Read about the upcoming gala honoring PVA Artist Susan Brown on The Huffington Post!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/58cd425ae4b07112b6472df9
All photos by Gerardo Somoza
DATE AND TIME
Thu, April 6, 2017
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM EDT
LOCATION
THREE SIXTY
10 Desbrosses Street
New York, NY 10013
Our biennial bash brought out hundreds of people who have one common purpose: to show their solidarity with people who need it most. Amidst a backdrop of a 360 degree quintessential New York skyline – the event space at Three Sixty was transformed into part art gallery, part pop-up shop, and part libation and dinner.
2017 Honorees
Beth Anisman, who serves as President of The Shield Board, is a prominent principal, investor and speaker in the legal services industry. Following her career as an executive managing several leading legal and compliance departments in global investment banks, Beth co-founded Bortstein Legal Group, an international law firm specializing in representing companies in the financial services and insurance industries in the negotiation of technology and other agreements. She is also a founder and member of the Board of Advisors of Apogee Legal, a technology-enabled service provider specializing in the use of artificial intelligence automation and analytics.
Susan Brown, diagnosed with autism as a young child and now a celebrated artist from our Pure Vision Arts studio. Susan began drawing spirals, women and cars at the age of five. She first painted her characteristic grid like drawings on cardboard back in the 1980’s while working as a dishwasher at Friendly’s where she used their cardboard packing as canvas. Her works are in major corporate and private collections in the US and abroad.
The Brown Family: Miriam (mom), Marshall, Barbara, Claudia and Connie – because, it takes a village.
Pauline Brown, former Chairman of North America for LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton and now the acclaimed host of SiriusXM radio show “Trendsetters” will serve as Master of Ceremonies as our audience is treated to a gastronomic and intellectual feast.
We all need champions. How great is it that we have Anastasia Somoza? Watch her as she speaks to each one of us, and to millions, at the Democratic National Convention.
Held at the Metropolitan West, our special guest was Amy Poehler. She was gracious and warm, as she spoke about learning from Anastasia Somoza what it really means to live with a disability, not to “be disabled.” Our MC was Jim True-Frost, and presenting the award to the Somoza family were their longtime friends and kindred spirits, Chris & Marianne Leone Cooper. Between the pop-up shop selling amazing one-of-a-kind things, and the silent and live auction, and ticket sales – this amazing event raised over $625,000! Thank you to our co-chairs, Lori & John Reinsberg and Kevin & Carol Genirs, in addition to the Coopers. Here are some photos of the night.
The Shield’s 90th Anniversary Gala raised over $600,000 and took place at 583 Park Avenue. Honorees included Dr. Bijan and Vera Safai, Kyle P. Flaherty and Normal Lowe along with the amazing artists and poets of The Shield Institute.
The Shield Institute works with children and adults with developmental challenges, providing opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute to society. Our innovative programs focus on each person’s unique talents and abilities. At the same time we seek to transform the way communities and societies understand, relate to, and support these individuals. By honoring diverse values, backgrounds, abilities, and interests, we ensure that people with disabilities enjoy the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
