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Kicking
it off with the “Mother of the Year”
L. to r.: Restaurateur
Michael McCarty, actor/producer (“Bella”) Eduardo Verastegui,
Tony Bennett, Frank Gifford, Sean Wolfington, Susan Bennett,
Herb Siegal, and Michael’s GM Steve Millington.
This
was the main table at Michael’s yesterday lunchtime, right
around the corner from where I was sitting with the polo
playing PR exec Ashley Schiff and her boyfriend Mike Ramos.
I’m not certain what brought this crew together (although
Gifford and Siegal, old pals, were lunching at a table nearby),
but the Latin American heart throb Sr. Verastegui is a recent
friend of the legendary crooner Mr. Bennett. At one point
in the luncheon the painter/portraitist Mr. Bennett drew
a likeness of his friend. Next week Tony Bennett will appear
at a benefit for the Israel Philharmonic at the Waldorf.
Mr. Verastegui’s film “Bella” is a big hit, as my colleague
and Verastegui enthusiast Diane Clehane wrote in today’s
mediabistro.com, "the star is known as the Brad Pitt of
Latin America." It was a celebration luncheon all around.
Otherwise around the room, producer Charles Kopelman, Sherry
Westin, Wash Post columnist Richard Cohen, producer John
Hart, Peter Price, Lynn Goldberg, Peter Wolf, his wife,
Judy Price with Beth DeWoody, Maryam Banikarim, Steve Aarons,
Jamie Niven, Jerry Della Femina and Gerry Imber, Warren
Hoge and Gerry Schoenfeld, Felicia Taylor and Francine LeFrak,
Alex Hitz and Brooke Hayward Duchin, Pamela Keogh, Marc
Victor, Brad Zeifman, Jared Shapiro
Last
night in New York. Cynthia and Dan Lufkin hosted a reception
for the American Cancer Society – New York, as a kick-off
for the upcoming ACS’s annual “Mother of the Year” 2008
Award Luncheon. This year the honoree is Mrs. Lufkin, and
remarkable mother she is.
Two
or three years ago Cynthia was diagnosed with breast cancer
when her pregnancy was about to come to term. The seriousness
of her condition demanded immediate action. Her child (a
girl) was born very soon thereafter and then Cynthia underwent
major surgery. She’s a young woman, as you can see, already
the mother of another little girl, and a fairly newlywed
to her husband Dan. She’s also a popular woman in New York,
very active in several philanthropies as well as a very
friendly kinda happy-go-lucky (on the surface) girl. Everyone
rallied behind her and in numerous ways kept silent vigil
for her complete recovery. Which she has achieved completely,
we can all say thankfully.
When
you’re in her presence it’s hard to imagine what she’s been
through in the past couple of years because it was an intense
and not short process. Cynthia’s one of those people who
wears her woes quietly and resolutely. So last night was
a kind of celebration aside from the purpose of publicizing
the upcoming luncheon which will be held Tuesday, February
26th at the Plaza (cocktails 11:45, luncheon 12:30).
I’ve covered these “Mother of the Year” luncheons in the
past. They draw a big crowd of mostly women, many prominent
and social, many others who are just supporters of the cause.
In past years they’ve been at the St. Regis Roof. This year
will be in the newly refurbished Plaza Ballroom. It’s a
warm and touching event and often filled with laughter –
which is why it probably draws a big crowd every year. The
honorees are always very interesting, having interesting
stories to tell, sometimes heart-wrenching, sometimes very
amusing, even funny, and all times carrying the implicit
message of courage and hope.
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