Charity Social New York

CUNY Helps NYC Reevaluate the Importance of Solar Energy

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:09:00 -0400

On Tuesday, June 4, the City University of New York will help promote the utilization of solar energy as the key to a more efficient and economically reliable future by hosting the 2013 NYC Solar Summit at the CUNY Graduate Center (365 Fifth Avenue). This event will focus on a number of moderated conversations on the benefits, promotion, and implementation of solar energy in NYC. Registration for the event is open to the public and is free of charge to students, faculty, speakers, sponsors, and members of the media.

The City University of New York has had a history of helping NYC become a more solar energy-efficient city. By aiding the U.S. Department of Energy in leading four initiatives to expand market growth for solar energy in NYC, it is no surprise that CUNY has chosen to host this important event. Some of the notable individuals who will partake in the discussions for this event include U.S. Department of Energy Program Manager Kevin Lynn, New York Power Authority Lead Engineer John Markowitz, and Chair of Energy and Finance for the State of New York Richard Kauffman.

The event will begin at 8:45am with a light breakfast and will be followed with a welcoming by University Director of Sustainability Tria Case. After the introductory proceedings, the event will be opened up by a conversation called “Breaking Solar Boundaries in NYC.” After this discussion, the major morning conversation will be introduced. This conversation, which is called “The Tipping Point for Solar in New York,” will branch off into a series of related discussions including “NY Solar Smart: A Statewide Collaboration” and after a 12:30pm lunch break conversation will commence with “Solar Thermal Roadmap” and “Emergency Power: Solar Steps up to the Plate.” The event will then move on to the next major conversation, “Realizing the Value of Solar in the U.S.” and conclude with a networking reception.

With $116 million added to the local economy in the past six years by increasing the number of solar installation companies by eight, as well as by boosting the growth of rooftop solar capacity, attending the NYC Solar Summit is a way to inform yourself and promote this kind of plan for New York's energy future.

If you are unable to attend but would like to make an additional contribution, you can donate here through the event’s website.

WGIRLS Party for a Purpose at Northport Wine Cellar

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:45:59 -0400

To provide continued relief to the victims of Hurricane Sandy, WGIRLS Coastal Long Island is hosting their Forget Me Not Wine Slam on Thursday, June 13. Taking place at the Northport Tasting Room and Wine Cellar (70 Main Street) on Long Island, this wine tasting session will allow people to help those who were impacted due to the tragic outcome of Hurricane Sandy by sharing some of New York’s finest wines. This event will occur between 7pm and midnight with tickets costing only $10 each.

WGIRLS INC is a not-for-profit organization that first came together in 2007 as a way for young professional women to assist disadvantaged women and children around the city of New York. Some of the programs that they have offered in the past include providing meals for the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge and Project G.L.A.M. (Granting Lasting Amazing Memories), a program that helps provide dresses for economically disadvantaged girls to wear to their high school prom. WGIRLS Coastal Long Island emerged in early 2013 as a way to help those affected in Long Island by Hurricane Sandy.

Although it has been seven months since Hurricane Sandy hit the New York area, there are still hundreds of families that remain displaced all over the city. By aiding those victims who are still in need, WGIRLS Coastal Long Island continues to impact communities across Long Island and grow in membership. By attending this event, WGIRLS states that you will be “partying for a purpose” while helping those victims who are still in need. If you will not be able to attend this event, a separate donation can be made by visiting the WGIRLS website.

Happy, Healthy and Hydrated

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:28:00 -0400

It’s 5:45am and my alarm goes off. Absolutely exhausted after having gone to sleep just four hours prior, leaving my bed was the last thing I wanted to do. But then I remembered I was working for Ground Control, and that I needed to be on my A-game for the next 16 hours.

