member Michele Sweetwood received the
Woman of Distinction Award. Michele has been a
dedicated member of the CCFA Board since 2000, and for
the past 12 years she has co-chaired the Women of
Distinction Luncheon and has been a driving force in
raising funds in the hopes of finding a cure for Crohn’s
disease and ulcerative colitis.
Celebrity jeweler,
Lorraine Schwartz was honored with the
Woman of Distinction In Business Award. Lorraine is
an internationally renowned
jewelry designer whose iconic designs have been worn by
some of the most fashionable women in the world. She has
created unforgettable red carpet looks for the who's who
of Hollywood stars including: Blake Lively, Heidi Klum,
Angelina Jolie, Barbara Streisand, Elizabeth Taylor,
Jennifer Lopez and her muse, Beyonce Knowles. She
credits her mom's style and elegance for her creativity
and designs.
This year’s Rising
Star Award was presented to 16-year-old Lizzy
Noble, who after being diagnosed with Crohn’s
disease in her freshman year of high school, has faced
her disease with courage, humor and strength and is
committed to helping others with the disease.
This year’s luncheon
featured a fashion show presented by Bergdorf Goodman,
featuring the Evening Collections of Alexandra Vidal,
Andrew GN, CD Greene, J. Mendel, Kaufman Franco, Naeem
Khan, Oscar de la Renta and Zuhair Murad;
Jewelry by Sister Act Lorraine Schwartz
and Ofira; Evening bags by Judith Leiber;
and Makeup by Trish McEvoy.
The mission of the
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America is to cure
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve
the quality of life of children and adults affected by
these diseases. Since 1967, CCFA has been the leader in
research, advocacy, and patient support for those
suffering from these diseases. Approximately 80 cents
of every dollar raised goes directly to research and
support. It is estimated that 1.4 million Americans
suffer from Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis,
approximately 150,000 of whom are children under the age
of 18. Since its inception, the Foundation has funded
over $136 million dollars in direct research grants and
as a result, has seen the development of important new
medications and improved surgical procedures. CCFA
currently supports more than 150 grants at some of the
finest research institutions in the world. Proceeds from
the monies raised at the Women of Distinction Luncheon
will be used to fund mission-critical programs,
including a variety of pediatric programs and
initiatives.
Nancy Brown, Co-Founder
of the Women of Distinction Luncheon eighteen years ago
and Jim Gold, President and CEO of Bergdorf Goodman are
this year’s Honorary Chairs. Luncheon Chairs Ellen
Brown, Jill Heller, Elyse Newhouse and Michelle Swarzman
have all personally been touched by Crohn’s disease or
ulcerative colitis. Over the past 18 years the chairs
have helped to raise over $13 million to help find a
cure for these diseases.
About Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis
Crohn's disease and
ulcerative colitis are lifelong painful and debilitating
diseases that attack the digestive system. Crohn's
disease may attack anywhere along the digestive tract
and is incurable, while ulcerative colitis inflames the
large intestine (colon) and can only be cured by
surgically removing the entire large intestine. Symptoms
may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal
bleeding, fever and weight loss. Many patients require
hospitalization and surgery. These illnesses can cause
severe complications, including colon cancer in patients
with long-term disease. Most people develop the diseases
between the ages of 15 and 35. Some 1.4 million American
adults and children suffer from Crohn's disease or
ulcerative colitis, with as many as 150,000 under the
age of 18.
About the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
The Crohn's & Colitis
Foundation's mission is to cure Crohn's disease and
ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life
of children and adults affected by these diseases. The
Foundation ranks third among leading health non-profits
in the percentage of expense devoted to research toward
a cure, and 80 cents of every dollar the Foundation
spends goes to mission-critical programs. The Foundation
consistently meets the standards of organizations that
monitor charities, including the Better Business
Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance (give.org) and the
American Institute of Philanthropy
(
www.charitywatch.org ).
For more information, contact the Foundation at
800-932-2423 or visit
www.ccfa.org.