NEW YORK CENTER FOR CHILDREN HONORS CYRUS VANCE JR.

Jean Shafiroff

Cyrus Vance Jr.

Martin S. Foont

The New York Center for Children (NYCC) hosted its 24th Annual Spring Celebration Benefit at The Peninsula New York in New York City. NYCC celebrated 24 years of helping the most vulnerable children achieve their full potential. The annual benefit helps raise funds for the Center’s work in healing, prevention and education. This year’s event featured a “The Magic of Hope” theme, which reflects the organization’s aim to bring about hope to victims of child abuse and help these children achieve their dreams. All of the evening’s proceeds will benefit the center. The event raised $200,000 toward the organization’s mission to support victims of child abuse and their families.

Isabel Marcal With Meghan Pardy And Christine Crowther

NYCC honored Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus Vance, Jr. with the Champions for Children - Innovation Award. The benefit also featured live music by the Dennis Alan Jazz Trio, and a silent auction which included exciting travel offers, fine dining, tickets to cultural performances, fashion accessories and more. Jeremiah Evarts, Director of the Di Donna Galleries, was the Master of Ceremonies and Auctioneer for the event.

Samantha Fields And John Diebold

Other notable attendees included: Jean Shafiroff, John Allen, John Diebold, Martin S. Foont, Betsy Hoover, Adam Kudelka, Isabel Marcal, Christine Rales, Christine Crowther, Swati Sawjiany, Linda Schoenthaler, John Troisi, Leesa Rowland and Michele Herbert.

This year’s benefit committee included: Glenn Askin (Event Chair), Linda Schoenthaler, Betsy Hoover, Isabel Marçal, Meghan Pardi, Christine Rales, Barbara Rosen and Lauren Vernon.

Lauren Vernon With Maria Elena Christiansen, Leesa Rowland & Michele Herbert

Founded in 1995, NYCC is the only independent center in New York City to provide free, comprehensive evaluation and therapy services to children who have experienced physical and sexual abuse and their families, for as long as their healing requires. NYCC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on donations to ensure it is able to provide these services.

To date, the center has helped more than 15,000 families receive care. The NYCC also provides groundbreaking training programs on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of child abuse, attended by medical students, doctors, nurses and first responders worldwide. More than 20,000 professionals have been trained through NYCC’s educational programs.

About Cyrus Vance, Jr.

Cyrus Vance, Jr. has been Manhattan District Attorney since 2010. D.A. Vance’s achievements include takedowns of major gun traffickers and international cybercrime operations, as well as the first-ever convictions on New York State terror charges. He has reduced unnecessary incarceration and ended the prosecution of thousands of low-level, nonviolent offenses annually, most recently ending the criminal prosecution of marijuana possession and smoking, as well as subway turnstile-jumping.

D.A. Vance established the Criminal Justice Investment Initiative to invest ill-gotten gains seized in prosecutions against major banks in large-scale efforts to strengthen communities, prevent crime and accelerate justice reform. Among other investments, he has allocated millions of dollars to help end the national backlog of untested rape kits; created Youth Opportunity Hubs offering services and safe spaces in underserved Manhattan neighborhoods; reduced the number of individuals with mental and behavioral health issues in the criminal justice system; and enhanced security in New York City Public Housing Authority developments.

D.A. Vance is the co-founder and co-chair of Prosecutors Against Gun Violence, and co-founder of the Global Cyber Alliance. He is a graduate of Yale University and Georgetown University Law Center.

For more information on Cyrus Vance, Jr., visit www.cyvanceforda.com

About the New York Center for Children

Founded in 1995 with the support of the late Broadway producer Marty Richards and philanthropist Georgette Mosbacher, The New York Center for Children (NYCC) is a child-friendly Center, providing free, comprehensive evaluation and therapy services to victims of child abuse and their families. NYCC also offers professional training on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of child abuse. All of the programs and services to children and families at NYCC are completely free of charge. NYCC is a not-for-profit organization that relies on donations to cover the costs of operations. NYCC serves all families, including those without insurance. In addition to evaluation and treatment, the children at NYCC also benefit from tutoring, mentoring and extracurricular events. NYCC serves children from all five boroughs of New York City. The child-friendly space is located at 333 East 70th Street, on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

For more information on NYCC, visit newyorkcenterforchildren.org

Photos Courtesy Of  Lawlor Media GP & Patrick McMullan