Arriving at around 7:30am on Friday, the first thing my two friends and I see as we arrive at Citi Field in Flushing, New York, is a gigantic ferris wheel containing thousands of LED lights. Entering the venue both nervous and excited to experience EDC NY for the first time, we finally meet Laura Newton, the founder of Ground Control. Laura came up with the idea in 2011, and the team’s mission is to maintain that everyone is “happy, healthy and hydrated.” Ground Control was a response to the unfortunate death that occurred at LA Coliseum back in June 2010. Our job was not only to hand out free water bottles, but also to simply let guests know that we are there to help by performing acts of kindness. We were given purple tank tops printed with “Ground Control” and the Insomniac logo that distinguished us from the crowd, and about 50 determined, young individuals were split into 11 groups among 3 zones. Each group was assigned a leader that was given a walkie talkie in order to communicate with the “base tent” in the event of an emergency. Things are already starting to seem a bit intense, but little do I know that I will be working in the rehab tent all day.

At about noon, my group was assigned to Zone 1, where Kineticfield was located. Rudee had just started spinning, and his set truly made handing out water bottles so much more fun than it could have been. Dancing to the beat while being filmed, I was on the lookout for people that looked like they were rolling, dehydrated, or could simply use a free bottle of water. Although it was still very early, my group and I already began to spot partiers that give EDM the negative connotation of drugs and raving that most fans have come to despise. One girl that could barely sit up straight was clearly rolling hard, and when offered a water bottle, she kindly refused. It turned out that same girl would show up at the medical tent I was volunteering at, later that day.

Working at the Rehab Tent was an interesting experience, to say the least. Those that were brought in were retrieved by medical staff that manned the festival, who worked very efficiently to find those that needed medical attention. Most that were wheel-chaired in were drinking underage, and they clearly could not hold their liquor by the number of heads hanging over garbage bags. Then, of course, were girls and guys that couldn’t function because this was likely the first time in their lives that they had ever taken Molly. I’ll never forget the girl who came in smiling as if she was surrounded by angels, and never stopped smiling for the remainder of her time in the rehab tent. At least one person was having a positive experience.

It only started to become slightly unpleasant when seriously altered patrons were brought in later that evening. Supposedly one guest had a seizure, whereas others were so far gone that there was no other alternative than to transport them to the hospital. Not to mention the “combative” guys (and one verbally abusive girl) and the fact that virtually everyone around me was attached to an IV and was either passed out or vomiting in a trash bag. Some, like the two girls in my group, find the medical field fascinating. For others, like me, it’s not exactly my first preference.

At the end of the day, I have no regrets. Before Ground Control, I had never volunteered at a music festival before. Sure, it was great to go to EDC NY for free, in addition to the fact that the catered food they gave us was surprisingly much better than I expected. I appreciated the opportunity of working while seeing some of my favorite DJs simultaneously, and being part of a community that shares a love for the music. But more importantly, I met many new people that dedicated themselves to the arduous duties that were expected of them—to save lives. I left Citi Field that night knowing that I helped people, regardless of how little or how much. My group and I had accomplished a lot, from reconnecting lost guests with their friends to making sure that those who needed medical attention, were given proper care. This type of volunteering was beyond anything I’d done before, and I would definitely recommend it for those who haven’t had this experience. The perks of knowing that you saved at least one person’s life in sixteen hours is extremely rewarding, and I know that I’ll be doing it all over again next year.

Brooklyn Community Services Celebrates the Human Spirit

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:08:00 -0400

Brooklyn Community Services (BCS) will be celebrating 147 years of strengthening the human spirit in Brooklyn with their annual Human Spirit Awards on June 4, 2013. With 500 people in over seventeen locations throughout the borough, Brooklyn Community Services has led the way in helping children, families, and adults reach their full potential for well over a century and has also helped recognize those who have done the same.

The Human Spirit Awards ceremony will take place at the Grand Hyatt's Manhattan Ballroom (109 East 42nd Street at Grand Central Terminal) and will kick off at 6:00pm with a cocktail party followed by dinner and programming at 7:00pm. The honorees for this year’s awards ceremony will be image activist, writer and conversationalist Michaela Angela Davis, artist and Vice Chairman of Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation Danny Simmons, President and CEO of Empire State Development Kenneth Adams, and Newsies Director Jeff Calhoun. The honorees for this year’s Human Spirit Awards ceremony were chosen for their ability to change the way people look at themselves, how we learn from our past, and by giving young people a reason to see a better future. These honorees have changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and in turn have had a huge impact on society at large.

