Tag: awards

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Culture Events Wellness

Lulu & Leo Fund Celebrates Creativity With First Annual Choose Creativity Awards

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 3: Kevin Krim, Marina Krim and Victor Cruz attend Choose Creativity Awards at Edison Ballroom on June 3, 2019 in New York. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/PMC) *** Local Caption *** Kevin Krim;Marina Krim;Victor Cruz

By Dan Metz, Associate Editor

Donors, friends, and “SuperArtists” gathered at the Edison Ballroom in Midtown to celebrate creativity in the first annual Choose Creativity Awards. Five recipients received recognition for creativity in fields ranging from music composition to paleobiology. Winners were judged based on Choose Creativity’s ten principles: being Authentic, Resourceful, Curious, Unconventional, Patient, Expressive, Present, Intuitive, Inventive, and Inspired.

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 3: Grimanesa Amoros, Sutan Amrull and Paulina Porizkova attend Choose Creativity Awards at Edison Ballroom on June 3, 2019 in New York. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/PMC) *** Local Caption *** Grimanesa Amoros;Sutan Amrull;Paulina Porizkova

The winners came from diverse fields, part of Choose Creativity’s decision not to focus on set categories. Winners for the night included Sutan Amrull, Aka Raja Gemini, a drag queen and makeup artist; and Aimee Eubanks Davis, CEO of Braven, which supports disadvantaged youth through college and their careers.

The awards are part of The Lulu & Leo Fund a non-profit charity which helps children foster confidence and build resilience through programs centered around the Principles of Creativity. The founders, Kevin & Marina Krim, started the foundation in the wake of the tragic loss of two of their children. They credit their drive for creativity with their ability to heal. Through their program, they hope to create SuperArtists: people who “choose creativity” in every aspect of their life. “Our wish,” they say in a message to the press, “is to inspire families and individuals to use the innate creative energy within them…to bring hope and light to the world around them.”

The Choose Creativity Awards was a new venture for The Lulu & Leo Fund. Since its founding in 2012, it has focused on sharing its Choose Creativity Curriculum. They train leaders and provide supplies for applicants. So far, they have reached 400 teachers and 10,000 children. “Creativity,” Kevin said, “is not a small thing. It’s a very big umbrella that can handle a lot.”

From here, The Krims and Choose Creativity are looking forward. Kevin says that the 60-second video portraits shown for each winner will likely continue. “We think there’s a lot more to be told in terms of the stories of these awardees…we think there’s a real series of mini-documentaries eventually about the backgrounds of these folks.” He also says that he’s looking forward towards next year’s winners. There were nearly 100 nominees this year, and next year will likely have more.

In the end, however, the focus is on children and the continuation of the program. According to Krim, Choose Creativity hopes to continue to expand until their program is in the hands of every kid and every parent and every educator in America. As “Inventive Music” award winner John Zorn said in his acceptance speech, “Children are the future. They’re our future. And they need our support.”

Categories
Design Featured Living

Housing Works Gives Back at 7th Annual Groundbreaker Awards Dinner and Design on a Dime

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 24: CNN Anchor Don Lemon and actress Patricia Clarkson attend the Housing Works' Groundbreaker Awards Dinner 2019 on April 24, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for Housing Works)
CNN Anchor Don Lemon and actress Patricia Clarkson attend the Housing Works’ Groundbreaker Awards Dinner 2019 on April 24, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for Housing Works).

On April 24, 2019, Housing Works held its 7th annual Groundbreaker Awards Dinner on the eve of Design on a Dime—an event celebrating the 15th edition of its fight to end AIDS and homelessness through design. The moving dinner, which celebrated leaders in design, art, and philanthropy, was hosted by luminaries across all fields. CNN anchor Don Lemon kicked off the night with some hilarious yet poignant remarks while Portia de Rossi and Patricia Clarkson brought some levity and spirited banter. Jim Shreve (President and CEO of Baccarat) and Darren Walker (President of Ford Foundation), were both honored for their philanthropic efforts and continued contributions in the fight against HIV/AIDS and homelessness. Not to be forgotten, Matthew Bernardo (President of Housing Works) and James Huniford (Founder of Design on a Dime,) also gave some moving speeches. All in all, it was a night to remember, and the actual event was yet to come!

Design Entrepreneur Award Winner, Founder & CEO, General Public, Portia de Rossi, Design on a Dime Founding Chair, James Huniford, and Designer Cliff Fong pose during the Housing Works' Groundbreaker Awards Dinner 2019 on April 24, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for Housing Works)
Design Entrepreneur Award Winner, Founder & CEO, General Public, Portia de Rossi, Design on a Dime Founding Chair, James Huniford, and Designer Cliff Fong pose during the Housing Works’ Groundbreaker Awards Dinner 2019 on April 24, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for Housing Works).

