Socialists rally to fundraise at Central Park lunch

The Central Park Conservancy’s Women’s Committee raised $ 400,000 this week with a socially distanced lunch to benefit the park.

The event took place at five locations, including Bethesda Fountain, Conservatory Water and Glade Arch, where well-dressed women including Gillian Miniter, Muffie Potter Aston, Elyse Newhouse, Fe Fendi, Sharon Hurowitz and model Joan Smalls dined on salmon served as a picnic. baskets.

” I do not think so [Central Park designers] Frederic Law Olmsted or Calvert Vaux thought that one day we would be in this situation and that the park would be as important as it is now, ”Co-chair Julia Weld said in a speech. “When I first saw this park when I was a teenager, the park didn’t look like this. The park needs a lot of repairs, restorations and maintenance and they are largely supported by private funding.

The Women’s Committee has raised $ 200 million since its inception in 1983. They recently raised over $ 2 million at their 40th anniversary gala, where Michael Bloomberg was spotted tearing the dance floor apart, making twirling her longtime partner Diana Taylor to the Marcus Reid Band’s rendition of Black. “I Gotta Feeling” by Eyes Peas.

The famous Fredrick Law Olmsted Awards lunch, also known as “Hat Lunch,” raised $ 2.5 million in May. The clean-lined event took place at four venues and, although it was more low-key than usual, the women donned their best fascinators, boater, wide-brimmed hats and tops.