Updated: November 9, 2009, 2:44 pm

Susan Lucci Honored By The Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Children

By Douglas Harrington

Liz Smith, Susan Lucci and Deborah Norville at the NYSPCC annual gala. Photos by Douglas Harrington

New York City - On Monday, October 26 Emmy Award winning actress Susan Lucci and Avon Chairman and CEO Andrea Jung were honored by the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC) for their work in defense of the defenseless among us at 583 Park in Manhattan. Incorporated in 1875, the society was the world's first child protection agency.

NYSPCC Board President David Stack.

Founded by ASPCA founder Henry Bergh and his attorney Elbridge Thomas Gerry in response to the daily abuse of a young girl by her foster mother in 1874, the NYSPCC has intervened on behalf of over two million children since its inception. The creation of the society was originally funded by Quaker philanthropist John D. Wright.

I asked Lucci, a longtime advocate for children both in America and Africa, about the honor, "I am thrilled to be honored tonight. The children's charities are the ones that really speak to me, they touch me very much. Children are innocent and vulnerable and it is up to us to step up to the plate on their behalf."

It was Lucci's son that asked her to accept the honor, "This is my first involvement with this particular charity, it is my son who is involved with NYSPCC, I am so proud of him. Andreas [Huber] asked me if I would receive this honor and I was just doubly thrilled."

Lucci and her family have worked tirelessly on behalf of Little Flower Children Services of New York for years, establishing a junior committee when Andreas was 14 years old. She and her husband, Austrian businessman Helmut Huber, felt that their own, and their friends children should be involved as "children helping children." Lucci explained, "It continued and now in their early twenties, he and so many of his friends are involved here as young adults. I am just so proud of him and his friends."

Emcee Deborah Norville chats with Gala Co-Chair Karl G. Wellner and Honoree Andrea Jung.

Lucci's call for support of this vital organization was heartfelt and eloquent, "This is your opportunity to make a difference and believe me it is a win-win. It feels so good to be able to help even one little child."

Emceeing the ceremony for the fourth consecutive year was "Inside Edition" host Deborah Norville, an Emmy Award winner herself. She explained her continued support, "This is such an important charity, the NYSPCC was founded 135 years ago and it is the oldest child welfare agency in the world."

Emmy award winning actress and child advocate Susan Lucci proudly displays her NYSPC award.

Norville passionately reiterated the geneses of the society, "An 11-year-old little girl was basically beaten to within an inch of her life. What they did to that child you couldn't do to a dog, but there were no laws that made what happened to this little girl a crime."

I asked Norville if there was a correlation between increased child abuse and the difficult economy, "Absolutely! I believe the statistic is for every 10 percent increase in poverty there is a 20 percent likely increase in the maltreatment of children. That is an astonishing figure. I get chills when I think about it." Referencing the need for private donations Norville explained, "Public giving is essential. Across the board the level of giving has come down, but what has not come down is the need or the dedication of the people that work with this society."

Corporate giving is another essential element in sustaining the work of the NYSPCC and to that end Andre Jung was being honored for the generous support extended by Avon Products, Inc., "I think it is more important than ever. I guess in this economy the natural tendency is to pull back, but we have been pretty steadfast that this is the last thing we will pull back on. I think the world needs us more than ever. I think women, in our case, and children need companies in the private sector to do their part. It is a time in the world when charities and organization that do work like this need corporate support more than they ever did in the past."

Supporters of the NYSPCC gathered in the beautiful ballroom of 583 Park prior to the awards ceremony.

A 20-year board member and board president since 2001, David Stack elaborated on the importance of public events like this one, "Government support has definitely come down, but we have been very lucky, we have a tremendous staff that keeps us in the limelight for getting our programs recognized that need to be funded. We knock wood everyday, grateful that we can keep going."

Among the other notable supporters at this year's event was famed columnist and last year's honoree Liz Smith who addressed the packed ballroom during the awards ceremony. Corporate sponsors also in attendance were Amanda and Neil Friedman, President of Mattel Brands and Jacqie and Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO of Toy "R" Us. This year's gala co-chairpersons were Elizabeth Bartlett, Elizabeth Mayhew and Karl G. Wellner.

The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is the frontline defense for the weakest among us, the children in need whose silent cries for help find a voice in this extraordinary organization. We all need to now more than ever as Lucci put it, "Step up to the plate on their behalf."

For more information go to: www.nyspcc.org.