On Thursday, April 25th Design on a Dime’s 15th edition kicked off. A benefit started in 2004, the four-day-long event is now one of the design industry’s most loved and esteemed fundraisers, bringing together some of the most sought-after creatives in the field of interior design. At each Design on a Dime event, a select group of designers donates their time and skills to create one-of-a-kind vignettes with furniture, art, home décor items, and more, with items donated by caring vendors. The opening night starts with a 5:30 pm preview. At 6:30 pm, visitors are allowed to shop every single item in each booth—all marked at 80% off the retail value. Influential tastemakers, celebrities, and design aficionados flock to DOAD year after year, happy to shop for a cause. Proceeds from Design on a Dime and the Groundbreaker Awards dinner go toward the nonprofit’s supportive housing, lifesaving services, and advocacy efforts to bring social justice to marginalized New Yorkers and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Design on a Dime 2019; Photograph Mike Van Tassell.

This year’s edition did not disappoint. The designers went bold with beautiful color palettes, art galore, striking furnishings, and accessories and objets d’art for days. With designers and brands such as Carlos Jungueira for ESPASSO, Carl Barnett, David Kleinberg Design Associates, Foley & Cox, Erick Espinoza of Anthony Baratta, Drew McKukin Interiors, Anthony George Home, Benjamin Moore, Aparment 48, Ron Marvin, Beth Diana Smith, Saudah Saleem Interiors, and Eneia White Interiors, it was impossible not to cause a big splash. In fact, the event was so successful that to date, over 1.1 million dollars was raised for the nonprofit. Cheers to that!

Housing Works' Design on a Dime 2019; Photograph Mike Van Tassell.
Design on a Dime 2019; Photograph Mike Van Tassell.
Categories
News

Civil Servants Honored with the “Nobel Prize of City Government”

Civil servants, pictured (l to r): Jane Bedell, Sandy Bryant Townsend, Annette Whyte, Jocelyn C. Perez, Edward Toth, and David Piersante.
Civil servants, pictured (l to r): Jane Bedell, Sandy Bryant Townsend, Annette Whyte, Jocelyn C. Perez, Edward Toth, and David Piersante.

Downtown Manhattan is the seat of New York City Government. City Hall and a number of city agencies are located south of Chambers Street. There are now nearly 294,000 full-time city employees—more civil servants than at any point in the city’s history.

Recently, six of these outstanding civil servants – who have contributed nearly 170 years of service to the City – were presented with the Fund for the City of New York’s 45th annual Sloan Public Service Awards. The six honorees (shown above from left to right) are: Jane Bedell, Sandy Bryant Townsend, Annette Whyte, Jocelyn C. Perez, Edward Toth, and David Piersante.

“The Fund for the City of New York is honored to recognize these outstanding civil servants. They have helped make New York the greatest city in the world. This year’s honorees are distinguished by their outstanding performance, and their commitment and responsiveness to public needs. They have shown fearlessness in the face of adversity, and dedication to putting the public interest first. Because of these qualities, we recognize them with an award that is the Nobel Prize of city government,” said Mary McCormick, President of the Fund for the City of New York. “To serve the public is the highest honor and recognizing the unsung heroes who make this city a better place is of the utmost importance.”

The honorees’  work has helped improve health outcomes in the Bronx; ensured individuals can access needed government benefits; given psychiatric patients the opportunity to lead more productive lives; supported New Yorkers with limited resources living with HIV/AIDS; grown millions of native plants for restoration and conservation in our parks; and ensured our city’s contracting process is fair, efficient and responsive.

The Sloan Public Service award is the “Nobel Prize of city government,” and is presented to civil servants from all levels of city government. The winners are selected for their exemplary job performance and tireless dedication to the public. Each will receive a $10,000 cash prize. The recipients were honored on June 7 at their individual workplaces, and at aceremony held at The Great Hall at Cooper Union.

The 2018 Sloan Award winners are: Jane Bedell, MD, Assistant Commissioner & Medical Director, Bronx Neighborhood Health Action Center, NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene; Sandy Bryant-Townsend, Executive Director, Office of Legal Affairs-Fair Hearing Administration, NYC Human Resources Administration; Jocelyn C. Perez, RN, Director of Nursing for Behavioral Health, Metropolitan Hospital, NYC Health and Hospitals; David Piersante, Director of Eligibility, HIV/AIDS Services Administration, DSS/HRA Special Services, NYC Human Resources Administration; Edward Toth, Director, Greenbelt Native Plant Center and Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank, NYC Department of Parks; and Annette Whyte, Associate Director, Vendor Management, Mayor’s Office of Contract Services.

The honorees were nominated by their colleagues, peers and friends and selected from more than 250,000 eligible workers. The candidates were from the mayoral agencies, the Transit and Housing Authorities, the Health and Hospitals Corporation, The City University of New York, the district attorneys’ offices and the public libraries.

More information about past winners, including detailed information on winners from the past nine years, is available on FCNY’s website.