Connie Milstein

Archive for the ‘charity work’ Category

In December, Connie Milstein hosted a beautiful reception to recognize the scientific work of Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE), where she is on the Board of Directors. The event also honored Tammy Haddad as a Friend of the CURE.

The reception helped to raise awareness of the toll that epilepsy takes on those who have it and their families.  In addition, Connie Milstein announced at the reception, held at the Newseum, her generous gift of $500,000 to CURE. This money is being put into the Axelrod Milstein Challenge Grant which will be a two year program and will help to fuel the research needed to find a cure for epilepsy.

As Milstein explained that night in front of the hundreds of guests, “Susan works tirelessly to find a cure for epilepsy and seizure disorders. Like many families across the world, the Axelrods live with this disease every day, but their work, their strength, and their optimism give hope to so many, as they fight and live for a cure.”

The reception was attended by a large range of supporters and admirers from Wolf Blitzer and Howard Fineman to Betsy Fischer, Gloria Borger and Roger Simon.  Terry McAuliffe, Airzona Attorney General Terry Goddard, Bob Stevenson, Jane Oates and Rich Galen were all there as well.

It’s not often that you do something important for the world when you purchase a package of cookies; but once in a while this is actually the case.  Connie’s Bakery and General Store, owned by Connie Milstein, donates 100% of its after-tax profits to six non-profit organizations.  Each year, they change the list of non-profits, allowing many organizations to benefit from their efforts.

This year, Guiding Eyes for the Blind is one of the non-profit organizations benefiting from Foundation Sweet Success.  They are an internationally accredited, nonprofit guide dog school with over 50 years of providing the blind and visually impaired with Guiding Eyes dogs, training and support services.

Founded in 1956, Guiding Eyes for the Blind focuses on helping the blind and visually impaired to enjoy freedom of movement and independence.  They are one of the foremost guide dog schools in the world, with more than 7000 guide dog teams in place at this time.

Connie’s Bakery and General Store, with Connie Milstein, is proud to help Guiding Eyes for the Blind to fulfill its mission this year.

On February 24^th and 25^th, many Hollywood favorites came out to show their support for Blue Star Families, where Connie Milstein is on the Board of Directors.  The Creative Coalition joined with Blue Star Families to create a PSA to help raise awareness about suicide among military service members and their families.

Directed by Tim Daly, the co-President of The Creative Coalition, the PSA was scheduled to include Cher, Dana Delany, Hector Elizondo, Minnie Driver, Omar Epps, Richard Schiff and many others. Stars such as Susan Sarandon, Melissa Leo, Stanley Tucci, Ellen Barkin and many others have already lent their talent towards these efforts as well.

The PSA is scheduled to debut at the White House Correspondents Dinner weekend in Washington, D.C.

In 2008, the New York-Presbyterian Hospital held its annual black-tie gala in support of Emergency Medicine departments. The legendary Stevie Nicks performed at the end of the evening. The event raised almost $3 million for the hospitals.

The gala honored the doctors, nurses and staff at the Emergency Medicine departments that offer outstanding care for more than 230,000 patients every year. Dr. Neal Flomenbaum of NYP-Weill Cornell and James Giglio of NYP-Columbia were both recognized. Philanthropists, business people and celebrities such as Jane Och, Connie Milstein and Christy Mack attended this event.

This is an illustration of the NYU Constance Milstein and Family Academic Center. The building is 12 stories high, and has 75,000 square feet of space. The building will feature meeting spaces and offices, seminar rooms, a lobby and student lounge, as well as a 200-seat auditorium. The upper floors will be dormitories and visitor’s apartments. It will be built in Northwest Washington, mere blocks away from the World Bank, the White House, the Smithsonian and the cultural sites on 14^th Street.  The groundbreaking took place this past September, and the Academic Center is expected to open its doors in September of 2012.

Blue Star Families is an association working to support military families throughout the United States. Connie Milstein serves as their president. The members of the organization include military parents, spouses, children and families of all outlets of service.

Last year, Blue Star Families started a program called Books on Bases, Smiles on Faces. Over 10,000 books have been distributed to military base libraries, DOD Schools and military impacted public schools. Children with parents serving in all branches of the military were supported by these book donations. The program was launched in partnership with the Kids in Distressed Situations organization.

This past summer, over 850 museums throughout the United States opened their doors to military personnel and their families, thanks to the initiative of Blue Star Families, with board member Connie Milstein, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Following the success of this operation, Blue Star Families launched an art contest for army children. Running from July 1^st through September 12^th, the contest was meant for children with a parent or sibling (including step parents/siblings) who served in active duty, either on reserves or in the National Guard. The contest enabled the children to express themselves and their feelings, give thanks to the supportive museums, and also win prizes.

The children painted, colored or sent photos of their experiences or thoughts during a visit to a Blue Star Museum. Every picture was sent with a short explanation and was required to depict the blue star in some way. The winning artists, who received savings bonds, were chosen by a panel of judges from Blue Star Families, and announced on October 8^th.

The recent groundbreaking ceremony at the future site of NYU’s new campus in Washington, D.C., attracted some impressive guests including  top donors, construction crew heads, DC campus planners, Chair of the Board of Trustees and the full university leadership team, who assembled to mark the start of the founding of  NYU’s newest study-away site, the Constance Milstein and Family Academic Center (NYUDC).  This is situated just blocks from the White House in the heart of the city.   One topic addressed by speakers was the global network university.  Said Chairman of the Board of Trustees Marty Lipton, “[NYUDC] fits in with this concept that John Sexton has brought to fruition,” said Lipton. “But we have a great deal more to go.”  Another insisted there should be “no barriers” within the school’s network and that the establishment of NYUDC would assist in destroying more of them.   This construction will definitely add to the prestige of the Washington campus.

In a lovely show of appreciation for American military families, Blue Star Families and the National Endowments for the Arts teamed together this summer.  They invited military families, including active duty service members and their immediate families, to come to 600 museums for free.  The free admission ran from Memorial Day (May 31, 2010) through Labor Day (September 6, 2010).

Certainly, many advocates of military service, like Connie Milstein, support these efforts to offer benefits to military families.

Mark your calendars for various events held by the National Symphony Orchestra.  On September 25th, there will be a classical concert – the season opening ball concert with Christoph Eschenbach as conductor, Renee Fleming as soprano, and Llang Llang on piano.  Five days later you can book for the classical concert of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the same conductor, Marisol Montlavo as soprano, Yvonne Naef, mezzo-soprano, Nikolai Schukoff, tenor, John Relyea, bass-baritone and Norman Scribner from the Choral Arts Society of Washington as artistic director.  Check the website for other interesting performances on a variety of dates through the Fall.  Connie Milstein serves on the board of advisors of the National Symphony Orchestra.