Also in attendance will be special guests Willie Geist, co-host of NBC's Today 9am-hour and MSNBC's Morning Joe, and News 4 New York co-anchor Melissa Russo. In addition, the proceedings will also be attended by Beverly Bond, founder of a youth empowerment and mentoring organization called Black Girls Rock! who was included in ESSENCE magazine's "40 Fierce and Fabulous Women Who are Changing the World."

BCS will also precede the awards ceremony by offering an online auction starting on Wednesday, May 22nd. 100 percent of the proceeds from this auction willl be donated to help Hurricane Sandy victims. The launch party for the auction will be held at Spike Hill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The Human Spirit Awards will be BCS’s biggest event of the year and there are many options to attend. If you are not able to make this event, BCS also gives people the opportunity to provide a separate donation through their website.

Watch the video below to find out more about the BCS:

CancerCare Throws Annual Spring Gala at Central Park South

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:55:00 -0400

CancerCare, a non-profit organization that offers free services to people who are suffering from cancer, are holding their Annual Spring Gala at the Plaza Hotel's Grand Ballroom on Wednesday, June 12th. The honoree for this year’s gala will be the law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and will be hosted by CBS News Senior Business Correspondent and host of Saturday’s CBS This Morning, Anthony Mason. The night will begin at 6:30pm with a cocktail party and silent auction. This will be followed by a dinner and live auction at 7:30pm. Cocktail attire is suggested in order to attend and tickets for the event can be purchased here.

Last year’s gala, which honored Golden Globe winning actress S. Epatha Merkerson at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, raised over $520,000 for CancerCare. Merkerson was presented with last year’s Hope and Help Award by award-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg. Notable auction items included at the 2012 Gala were two tickets to the 2013 Emmy Awards and a five-night stay for two in a pied-à-terre in Paris.

CancerCare is a national non-profit organization dedicated to helping people cope with, and manage, the emotional and practical challenges of cancer since 1944. Professional oncology social workers provide expert help in counseling, coping skills, crisis intervention, active listening and more. All services provided by this organization are free of charge. If you are not able to attend this event, CancerCare gives you the option to make a separate contribution through their website by purchasing an ad in their journal or by making a separate donation. If you would like to speak with a CancerCare social worker, call 800-813-HOPE or visit their website.

To find out more about this non-profit organization, watch this video below:

NYSPCC's Savor the City

Fri, 10 May 2013 14:58:00 -0400

Wednesday evening the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC) held their annual Savor the City fundraiser to raise money for their Trauma Recovery Program at Asellina inside the Gansevoort Park Hotel. During the event some of the city’s most philanthropic young professionals who represent the NYCSPCC’s Junior Committee and honored guests participated in a silent auction with items ranging from tickets to see Jimmy Fallon, the Mets, and Sleep No More to a range of fitness classes and beauty products and exclusive dining opportunities around the city. Top tier auction items included a private home cooked dinner for 10 guests by Rao’s, tickets to attend the US Open, and something on our personal bucket list, the opportunity to be a fighter pilot for a day. The 185 guests of the event enjoyed cocktails and some of Asellina’s delicious Italian passed hor d’oeuvres and desserts while making moves to help end and educate the public on child abuse. Over $47,000 was raised to support the NYSPCC’s Trauma Recovery Program. Guests included members of the Steering Committee including Alexandra Papanicolaou, Christopher Breck, Jeffery C. Caldwell, Chani Churchill, Darlene Liebman, Lauren Matina, Maureen Nash, Elizabeth Rockman, Matt Semino, Samantha Strockis, and Whitney Topping.

If you were unable to attend the Savor the City benefit and would like to learn more about NYSPCC’s mission to protect children from the hands of abusers or show your support click here.

