FIGURE SKATING IN HARLEM’S 2011 SKATING WITH THE STARS FUNDRAISING GALA IS A SHINING SUCCESS
[New York, NY – April 5, 2011] The 2011 Skating With the Stars gala raised more than a half million dollars for Figure Skating in Harlem’s (http://www.figureskatinginharlem.org) new academic center, it was announced today by Sharon Cohen, Founder and Executive Director of Figure Skating in Harlem (FSH). The critically-needed funds will help expand Figure Skating in Harlem’s innovative and empowering youth development program. This seventh annual benefit was held on Monday, April 4, 2011, at Trump Wollman Rink in Central Park.
Olympic Gold Medalist Sarah Hughes, along with Macy’s Chairman and CEO Terry Lundgren, his wife, author and world figure skating judge Tina Lundgren, and Lola C. West of Genesis Asset Management were the gala’s honorees. Melania and Donald Trump and Tamara Tunie (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) served as this year’s Honorary Chairs.
At this fun and unique event, guests skated side by side with FSH students, Sarah Hughes, Olympic Champion and Board member Evan Lysacek and a spectacular roster of Olympic and World Medalists such as Jeremy Abbott, Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, Sasha Cohen, Todd Eldredge, Timothy Goebel, Emily Hughes, Adam Rippon, Joannie Rochette, Lucinda Ruh, Fumie Suguri, and Johnny Weir. Scott Hamilton who could not attend in person this year, instead sent a $100,000 gift from the Pioneer Fund presented on his behalf by Mr. Lysacek.
Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfiger, Vera Wang, and other leaders from the fashion world came to support the girls of FSH. Jake T. Austin, Federico Castelluccio, Maria Cuomo Cole, Andrew Giuliani, Donna Hanover, Carolyn Hennesy, Andrea Joyce, Christopher Meloni, Deborah Norville, Ramona Singer, Harry Smith, and Ann and Andrew Tisch, were just some of the notables who attended.
The gala’s fundraising auction continues online through April 20 — visit www.charitybuzz.com to find great auction items, including a trip to Shanghai, China to attend Artistry on Ice 2011 with a 5-night stay at the Portman Ritz Carlton, lunch with Real Housewives of New York star Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, floor seats to a Keith Urban concert in Dallas, and more. Corporate sponsors of the 2011 Skating with the Stars gala included Amway, American Express, Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, The Walt Disney Company, Bloomberg, BNY Mellon, UPS, Marshalls, The New York Post, United Airlines, The Nielsen Company, Sean John, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation, Con Edison, CooperKatz & Company, Inc. and others.
Since its establishment in 1997, Figure Skating in Harlem has transformed the lives of hundreds of under-served New York City girls, helping them to grow in confidence, leadership, and academic success. Through its unique programming, FSH empowers young girls by combining educational, artistic, and fitness opportunities through the discipline of skating. As always, the proceeds from this year’s gala are vital. FSH is constantly growing to meet the needs of the girls it serves and has set its sights on expanding to a new Leading Edge Skating and Education Center of their own.
