New Yorkers For Children (NYFC) celebrated the 2010 Fall Gala, presented by CIRCA, on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at Cipriani 42 to benefit youth in foster care in New York City. This year’s event honored Keith Bulluck, New York Giants’ All-Pro Linebacker, with the Nicholas Scoppetta Child Welfare Award for his work with youth in foster care.The evening was hosted by Model, Actress, and Philanthropist Selita Ebanks. Ms. Ebanks grew up in foster care in New York City and has been a long time friend and supporter of NYFC.
The 2010 Fall Gala Co-Chairs were Henry and Vanessa Cornell, Oscar de la Renta, Susan and Tony Gilroy, Tina and Peter Harf, Kevin and Erika Liles, and Shirin von Wulffen and Frédéric Fekkai. The Fall Gala is NYFC’s major fundraising event to assist young people in foster care in New York City and included cocktails, dinner, a live auction, and a special musical performance by Grammy Award Winning Artist Estelle.
NYFC recognized Keith, a native New Yorker, for his longtime commitment and philanthropic efforts benefitting young people in foster care. At the age of 12, Keith was placed in foster care when his mother could no longer care for him. In 2003, he founded The Keith Bulluck Believe & Achieve Foundation to help youth in foster care in Tennessee and New York.
The Fall Gala Vice Chairs were Donya and Scott Bommer, Susan L. Burden, Alina Cho, Chris Del Gatto, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Amanda and Jonathan Eilian, Nicole Esposito, Dayssi and Paul Kanavos, Marina Killery and David Orentreich, Susan Korb and Joe McInerny, Francois Kress, Pia and David Ledy, Julie and William Macklowe, Nina Matis, Ashley and Jeff McDermott, Ana and Henry Pincus, Scott and Candice Posner, Susan Shin, Kelly and Jay Sugarman, Vanessa Weiner von Bismarck, and Stephanie and David Wolkoff.
In addition to CIRCA, sponsors for the evening included BNY Mellon, Emmet Marvin & Martin LLP, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, Prada, Seward & Kissel LLP, American Express, Ann Taylor, BET Networks, Chloé, CNN, Deloitte, Dior Beauty, Federated Investors, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, J.Crew, KWL Enterprises, Macy’s and Bloomingdales, Miriam Haskell, MTV Networks, N!CE Partners LLC, Oscar de la Renta, and Vanderbilt Hall Hotel, Newport, RI. Additionally, Ann Taylor and Boden dressed the 20 youth in attendance and M·A·C Cosmetics and Frédéric Fekkai provided makeup and hairstyling.
During the Gala, Sotheby's Vice Chairman Jamie Niven hosted a live auction which raised nearly $400,000,providing Gala attendees the opportunity to support youth in foster care as they strive to achieve their educational goals. David Stark Design and Production created event décor for the fourth consecutive year, designing an environment reflective of NYFC’s commitment to helping young people succeed. Music was provided by Sky Nellor during dancing.
A short film by filmmaker Kat Westergaard was shown during the program which followed two New Yorkers For Children Guardian Scholars as they strive to overcome the challenges presented in earning a college degree while in foster care. The film featured one of the Inaugural Guardian Scholars who is graduating from Hunter College and the other as she transitions to college with the support of the Hugh Jackman Guardian Scholarship.