The New York Transit Museum Takes Over Midtown in May

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:03:00 -0400

May is a big month for the New York Transit Museum, who are planning a number of events for both members and non-members. The first event in this series is MIDTOWN EATS with Michael Morgenthal which is limited to museum members and will give people the opportunity to follow well-versed Midtown guide Michael Morgenthal on a tour of Midtown Manhattan’s best historical and under-the-radar eating spots. Members have the opportunity to buy up to two tickets for this event which takes place May 10th between 1 pm and 3 pm. Also on May 10th is a members-only preview of the Grand Centennial Parade of Trains. This exclusive preview of vintage trains, which will take place between 2:30 pm and 3:30 pm, is a special thank you from the museum for membership support. Spaces are limited so reserve you ticket promptly.

Building Midtown: The Beginning, which will take place on both May 11th and 19th, is an event open to both members and non-members. This event will give people the opportunity to hear architectural historian Matthew Postal examine Grand Central Station’s unique architecture and impact on the city at large in the first few decades of its construction. Those who may not be able to participate in this event are reminded that it is still possible to make a separate donation through the museum’s website. On May 17th the New York Transit Museum will present another event available to non-members called Midtown Eats! With Blondie and Brownie. Midtown Lunch bloggers and authors of the new book New York a la Cart: Recipes and Stories from the Big Apple’s Best Food Trucks, Blondie and Brownie will lead a food truck tour that will provide participants with an adventure in eating.

The last in this month of events presented by the New York Transit Museum for non-members will feature a walking tour by John Simko examining the unique and historical architecture of many landmarks in and around Midtown originally built by architect Rafael Guastavino. This event, which is called The Guastavino Legacy and takes place between 11 am and 1:30 pm on both May 18th and June 1st, will cover everything from the 59th Street Bridge to Grand Central Station as a way to examine Guastavino and his innovative “”Tile Arch System.” In addition, museum members will also be given the opporunity to follow guide extraordinaire Dan Brucker through a tour of Grand Central Terminal's magnificent architecture and best kept secrets in an event called Inside Grand Central Terminal: A Centennial Tour. All of these events will begin at the Transit Museum Gallery Annex & Store at Grand Central Terminal.

The First Annual Young Professionals Party

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:56:58 -0400

On Tuesday, May 14th, join premiere DJ Cassidy at LAVO Italian Restaurant and Nightclub for a night of passed hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and a silent auction of highly covetable items and experiences to benefit the Silver Hill Hospital Scholarship Fund. Located in New Canaan, CT, Silver Hill Hospital, a not-for-profit hospital, has long been a world-renowned institution for the treatment of mental illness and addiction. Founded in 1931, by psychiatrist, Dr. John Millet, the Silver Hill Hospital offers its patients a wide variety of comprehensive inpatient, residential, and intensive outpatient services for adults and adolescents spanning the full spectrum of psychiatric and addition illnesses.

With one of every four people being affected by mental illness or addiction, Silver Hill Hospital helps those affected and who seek treatment return to a healthy and happy lifestyle. The hospital’s treatment regiments are focused on helping patients get better through inspiring hope and helping in their transition home to their family and communities. The main goal of the Young Professionals Party is to raise charitable donations for Silver Hill’s Scholarship Fund. The Scholarship Fund is an essential resource for those who seek intensive inpatient residential treatment. Patients who are motivated to change and take full advantage of what Silver Hill has to offer may qualify for financial assistance. The high cost of treatment centers elevates the stress associated with having to stay in an inpatient facility for an extended period of time and often deters people who suffer with addition and their mental health from seeing the help they desperately need. With this in mind, the Silver Hill Scholarship Fund greatly increases the number of deserving patients that gain access to the treatments that they need.

You can help the young philanthropists and professionals who’ve set out to raise money and help Silver Hill Hospital adhere to their mission of “provid[ing] the best treatment for mental illness and addiction; and to offer continuing support, counseling and education to patients and families in every phase of illness and recovery” by attending on May 14th at LAVO from 8pm until 11pm.

