Katie Couric accepts The Constance L. Hays Helping Hands Award.
On Tuesday, April 13, 2010, Children for Children (CFC), which is now the Youth and Education division of HandsOn Network (a related organization of The Points of Light Institute), hosted its Ninth Annual Benefit The Art of Giving at Christie's in New York City. At the event, Children for Children announced that it is extending its national reach and growing into GenerationOn in partnership with The Points of Light Institute.
To kick off the evening, CFC hosted a Benefit Dinner at 6:30pm celebrating the evening’s honoree, Katie Couric, and raising support for their youth programs through their signature live and silent auctions. Following the Dinner, guests enjoyed a Benefit Party at 8:30pm, complete with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live music, decadent desserts, dancing and the silent auction.
Children for Children honored Katie Couric, Anchor of the CBS Evening News with The Constance L. Hays Helping Hands Award. Couric was introduced in a glowing speech by Lisa Paulsen, President and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. Paulsen spoke about "The Couric Effect", aptly dubbed by researchers at the University of Michigan, for Couric's use of her platform and celebrity to shed light on, increase funding and research for colorectal cancer via her 2000, on air colonoscopy in 2000 and launch of the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance after the loss of her husband, Jay, to colorectal cancer in 1998. Neil Bush, Chair of the Board of Directors of The Points of Light Institute offered humorous anecdotes from his father George H.W. Bush about his respect for Ms. Couric before concluding that Katie represents one of those "Thousand Points of Light" whom his father often referred to regularly during his days as President, who encourage individual contribution to society through their symbolic acts, after which Ms. Couric received a standing ovation. Ellen Burstyn, Academy Award winning actress served as emcee.
Benefit Committee co-chairs included Silda Wall, Daniel & Leora Rosenberg, Kathy Lacey & James Hoge, Rebecca & Jim Neary, Megan Kultgen, and Lucy Lang. The Benefit is an important vehicle through which Children for Children raises funds to support its vital youth service programs. The Art of Giving also serves as an opportunity to honor members of the community who are committed to youth service and to celebrate CFC’s more than 200,000 volunteers.
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