Thursday, April 21, Phoenix House, the nation’s leading non-profit drug treatment and education organization, honored Kenneth I. Chenault, chairman and CEO of American Express with its 2005 Public Service Award. The organization’s award honors exceptional men and women whose achievements and service to society inspire young people struggling to reclaim disordered lives.

Ken Chenault and Robert De Niro

The dinner, held in the Mandarin Ballroom of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the Time-Warner Building, was chaired by Richard Fuld, chairman and CEO of Lehman Brothers, Bruce Hammonds, president and CEO of MBNA Corporation, Steve J. Heyer, CEO, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and Edward Miller, former president and CEO of AXA Financial.

Phoenix House is the nation’s largest non-profit provider of substance abuse treatment and prevention services, operating more than 100 programs in nine states. Phoenix House has served communities in New York since 1967, helping thousands to overcome the problems associated with substance abuse and lead healthy, productive and rewarding lives. Some 2,500 adults and teenagers receive treatment each day through more than 20 Phoenix House programs in New York City, upstate New York, and Long Island.

On April 12, dedicated supporters gathered to celebrate Union Settlement’s Fourth Annual Sounds of East Harlem Benefit. Held at the W Hotel, Union Square, the event drew Settlement Board members, community leaders, public officials and friends – all eager to support Union Settlement and to pay tribute to the benefit’s honorees, Felipe Luciano and Bill Lynch, who were acknowledged for their remarkable community achievements. The event was co-chaired by Judy and Michael Nuremberg and Alison and Randall Shaw.

During the cocktail hour autographed and copies of The Tale of Tia and Matilda, a book that was written and photographed by the School Age III group of the After School Program, were sold by the children to help raise funds for their program.

Mr. Luciano, reporter, community activist and founder and chair of the Young Lords Party, spoke vibrantly about the need for past immigrant populations to join with current ones. “This is the city where dreams are made. And that’s what Union Settlement is about,” he said.

Bill Lynch, a nationally renowned political consultant and former NYC Deputy Mayor with more than 30 years of experience in social activism and public policy, spoke warmly about Union Settlement and its long history, noting, “You can measure your success by being in business for 110 years. And we need you now more than ever.”

Following the honorees, Ester Fuchs, a senior adviser to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, brought greetings from the Mayor, who commended the Settlement for its “vital initiatives.”

Randall and Alison Shaw

Among the evening’s many highlights was the return of Nicholas Lowry, President of Swann Auction Galleries and a regular on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow. A big hit at last year’s benefit, Mr. Lowry reprised his role as auctioneer, leading a thrilling live auction.

The greatest excitement of all was generated by two rousing and energetic dance performances by participants from Youth at Union, Union Settlement’s youth services division. The students were tremendous crowd-pleasers and served as vibrant reminders of the accomplishments made possible through individual commitment, family support and community collaboration.

In its 110th anniversary year, its mission remains the same, helping people build brighter futures for themselves and their families through quality education and human service programs that respond to the needs of our culturally diverse community. To learn more please visit http://www.unionsettlement.org/

The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA), the oldest acting school in America honored Academy alumna Dina Merrill with its prestigious Franklin Haven Sargent Lifetime Achievement Award two Sundays ago at a fund-raising gala benefit dinner at the Pierre Hotel.

The gala brought together Hollywood and Broadway for a star-studded evening of entertainment hosted by Broadway’s own Richard Kind a.k.a. “The Producers” Max Bialystock.

Dina Merrill and Dennis Haysbert

“Dina Merrill’s outstanding contributions to film, theater and the golden age of television place her among the Academy’s most distinguished alumni,” said Roger Croucher, President of the AADA. “We are thrilled that the Academy was able to recognize and honor Miss Merrill, a woman whose achievements over the past five decades in entertainment, business and philanthropy have had a tremendous impact.”

In honor of the 120th anniversary of AADA, Katherine Oliver, the Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting, presented a proclamation on behalf of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at the gala, declaring April 17 "American Academy of Dramatic Arts Day."

Judy and Larry Berk hosted a private reception in their Manhattan apartment at Museum Tower for the continued support of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA). Mikhail Baryshnikov, NFAA's 2005 Arison Award recipient, presented the prestigious Gold Award in Modern Dance to 18-year-old Kyle Robinson of Duxbury, Massachusetts.Ginny Mancini of Los Angeles was also in attendance to surprise the Gold Award in Voice recipient, Devin Guthrie, a freshman at Manhattan School of Music. Other notable guests included HRH Princess Thi-Nga of Vietnam, Oscar-winning film editor Thelma Schoonmaker, Christie's ChairmanStephen Lash, Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, NFAA President William Banchs, and Jerome Parks, NFAA Chairman of the Board.

Miami-based NFAA, celebrating its 25th anniversary, identifies emerging artists and assists them at critical junctures in their educational and professional development. Since 1982, nearly 10,000 talented American student artists representing every state of the U.S. territories, have shared more than $5 million in cash awards from NFAA and have been given access to $70 million in scholarships for their continued education by college, university, and conservatory partners affiliated with NFAA. Of these students, 478 have also been named Presidential Scholars in the Arts.

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