at the Girls Inc. 2016 Spring Luncheon. All photos
©Patrick McMullan; Sean Zanni/PMC
MSNBC’s newest daytime anchor, Stephanie Ruhle, and legal powerhouse Kirkland Ellis LLP, were recently honored by Girls Inc. of New York City, the local chapter of a group that helps over 140,000 young women throughout the US and Canada. Michelle Obama serves as honorary board chair of the non-profit.
The luncheon, held at the Metropolitan Club, brought out some of New York’s highest achieving women, among them, Lisa Blau, Kerianne Flynn, Laurie Gelman, Libi Gerson, Kimberly Kravis, Katie Lee, Juliette Longuet, Christine Lemieux, Julie Macklowe, Vanessa Nadal, Purvi Padia, Diana Picasso, Barbara Clark-Ruiz, Jackie Sackler, Peggy Siegal, Amber Tolliver. Girls Inc. New York Executive Director Pam Marlado was joined by board members Courtney Adante, Elaine Ball, Cecile Gyles, Angie Karna, Camille Mantelin and Kyung- Ah Park.
Ruhle and Kirkland Ellis received the 2016 ‘Leadership’ and ‘Corporate Leadership’ awards respectively. The event also honored the achievements of Girls Inc participants Ivette Morales and Gisselle Yepes. Their memorable speeches were followed by a live auction, where items sold quickly and included a ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ package for six people donated by the jewelry retailer; a gourmet meal for four prepared by Katie Lee at her Hamptons home (sold twice over); a Tracy Anderson six-month membership along with a private training session; two sets of ‘Hamilton’ show tickets and individual year sponsorships of Girls Inc. girls. The event raised over $500,000 to help fund the group’s initiatives.
Girls Inc. programs are broad ranging. They encourage young women to develop math, tech, and science skills; teach them how to manage money and navigate media messages; and inform them about adolescent health issues, as well as pregnancy and drug abuse prevention. Girls Inc. also works with policymakers to advocate for legislation that increases opportunities to empower young women. For more information go to girlsinc.org.
