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Updated: November 16, 2009, 9:47 pm	Share    Print    Email

Gayle Perkins Atkins, Jean Shafiroff, and Amy Fine Collins at Le Cirque for the for the luncheon celebrating the New York Women's Foundation Fall 2009 gala. Photos by Ann Watt

New York City - In her role as Co-Chair of the upcoming New York Women's Foundation Fall 2009 Dinner "Stepping Out and Stepping Up," Southampton's Jean Shafiroff hosted an elegant luncheon at Le Cirque for the Foundation on Sept. 17, which featured an address by Diana L. Taylor, Vice Chair of the New York Women's Foundation and Managing Director of Wolfensohn & Company.

The vivacious and very knowledgeable Rita Cosby introduced Taylor who spoke glowingly of the organization's effects on the lives of women and girls in the New York area and gave a heartfelt and inspiring address. During the luncheon, she announced that the Foundation, "increased its grant making by 23 percent in response to the devastating impact of the economic crisis on women and families in New York City."

Over 100 women, and a select handful of gentlemen, chatted over lunch in the exclusive upstairs private dining room of the legendary restaurant. As usual, Le Cirque's long-time proprietor and a fixture on New York's dining scene for decades, Sirio Maccioni, was on hand to greet the group of powerful and influential women who have made the New York Women's Foundation a personal priority in their efforts to improve the quality of life for women and young girls. Among those on hand were Dame Donna Soloway, ABC's Saundra Thomas, Yaz Hernandez, Larry Kaiser, Gayle Perkins Atkins, Margo Langenberg, Nancy Jane Loewy, Debbie Bancroft, Amelia Ogunlesi, Cornelia Bregman, Anka Palitz, Vanity Fair's Amy Fine Collins, Lisa Peek, Zita Davisson, Barbara de Portago, Ann Rapp, Deborah Tanger, Fe Fendi, Felicia Taylor, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Andrea Greeven Douzet, Sharon Bush, Barbara Tober, Victoria Wyman, and NYWF Board Members Susan R. Cullman and Somers White Farkas.

Co-Chair Shafiroff, who is both a generous philanthropist and a powerful fundraiser to boot, said, "I'm positively delighted that so many of my friends from New York and The Hamptons were able to make this a part of their day. It is truly women - and men, too - like these who have made this organization the success it is in helping empowering women and young girls." She is also hoping that they will all be there "applauding our worthy honorees on Oct. 14."

Stepping Out and Stepping Up will honor Elizabeth and Herb Sturz and Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas D. Kristof, on Wednesday, Oct.14, at New York City's Gotham Hall. The "Stepping Up Award" will be presented to recognized New Yorkers who serve as role models and demonstrate courageous leadership, vision and commitment to women and girls as individuals and as a couple. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and dancing and include a special performance by Grammy Award-winning recording artist, Mary J. Blige.

The New York Women's Foundation is a cross-cultural alliance of women catalyzing partnerships and leveraging human and financial capital to achieve sustained economic security and justice for women and girls.

The New York Women's Foundation (NYWF) was established in 1987 as a public philanthropy to be a voice for women and a force for change. From the outset, the founders strove to identify innovative organizations that were truly working to make a difference in the communities they served. The Foundation has thrived on the vision of combining hands-on philanthropy with community-driven projects to address the needs of low-income women and girls.

The NYWF has seen that, by asking its volunteers and supporters to help search out and fund women-generated projects serving low-income communities, NYWF can build partnerships among women who have the resources to give, women who can teach us more about their neighborhoods, and women who are overcoming the challenges of poverty.

For tickets to Stepping Out and Stepping Up or further information about the New York Women's Foundation, visit www.nywf.org.