Cynthia Erivo and Tameron Hall Honored at Voss Foundation Women Helping Women Luncheon

Earlier this month, the Voss Foundation held its eighth annual Women Helping Women New York Luncheon at the Dream Downtown.

Cynthia Erivo, an Emmy, Tony & Grammy-winning actress, and the award-winning journalist, Tamron Hall, were honored at the Luncheon for the important work they do to help those in need and give back and support women everywhere.

Both Cynthia Erivo and Tamron Hall expressed their belief that the best thing that one can do is to give back to those in need. Whether in words or deeds, they both stressed that a simple act of kindness has the ability to impact another person’s life in ways that you might be unaware of.

The Luncheon also honored the late Charlot Malin, as the former Voss Foundation Director, Kara Gerson, gave a moving tribute to her. Charlot was a San Francisco based member of the board and passed away unexpectedly earlier this year. The Charlot D. Malin Commemorative Fund has been in her memory and all money raised in 2017 will be used toward a project in her name.

Almost 200 guests dined on a fall menu of salmon and lentils amongst a colorful array of African fabrics designed by the 2017 Voss Foundation Women Helping Women Hamptons’ honoree, Mariama Camara.

Susan Fales-Hill, the Mistress of Ceremonies, writer, producer & author, aided by fashion personality, Frederick Anderson, took turns engaging the crowd throughout the afternoon with rousing calls to action to purchase from Voss’ Foundation celebrated African Bazaar and to fill out the tableside Fund A Need cards to support the foundation’s ongoing water projects. The bazaar includes artisanal handmade jewelry, scarves, baskets, and toys purchased directly from communities in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Liberia, Swaziland, and Uganda where the organization works.

The benefit raised over $100,000 to fund Voss Foundation’s ongoing water projects in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The luncheon received support from AMC (Applied Merchandising Concepts), BET Networks, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Empower Cocktails, Greenberg Traurig and VOSS Water.

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Photography by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Voss Foundation

On Monday, Nov. 6, Downtown Magazine hosted its cover launch party for the special art issue. Held at the beautiful World Trade Gallery, which also hosts some of the artists covered in the latest issue, the setting for the magnificent night couldn’t have been a better fit.

On the night of the launch, Downtown Magazine could finally unveil the cover and present the cover stars, who were all present to show their support; Kirk Myers of the DogPound, Olympian fencer Miles Chamley-Watson, award-winning actress and singer Cynthia Erivo, ABT ballerina Katie Boren, and model Anne De Paula were all joined by photographer Nigel Barker, who shot this issue’s cover.

“Life itself can be a form of art,” said Nigel Barker as Downtown’s Publisher & CEO Grace A. Capobianco handed him the microphone to introduce the thoughts behind the feature. And life indeed can. In this issue, Downtown focused on the many ways art is created, because art does come in many shapes and forms. And for all the cover stars, their bodies are what allow them to create, compete and perform at peak.

The launch party held a very special surprise in the form of an auction #DenimForArt, in which Downtown Magazine had paired with Saks Downtown to benefit the organization Girl Be Heard. The cover stars along with three of the incredibly talented artists also covered in the issue, WhIsBe, Chinon Maria and Layer Cake, had each designed jean jackets for the auction. See all the stunning designs and place your bid right here.

The jackets were presented in the most amazing fashion in a Girl Be Heard performance with spoken word and a rap that had the gallery buzzing with empowerment.

The gallery was packed with the who’s who of Downtown Manhattan and over the course of the night, guests marveled at the artwork while enjoying delicious hors d’ouvres from Madison & Park Hospitality Group and wine provided by Barrymore Wines and Liquor Lab.

Another star beverage of the night was served by iPic‘s own Adam Seger, whose feature in this issue holds a special DOWNTOWNER cocktail recipe that he’s created solely for Downtown Magazine. The cocktail consists of tequila infused with grilled pineapple, Fresno chilies and FiDi honey, and was a sure hit at the party.
This cocktail will now be available at the Tuck Room in the Fulton Market Building in the Seaport District, or grab an issue of the magazine and duplicate it at home.

We couldn’t be more excited to present this new issue of Downtown Magazine as we step into what we truly believe to be a new era for the magazine and for the Downtown area as a whole.

“No longer our grandfather’s or our father’s Wall Street, or the lost city after 9/11, Downtown Manhattan has come alive with artists, athletes, models, dancers, and entrepreneurs. It’s hot!” said our Chairman of the Advisory Board, Dara McQuillan Chief Marketing Officer Silverstein Properties And we couldn’t agree more.

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Photography by Eliot Choi