Honored Neil Sedaka

On Wednesday, November 28, 2012, Silver Hill Hospital held a festive black-tie gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York. Musician Neil Sedaka was honored for the joy his music has brought to millions. Mr. Sedaka's songs, such as "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" and "Laughter in the Rain," have brought solace as well as hope to millions of lives compromised by mental illness and addiction. Guests were treated to a special performance by Mr. Sedaka during which he debuted a new song written for the evening. The Gala was a fundraiser to provide financial assistance for individuals who need the Silver Hill long-term residential treatment programs but are without adequate resources to cover the costs. The evening raised more than $900,000 and there were 520 guests in attendance.

Silver Hill also recognized two examples of board leadership. Ward F. Cleary, co-chair of the Silver Hill board, and the Cleary family received the Founders Award to honor a legacy of family leadership, which has spanned seven decades of the hospital's 81 years. Steve Stillerman, who recently passed away, was honored in memoriam with the Visionary Award for his leadership as board chair from 2003 until 2009. Mr. Stillerman's vision and guidance was instrumental in leading the hospital during its recent renovation and return to national stature as a premier psychiatric hospital.

Board member Michael Cominotto and Dennis Basso were honorary co-chairs of the 2012 Gala. Michael and Dennis personally created the hospital's first gala in 2010 to highlight the excellent treatment the hospital provides and to address their personal desire to raise funds for patients without a financial base to receive residential treatment at Silver Hill.

 

Notable Attendees:                              Neil Sedaka (Honoree), Dennis Basso (Designer), Michael Cominotto (Director), Sigurd H. Ackerman (President and Medical Director), Amy Fine Collins, Joan Collins (Actress), Brian Atwood (Designer), Colin Cowie, Debbie Bancroft, Marissa Brown, Jamie Gleicher, Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, Dori Cooperman, Coca Rocha, Diana Eccelston, Neal and Martha Fox, Nina Griscom and Leonel Piraino, Karin Luter, John and Katherine McEnroe, Amy Phelan, Helen and Tim Schifter, Dana Hammond and Patrick Stubgen, Nikki Haskell, Fernanda Kellogg and Kirk Henckel, Michele Herbert, Yaz and Valentin Hernandez, Caroline Hirsch and Andrew Fox, Dayssi Kanavos, Saul and Iris Katz, Alexandra Lebenthal, Tamara Mellon, Marcia and Richard Mishaan, Paola and Mickey Schulhof, Felicia Taylor (Correspondent, CNN), Jamie Tisch, and Bettina Zilkha.

Honorees:                                            Neil Sedaka

Ward F. Cleary, Founders Award

Steve Stillerman, Visionary Award

Honorary Co-Chairs:                             Michael Cominotto & Dennis Basso

Board of Directors:                               Sigurd H. Ackerman, MD (Director, President & Medical Director), Cynthia Ziegler Brighton (Director), Patricia Burrows, LCSW (Director), Richard Canning (Director), Ward F. Cleary (Co-Chair), Michael Cominotto (Director), Sperry A. DeCew, Esq. (Director & Secretary), John L. Engels, Jr. (Director), Frederick S. Feiner, MD (Director), Judith Freedman (Director), Richard Gannon (Director), J. David Haddox, DDS, MD (Director), Theodore Herman (Director), Barry Kerner, MD (Physician-in-Chief) Claudette H. Kunkes, PhD (Director), Paul Lambdin (Director), Ruurd G. Leegstra (Director & Chief Financial Officer), Lance Lundberg (Director), Elizabeth E. Moore (Director & Chief Operating Officer), Deann E. Murphy (Co-Chair), Peter Orthwein (Director & Treasurer)

About Silver Hill Hospital

In 1931 renowned psychiatrist Dr. John Millett was searching for a setting close to New York to open a small residential mental health clinic. A picturesque farmhouse on a pastoral site in New Canaan, Connecticut proved irresistible for what he envisioned. In just a few short years, Silver Hill achieved national recognition as a top tier psychiatric hospital, revered for expert and compassionate treatment for patients struggling with mental illness or addiction. A steadfast adherence to mission – “to provide the best treatment for mental illness and addiction; and to offer continuing support, counseling and education to patients and families in every phase of illness and recovery” – has shaped the hospital’s growth over time. Today, Silver Hill, a not-for-profit hospital, provides comprehensive inpatient, residential and outpatient programs for adolescents and adults covering the full spectrum of psychiatric diagnoses. Our intensive treatment regimens are solely focused on getting patients better, inspiring hope, and helping them transition home to family and community. We pride ourselves on a very experienced, talented and dedicated clinical staff which includes eleven full-time psychiatrists with advanced sub-specialty training working with an expansive team of psychiatric nurses, social workers and counselors.