Proceeds from ticket sales ($135) for the first annual Young Professionals Party will go toward the Silver Hill Hospital Scholarship Fund. If you’re unable to attend the event, but are interested in making a charitable donation, click here.

Celebrate More Birthday's at Taste of Hope

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:49:00 -0400

Everyone knows someone whose life has been touched by cancer—whether your story is a story of remembrance, a story of a loved one's struggle with the disease, or your own survival you’re never alone in the fight thanks to the American Cancer Society. This year marks the American Cancer Society’s 100th birthday and like their heartwarming television commercial suggests, they really do help make more birthdays. In celebration of all of their accomplishments in research, fundraising, and above all the support they offer to cancer patients and their families, you can help continue to celebrate more birthdays by purchasing a $50 candle in honor or memory of a loved one. These candles will top the American Cancer Society’s birthday cake at their Eighth Annual Taste of Hope benefit.

Celebrate the American Cancer Society, more birthdays, and delicious eats at Taste of Hope on Thursday, May 2nd at 82Mercer. This year’s Taste of Hope event honors Chef Marc Murphy, the owner and Chef behind New York restaurants, the Landmarc, Ditch Plains, and Benchmarc. Taste of Hope, the American Cancer Society’s signature culinary, wine and spirits event, and just one of the hundreds of programming that the Society organizes throughout the year, is a great way to taste best city eats while fighting for a cure. Taste of Hope will feature some of New York’s top chefs, restaurants, beverage vendors and music by DJ Scott Sheeny. Guests will have the opportunity to walk around the venue tasting samples of signature dishes and desserts, premier wines and spirits, and inventive cocktails. Participants in this year’s Taste of Hope include Beauty & Essex, Delicatessen, Ginny’s Supper Club, JoeDoe & JoeDough, Pinkberry, Sprinkles Cupcakes, and so much more. As always, proceeds from the Taste of Hope event go toward the American Cancer Society’s goal of eliminating cancer as a major health problem.

“Together, we save lives and create a world with more birthdays by helping you stay well, helping you get well, finding cures and fighting back.”

To purchase a birthday candle for the Taste of Hope's 100th Birthday Cake, please click here. Tickets to the event are $175 or $300 for a pair and can be purchased on the same site. A few VIP Table packages, for 5 or 10 people, are still available in limited quantity.

Searching for a Cure for Canavan Disease at Chelsea Piers

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:33:00 -0400

Jacob’s Cure, a non-profit organization devoted to researching a yet uncurable disease called Canavan, will be holding its Dream Big Gala on Thursday, May 16th at Chelsea Piers, Pier 60 between 23rd Street and West Side Highway in honor of Brian and Scott Sklar. The event takes place between 6pm and 11:30pm and includes cocktails, dinner, and an after-party. Donors have the option of purchasing tickets, sponsorships, or journal ads through the Jacob's Cure website. In addition, a raffle (limited to 500 tickets) will be held for the opportunity to win a two year lease for a new BMW 128i convertible from Orange County BMW (winning participants need not be present).

Canavan disease, a rare genetic neurological disorder that develops early in life, can cause its carriers to have seizures, paralysis, lose the ability to see, and cause many to die within the first decade of their lives. This organization, which was founded by Johana Holovach, began as a way to try and save her son who was diagnosed with the disease. Although there is currently no cure for Canavan disease, the Jacob's Cure organization has helped slow the symptoms of Canavan in many children. According to their website, they have put money raised towards researching “gene-therapy, stem cell transplantation, pharmacological approaches, and basic science in understanding the disease.”

Funding for Canavan disease research is small due to the disease's federal categorization as an "orphan disease." Only 7 million dollars has been raised toward therapeutic research for those suffering with Canavan disease since 1994 soley through parental donations. Yet since the founding of Jacob's Cure in 2000, this non-profit organization has not only helped raise money for reasearch but they have also provided support for families that have children afflicted with the disease. Through current stem cell research trials, donators may help bring children afflicted with Canavan closer to a cure.

Tickets, donation options, and information about the event can be found here.

To discover more about Jacob's Cure, watch the video below: