The Gaye Watkins Report

Tom and Dee Hilfiger. Photo: Tyler Weggel/GLAMWIRE

Gaye attends more galas than any gal we know. Here is her most recent report from The Dress For Success Gala. Dress for Success helps women get back into the workforce through counselling and, most definitely, smashing threads.

Dress for Success had its worldwide gala in New York where Tommy Hilfiger wore the tie he designed specifically to raise money for the organization. Dress for Success has been going strong for 12 years. It helps women internationally get back into the workforce by providing them with clothes to help them nail a job interview and help them emotionally prepare for a job. Most of these women have backgrounds that were filled with hard times. Some with drug abuse, or prison time.

The founder of Dress for Success Pat Nathan, simply wanted to make a difference by using the $5000 she inherited from her grandfather and help other people. She has since stepped down from the company and has opted for a simpler life. I remember briefly meeting the founder when I was part of a video crew interviewing her about her new non profit business in its first year. She began Dress for Success in the basement of a church in Greenwich Village and through other organizations’ referrals would welcome women to come and choose business suits and shoes that would help them land a job. For some women it was the very first time they had ever prepared for a job interview or owned a suit. Just picking out a business outfit and new pair of heels could at times be filled with tears of joy. Now it has continuing support from the fashion industry and big businesses.

Attendee Bobbi Brown of Bobbi Brown cosmetics, proudly proclaims that she is on the board of directors and that it is the only board she wants to be on. Iman, former model and founder of Iman cosmetics, is also a supporter and has met and been touched by some of the groups recipients. Joi Gordon CEO of Dress For Success added the personal touch at the gala by visiting various tables and thanking us all for coming. Some people honored were, the mother of Lance Armstrong, Linda Armstrong Kelly, Debra Phelps mother of Michael Phelps and Eileen Brumback Sr. Vice President at GE. A dance performance by Ailey ll was the perfect end to an inspiring evening.

The Gaye Watkins Report

Our “About Town” Journalist Gaye Watkins is seen above holding Megan Mylan’s academy award. Mylan, whose name was mispronounced three times during the reading of the nominees and the announcement of her victory (we can relate, man) won this year for best short film…”Smile Pinki.”

Don’t Need No Ticket to Get On Board …Gaye Watkins Reports.

The Smile Train is celebrating 10 years of 500,000 free surgeries for children with cleft lips and palates around the world. Founders Brian Mullaney, Bill Wang and Host
Norah O’ Donnell (MSNBC) were on hand to start the evening on St. Patrick’s Day. Supporters Colin Powell, Candice Bergen, Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle), and Christopher Meloni (Law and Order SVU) told a packed house of patrons in the Frederick P. Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center their feelings for the doctors, staff and children who make up Smile Train. Colin Powell spoke of the generous doctors who perform these surgeries and how we all must remember to help each other regardless of our circumstances in this uncertain economic time. Jokingly he added to the patrons not to worry the Dow will rise above 12,000. Jane Kaczmareck spoke of how her favorite event invitations are Smile Train events. She emotionally described her amazement and gratitude of the organization.

Christopher Meloni and Candice Bergen kept things moving along with their stories of visiting families and children in Haiti and India who were having the surgeries and observed during the operations. If you were a donor this past tuesday night it was truly your night. A Filet Mignon dinner, and a one hour concert by Ronan Tynan the Irish Tenor.

4 Open Bars, mini cheesecake lollipops which were my favorite, mini ice cream cones, live Jazz band till midnight and don’t go without having your picture taken with Producer/Director Megan Mylan who won for best documentary short “Smile Pinki” at the Academy Awards this year. Wow, they’re right, those Oscars really are heavy. Just wish I got a chance to thank The Academy, and god, and my family, but I think the other folks waiting to take a picture with Oscar just wouldn’t have stood for that. The Smile Train believes they provide the same services that similar charities do for one tenth the price. One reason for this is they offer training and supplies to doctors and their staff who live in these countries.

They believe in creating self sufficient communities and their biggest hope is to eradicate the overwhelming need for cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries in the world. Without these surgeries some infants cannot feed and are malnourished, Others are shunned in their communities and do not go to school. You cant help but tear up over some of these stories. What a nice thing to know that there really are angels everywhere.

Broderick Gets a Boost

Matthew Borderick blended in perfectly with the two tone brown decor at 1 Oak, temporary Tribeca Film Festival Home of the Boost Mobile Lounge as he celebrated his new film “Finding Amanda” which premiered last night in Tribeca. Broderick is seen here chatting up Amanda, actress Brittney Snow.