New York City - For the fourth year The Mann Foundation honored leaders in the real estate, apparel and financial industries at an elegant gala awards ceremony and dinner dance at 583 Park Avenue hosted by Ann and Jeff Mann, head of the prominent business trade magazine publishing group Mann Publications. The lovely and gracious Ann and her charismatic husband Jeff are one of the New York business community's most admired and loved couples. So it was no surprise that the stately, ornate 583 Park was filled to its gilded rafters. The event is always a cross section of the talented, dedicated individuals and organizations that contribute to make New York the dynamic business center it is. This year over 50 awards were presented to the "Stars" of the apparel, real estate, and financial communities the most important sectors of the New York economy.

Jeff Mann addresses the crowd.

The annual awards program has another highly important mission beyond honoring the great talents in fashion, finance and real estate. The evening benefits the work of the Mann Foundation, founded by Jeff and Ann and their family in memory of Marion and Irving Mann to help fund research for geriatric diseases and find a cure for Alzheimer's disease through the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) at Mount Sinai Hospital.

The cocktail hour, which is a misnomer as no matter how much Mann pushes, the crowd is there to mix and mingle and the hour stretches to two! Indeed, it has always been a big schmooze-athon and getting folks to the tables is no mean feat. Once the guests were seated, Jeff immediately launched into the program with a flurry of awards to the people who make New York run.

Presenters for the evening included Marc Heller, CIT Commercial Services to present Apparel Awards; Adam Gottbetter, Gottbetter & Partners to present Financial Awards; Roxanne Donovan, Great Ink Communications to present Commercial Real Estate Awards and Stan Ponte, Coldwell Banker Previews International to present Residential Real Estate Awards.

Well-respected Hamptonite Harriette Weintraub received an award for her long contribution to the fashion and lifestyle industries. A savvy public relations guru for the luxury fashion, retail and real estate communities, her firm HWPR has extensive experience in marketing and promotion in the luxury sector. The client base spans a range of prestige products and services that include real estate, fashion and accessories, fragrance and beauty, art and antiques, architects and interior designers and hospitality. She has worked with numerous East End designers and businesses including the launch of Barbara Warner's very successful H. Groome in Southampton.

Recipients of the 2009 Mann Foundation Awards.

In addition to the over 50 awards presented, three individuals were singled out for very special recognition: Woman of the Year, Linda Cohn, ESPN Sportscaster; Special New Yorker, Stephen Siegel, CB Richard Ellis and philanthropist and long-time Hamptonite John Pomerantz, JJP Advisors.

Pomerantz headed up Leslie Fay, a family-run business with a distinctive style that was for many years was the dominant name on 7th Avenue for moderately priced women's wear.

A highlight of the evening was a special award given to the Kerr Family long-time supporters of the event and close friends with the Manns. Indeed, just about everyone in the room seemed to be a "close fried" of Jeff. Dress for Success CEO Joy Gordon had nothing but praise for Jeff and his generosity and willingness to open doors." Jeff was there for me 10 years ago when I first joined Dress for Success. He turned to all of his designer and manufacturing friends and arranged for them to donate dresses for our women re-entering the work force. Many of them have continued with us since then." With the help of people like the Manns, she contends, Dress for Success has become recognized as an acknowledged leader in promoting the economic and social development of disadvantaged women while expanding the organization's reach so that more and more women across the globe will have access to the resources and tools they need to succeed in the workplace.

David Kener, Peter Klestadt, Michelle Metlin, Trish Mairs enjoy the evening.

Attorney Peter Klestadt, Senior Partner at Grunfeld, Desiderio, Lebowitz,
Silverman & Klestadt, LLP, and a board member of the prestigious American Place Theatre, also spoke glowingly of Jeff and Ann's devotion to the arts and their generous support of New York institutions such as American Place Theatre.

Despite the ways in which many of the industries represented and honored at the gala were suffering given the present economic climate, the mood at the party was festive and optimistic.