CommunityWire is City Limits’ community bulletin board for announcements by community organizations and other not-for-profit entities around New York. See other postings and submit your own here!


RAISES NEARLY $2.4 MILLION

2019 Honorees Include Sullivan & Cromwell Partner Garrard R. Beeney and Barneys New York Foundation Co-Chair Laura Mannix Spring

More than 1,000 supporters from New York’s social justice, legal, philanthropic, civic and business communities joined Sanctuary for Families at its Annual Benefit on June 5 at Chelsea Pier’s Pier Sixty. Emceed by “Late Night” host Seth Meyers, the evening raised nearly $2.4 million and honored two exceptional leaders in the fight against gender violence.

Garrard R. Beeney, Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, was honored with the prestigious Law Firm Leadership Award in recognition of his tireless efforts and pro bono representation of Sanctuary’s clients – survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking and related forms of gender-based abuse.

Laura Mannix Spring, Studio Services Director for Barneys New York and co-chair of the Barneys New York Foundation, was presented with the Zero Tolerance Award for her dedication to the movement to end gender-based violence.

The evening also honored Sanctuary’s clients who are breaking the silence and fighting the stigma around gender violence.

Sanctuary for Families works to end gender violence in three key ways: providing survivors with comprehensive services, including counseling, legal assistance, economic empowerment, and shelter; raising awareness about the issues and the resources available to survivors through community outreach and professional trainings; and advocating for systems, policy, and legislative changes to disrupt the social and institutional frameworks that perpetuate gender violence.

Hon. Judy Harris Kluger, Executive Director of Sanctuary for Families, said “We are witnessing a time when gender-based violence is emerging from the shadows, due in large measure, to the bravery of survivors of intimate partner abuse, cyber sexual harassment, workplace intimidation, and sex trafficking who are stepping forward in increasing numbers. Through their advocacy and commitment, our honorees, Garrard Beeney and Laura Mannix Spring, have helped survivors on their journeys to safety and security. We also salute our phenomenal community of supporters who make it possible for Sanctuary to provide such a wide range of services to our clients.”

Co-chairs for the event included Ellen Grauer, founder and CEO of EGCR, a U.S. Legal Support Co.; actress and activist Carey Lowell and Board Chair of The ONE Campaign and Principal at Firefly3 LLC Tom Freston; Karen P. Seymour, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of the Corporation at Goldman Sachs and Samuel W. Seymour, Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP; and award-winning luxury real estate broker Lisa Simonsen of Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

Notable guests included Brendan Shanahan, Hall of Fame former hockey player and president of the Toronto Maple Leafs; Hon. Katherine B. Forrest, Partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP; Dottie Herman, Chief Executive Officer of Douglas Elliman Real Estate; Hon. Nicholas Garaufis, Senior United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York; Jeff Bewkes, former CEO, President, and Chairman of the Board of Time Warner; Sharlee Jeter, President of Turn 2 Foundation; and Robert B. Fiske Jr., Senior Counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.

The event, which raised a record-breaking amount of nearly $2.4 million, featured a cocktail reception, exclusive raffles and silent auction, dinner, and after-dinner dance party hosted by Grammy Hall of Fame inductee, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and hip hop icon, DJ Grandmaster Flash.

###

Sanctuary for Families is New York’s leading service provider and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and related forms of gender violence. Each year, Sanctuary empowers thousands of adults and children to move from fear and abuse to safety and stability, transforming lives through a comprehensive range of services.

###