Author and philanthropist Jean Shafiroff hosted a Le Cirque Luncheon for The New York Women’s Foundation (The Foundation), focused on a serious discussion about New York’s criminal justice system and the hardships it inflicts on youth, the poor and those facing mental health challenges, particularly women and their families.
Each year, Shafiroff brings together a diverse group of women leaders to discuss pressing social issues confronted by The Foundation and its grantee partners.
This year, Hon. Jonathan Lippman, Chairman of the Independent Commission on NYC Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform and Greg Berman, Director of the Center for Court Innovation, spoke about the changes needed to create a criminal justice system in New York that is effective and humane, one that is smart on crime, that protects public safety while treating the accused and the incarcerated, many of whom suffer from mental illness, with decency.
Ana Oliveira, President & CEO of The New York Women’s Foundation, spoke of The Foundation’s commitment to promoting social and economic justice. Ms. Oliveira, who served on Judge Lippman’s commission, said that we have an opportunity to promote justice, and to create a city that does not leave anyone behind by investing in women-led, community-based organizations that are agents of change.
Guests of Ms. Shafiroff at the invitation-only event, a prelude to The Foundation’s upcoming fall gala on October 2nd at The Plaza, included New York State Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright, Mary McCormick, President of the Fund for the City of New York, Marco Maccioni, son of restaurateur Sirio Maccioni, Rachel Hirschfeld, animal rights activist and lawyer, and Bonnie Comley, three-time Tony Award winning producer.
The honorees for The New York Women’s Foundation 2017 gala are Judge Lippman, who was the Chief Judge of New York State and the New York Court of Appeals; Emmett D. Carson, Ph.D., CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation; Dr. Angela Diaz, Professor and Director of the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center; and Verna Eggleston, head of the Women’s Economic Development initiatives at Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Info and tickets: https://www.nywf.org/event/gala/
Pictured:
Jean Shafiroff, Jonathan Lippman, Ana Oliveira, Greg Berman