Casita Maria Celebrates it's Annual Fiesta 2018

 

Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Carlos Souza, and Mary Snow 

 Earlier this week, Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education celebrated it's annual Fiesta 2018 at New York’s Plaza Hotel. Each year at Fiesta, the Casita Maria Gold Medal of Honor is awarded to outstanding individuals in recognition to their contribution to the worlds of arts, education, and philanthropy. This year, Casita Maria honored three exceptional philanthropic individuals: Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Mary Snow, and Carlos Souza. 

 

Cuban Actress Sissi Fleitas was the evening’s host. The Dinner Chairmen were Jacqueline Weld Drake, HRH Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, and Carlos Mota. Casita Maria’s Chairman Jacqueline Weld Drake presented all three honorees with their Gold Medals of Honor. 

 

The Honorary Chairs were Elizabeth Peabody, Christine Schwarzman, and Lynn Wyatt. 

 

American-Brazilian singer Bebel Gilberto performed two songs with guitarist Guilherme Monteiro. 

 

“I am proud to say that in 2018, our programs have served more than 1000 promising young members of the Bronx, East Harlem and Harlem communities,” said Board Chairman Jaqueline Weld Drake. She went on to say, “Looking ahead to what’s in store in 2019 and beyond, Casita Maria will continue to advance our mission and work to build a brighter, more creative, and culturally rich future for our children and all future residents of the South Bronx and East Harlem.” 

Casita Maria’s Executive Director, Haydee Morales, said “For more than 80 years, Casita Maria's educational and creative arts programs have opened doors of joy and opportunity for the youth, families, and communities we serve. We are proud of our history as the first and oldest Latino-serving charity in New York City, and look forward to many more years serving the people of East Harlem, Hunts Point and the South Bronx. Over the last year, we have redoubled our efforts to bring high- quality education to South Bronx youth, and to curate and present artists and performers who represent the best of the Bronx's diversity, beauty, and resilience.” 

Casita Maria’s annual benefit is an elegant and fun evening that begins with cocktails, followed by seated dinner, music and dancing by The Bob Hardwick Sound. Past honorees have included outstanding individuals such as Santiago Calatrava, Marcelo Claure, Roberto Cavalli, Patricia isneros, John Demsey, France Desmarais, Marta and Placido Domingo, Emilia and J. Pepe Fanjul, Joanna Fisher, Carlos Fuentes, Audrey Gruss, Agnes Gund, Rosaura Henkel, Audrey Hepburn, Carolina Herrera, Julio Iglesias, Hilda Ochoa-Brillembourg, Eddie Palmieri, Elizabeth T. Peabody, Rodman C. Rockefeller, Julia Salvi, Daisy Soros, Hutton Wilkinson and Lynn Wyatt.

 

 

About Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education

 

Casita Maria was founded in 1934 by Claire and Elizabeth Sullivan.  For more than 80 years, Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education has served as a cultural and community anchor for thousands of young people and their families in the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx. Casita has earned a reputation as the first and oldest Latino charity in New York City. The mission of the Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education is to empower youth and their families by creating a culture of learning through high quality social, cultural, and educational opportunities.

 

 

Olivia Palermo and Nicky Hilton Rothschild

 

Renee Rockefeller, Jennifer Creel, Alexandra Lind Rose

 

Princess Astrid Von Liechtenstein, Carlos Souza

 

 

 

Photos by:

Annie Watt/ Annie Watt Agency 

Gonzalo Marroquin /PMC

 

Free Beauty Events October Giveaway

FreeBeautyEvents.com is back this month with another amazing giveaway.  For anyone not familiar with FBE, the site is a great tool for all beauty addicts.  It helps you stay up to date on the latest beauty happenings in your area and serves as an awesome way to snag killer free samples. Each month the site gives away a bundle chalk full of the industry's best must haves.  Let's check them out!  

 

This month's basket includes industry favorites from Maybelline, Lumene, imPress, Milani, Eva- NYC, LA Girl, and more!  The contest runs from now through 10/31//18, winners will be chosen on 11/10/18 and notified by 11/15/18.  Entering is simple!  Visit FreeBeautyEvents on Facebook (don't forget to like them!) or enter directly on their website.

Besides the monthly giveaways, the site also offers great beauty advice and product reviews on their blog.  Like any of the products you read about?  Keep your eyes open for your chance to stock up!  Easy as 1-2-3, just enter your zip code into the site's search bar to find out which locations in your area might be handing out samples.  It's a helpful way to keep up to date with the beauty events happening in your town.  

  

Get more FBE info here

Have you attended a past event listed on the site? 

together1heart Honors Actors Susan Sarandon and Danny Abeckaser

Actors Susan Sarandon, AnnaLynne McCord, Danny Abeckaser

Susan Sarandon and Danny Abeckaser were honored last week at the together1heart inaugural New York Gala at TAO Downtown. The evening supported together1heart's continued work to end slavery and to support women's rights globally.

It was a moving evening with every speaker receiving a standing ovation.  Bill Livermore, Executive Director of together1heart, cited a figure of 22 million girls currently held in sex slavery worldwide and the emergence of significantly younger women being sold into Cambodian brothel’s. “Somaly Mam recently rescued a child of only 22 months,” he said.

Sina Vann, herself a survivor of sex slavery, and now a staff member of together1heart, described the horrific conditions she was kept in against her will, and the joy she now experiences working with survivors. Actor, writer, and producer DannyAbeckaser received the “Voices for Change” award for his generous support of both the organization and for the chairman, actress AnnaLynne McCord.  Said McCord, “This organization changed my life, gave me a sense of worth, and an understating of what one person can do.  When you show up for children you change the world.  I want to applaud everyone who showed up tonight.”  

Susan Sarandon and Somaly Mam together on stage made an indelible impression.  Said Susan, “In this time when you can be disheartened and distraught, look instead at how many women are finding their voices and how many men are standing beside them.  Love is a powerful force and we are all privileged to be part of the love Somaly Mam brings to a difficult story.  Look at what Somaly has done, what one person can do.  She invited me to meet the young women and girls in her program.  What I met were strong women. You don’t forget the past but you can move forward”.  Said Somaly on closing, “Susan, I love you very much”.

Guests included Model Carol Alt, Adrianna Beer, Andrea Cataneo, Yuliya Dan, Ezequiel de la Rosa, Victor DeSosa, Claude Hildenbrand, Arielle Jacobs (Jasmine from Disney's Aladdin), Jenn Lyon (HBO Claws), Jennifer MacFarlane, Ty-ron Mayes, Samira Panah, Jean Shafiroff, and Chris Talbot. 

 together1heart works to care for and secure the rights of young women and girls who are victims, or at risk of being victims, of slavery, and to successfully recover, educate, train and reintegrate them into mainstream society through financial independence in a sustainable and innovative manner. They accomplish this by helping and teaching them how to achieve financial independence through sustainable careers. together1heart welcomes them to become a part of our survivor empowerment network.

 Photos by Stephen Smith