with Julianne Michelle MOMMY’S HEART WINTER FÊTE

Private equity CEO Marc Leder of Sun Capital changed the lives of abuse victims, co-hosting a star-studded gala on January 18, 2023 with me and the support of Academy Award winning board member Cuba Gooding, Jr., filmmaker and board member Sean Stone, Nigel James Kneafsey, board member Claudine De Niro, Harley Lippman, Jennifer Bell, and Marc Bell to benefit Mommy’s Heart, Inc., a 501(C) 3 nonprofit organization supporting DV survivors facing retaliation by their abusers.

CEOs Harley Lippman, Jennifer Bell, and Marc Bell were honored with the Mommy’s Heart Philanthropy Award 2023. Harley Lippman, founder of technology firm Genesis10, was ranked in the top 50 CEOs in the country. Appointed by President Biden to the U.S. advisory board aiming to improve IsraeliPalestinian relations, he is the sole financial supporter of an orphanage in Cambodia for 18 years. Harley put 21 children through college.

Marc and Jennifer Bell are serial entrepreneurs whose success spans over 30 years and five unicorns. Jennifer is the Founder and CEO of Bell Beachwear, a swimwear and resort brand designed for all body types and budgets. Marc is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of pioneering aerospace and defense satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital. Marc also produced two Tony Award-winning Broadway shows: Jersey Boys and August, Osage County. In addition, he co-founded mortgage powerhouse Armour Residential REIT. Together, Marc and Jennifer are involved in numerous philanthropic initiatives; Marc is a member of many non-profit boards, including

New York University, NYU Langone Health, and SOS Children’s Villages Florida.

Marc Leder hosted approximately 200 guests in his home in Boca Raton, Florida for an evening of live entertainment and a black tie optional seated dinner catered by Chef Angelo followed by drinks, desserts, and dancing with DJ Friendly and performances by fire dancer Carla Lulic and award-winning global concert pianist and Broadway performer, Gaynor van Vuuren ~ the Piano Queen™️ with saxophonist Debbie Pierce. Mike McGann, Legends Radio host, captivated the audience as live auctioneer and the evening’s Emcee. Cuba Gooding, Jr. mobilized the audience to raise even more funds with announcements about his new social media startup leveraging Web3 and blockchain technology, Veuit.

Marc Leder stated, “Approximately 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have experienced severe physical violence.” Marc, who is a father of four, spoke eloquently of the negative impact divorce and protracted custody litigation has on the children and how it is often the parent with more money who triumphs in this very expensive process, while the children lose and suffer the most.

A special announcement during the evening shared the exciting news that Will Head, founder of NOOZ, Inc., is donating 25,000 shares of NOOZ to Mommy’s Heart, naming Mommy’s Heart as their exclusive charity of 2023.

Mommy's Heart, Inc. (EIN #87-4833078) provides free legal representation and mental health services to parents and children, who escaped domestic violence but are now facing legal and financial retaliation by their abusers in the family court system. Mommy’s Heart aims to protect and defend the fundamental rights of fit parents to direct the care and custody of their children, so that no parent ever has to fear losing a child for reporting violence.

Thanks to Marc Leder and many generous donors, the Mommy’s Heart team raised significant funds to make the world a brighter place for victims of abuse. Board member Noelle Dunphy said, “Freedom from abuse is a powerful gift.”

Sponsors for the evening included: Candy's Cake Pops, Prezzo, Vesica Vodka, DeLeón Tequila, Sip Channé, Tulipan Bakery, Casa D’Angelo, Gopuff, Total Wine & More, KOPU anniewatt.com

Water, Siena Grill, Zero-G, Café L’Europe, The Polo Club at NPC, Dashbar, Luxeblooms, Paul Carroll, Premium Wine & Liquor, Hogan Lovells, Innomatic, Bell Beachwear, Hadleigh’s, Veuit, PS Business Management, LLC, Pure Skin Collagen Boutique, and Donna Sousa Makeup and Hair.

Through the Lens

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The Worth Avenue Association hosted its Third Annual Kentucky Derby Party on May 6th starting at 3:30 p.m. Festivities included shopping, sipping, nibbling, noshing, hat-wearing and horse-cheering.

After the 3:30 p.m. check-in at The Esplanade, guests were given a "passport" of participating stores along Worth Avenue. The stores provided Southern sips and bites, along with merchandise specials and a signature passport "stamp."

Guests wore their best Derby hats and bonnets to enter the 5:30 p.m. Hat Contest featuring celebrity judges and prizes. A hat-embellishment station was set up to help make those bonnets truly Derby-worthy and prizes were donated by Worth Avenue merchants.