Special Events
J. Ira Harris and HOPE Honored at United Hospital Fund Gala Event
During its annual gala on October 5, 2009, at the Waldorf-Astoria, the United Hospital Fund presented its prestigious Distinguished Community Service Award to J. Ira Harris for establishing the Harris Obesity Prevention Effort. The award was established in 1987 to recognize the extraordinary value and impact of volunteer leadership and volunteer-professional partnerships in health care. Mr. Harris joins a select group of individuals singled out by the United Hospital Fund who have undertaken targeted initiatives to tackle pressing health care concerns, promote wellness, and improve the availability, affordability, or quality of health care services in New York City, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable. Also honored at the Fund's Gala were James S. and Merryl H. Tisch, who received the Fund's Health Care Leadership Award, and Lee Perlman, president of GNYHA Ventures, who received a special tribute.
HOPE’s 2nd Annual Benefit Honors NYC Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden, M.D.
On February 6, 2009, HOPE held its second annual benefit at Planet Hollywood in New York City. The event raised nearly six hundred thousand dollars to support child obesity prevention and treatment. NYU Child Study Center Founder and Director Harold S. Koplewicz, M.D., introduced Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who praised HOPE's commitment to prevention of obesity among low-income and ethnic minority communities and to changing the early family and school environments for children at high risk of obesity. HOPE honored Dr. Thomas Frieden, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene,* on behalf of his work with the Bloomberg administration. During his remarks, Dr. Frieden applauded HOPE's initiatives and how well they dovetailed with the New York City Health Department's efforts to combat obesity. The Bloomberg administration has worked to eliminate trans-fats from restaurants, require chain restaurants to prominently post calories on menus, and encourage increased physical activity and improved access to fruits and vegetables. Over 250 attended the event. The benefit co-chairs were Nicki and J. Ira Harris; Doug Teitelbaum; Jackie Harris Hochberg and Robert J. Hochberg; and Jen and Jon Harris.
* Thomas Frieden, M.D., is now the Director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
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| Mayor Michal Bloomberg | HOPE Surgeons George Fielding, M.D., and Christine Ren Fielding, M.D. speak at HOPE 2nd Annual Event. | HOPE Faculty Demy Kamboukos, Ph.D., Katherine Rosenblatt, L.M.S.W., Francoise Acra, Ph.D. HOPE Director Laurie Miller Brotman, Ph.D., and Spring Dawson-McClure, Ph.D. |
Photo Gallery from 2nd Annual Benefit Event
New York Social Diary highlights HOPE 2nd Annual Event
Upper Eastside Philanthropists Rally Support For HOPE
HOPE Board Co-Chair, Jackie Harris Hochberg and Robert Hochberg hosted a cocktail reception at their home in New York, on May 20, 2008, to raise awareness and support for HOPE at NYU. Over 60 close friends of the Hochbergs gathered to learn about HOPE’s groundbreaking research and programs aimed at stemming the child obesity epidemic. Guests at the reception included: Sherie and Lawrence T. Babbio, Jr., Yildiz Blackstone, Thomas Farley, M.D., Erica and Michael Karsch, Harold S. Koplewicz, M.D., Rodney Propp, Lee Stahl, Vicki and Joseph Tahl, and HOPE board members: Elissa Burke, Michael Alan Graves, and Douglas P. Teitelbaum.
Jackie Harris Hochberg and Robert Hochberg
Photo Gallery from Cocktail Reception
New York Social Diary highlights HOPE Cocktail Reception
HOPE Summer Benefit Raises Awareness and Support for the Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Obesity
On July 27, 2007, the HOPE Summer Benefit was held at the home of Traie and Doug Teitelbaum in Water Mill, NY and co-chaired by HOPE founders Nicki and J. Ira Harris. The benefit, the first for HOPE, raised over $700,000 to support the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. The event honored Khaliah Ali, daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, and co-author of the recent book Fighting Weight, published in May 2007. Legendary singer-songwriter Don McLean performed his greatest hits and of course the all time favorite “American Pie.” In addition to the Teitelbaums and the Harrises, the members of the HOPE Summer Benefit Committee included Matthew Bank, Michael A. Graves, Agnes Gund, Jonathan and Jennifer Harris, Jackie Harris Hochberg and Robert J. Hochberg, Jeffrey Lichtenberg, and Steven Shapiro.
