THE DUCHESS OF YORK VISITS NEW YORK CITY

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MacKenzie-Childs Unveils Magical Holiday
Display At Flagship Store
Sarah, Duchess Of York Steps Up To Aid Beneficiary Best Buddies
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Sarah, Duchess of York And Edward Callaghan

Beloved American home furnishings company MacKenzie-Childs, famed world-wide for its whimsical handcrafted Majolica pottery and artisanal furniture, held a by-invitation-only unveiling of their enchanted Holiday Extravaganza display at the company’s flagship store on the elegant shopping strip of 57th Street on November 11th. A very special guest of honor Sarah, Duchess of York attended to lend support for the VIP shopping event’s beneficiary Best Buddies. Guests eager to get into the holiday spirit were greeted by heralds in top hats and tailcoats who trumpeted the entrance of each of the holiday shoppers who were not surprisingly awed by the ultimate holiday tablescapes and luxury entertainment environment that showcased the company’s magical creations to delightful effect. Attendees were invited to join The Duchess in signing a specially created chair theta would go up for auction to benefit the work of Best Buddies which is dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,400 college, high school and middle school campuses across the country and internationally. Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States. They have accredited international programs on six continents with additional country programs under active development. The Duchess who in addition to her commercial career as author and spokesperson is deeply involved in charity and humanitarian works through her two charity foundations, London-based Children in Crisis and New York-based Chances for Children, was thrilled to have been invited for this evening. “Best Buddies does extraordinary work in leadership development”, she commented in between signing pieces of pottery and playing with the children of the guests. Indeed, the mother of two was right at home and even joined the children sitting on the floor in playing word games and creating fanciful names. Among the guests were Real Housewives of New York stars Alex McCord and Simon Van Kempen and their children, Charity Happenings Steven Beltrani, TV producer Raisa Chernina and The Duchess’s good friend literary agent Jan Miller aka “Queen of the Self Help Books” who has guided the careers of top sellers such as Tony Robbins, Joel Osteen and Maria Shriver.