Connie Milstein

Posts Tagged ‘Connie Milstein’

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.

Blue Star Families – of which Connie Milstein is on the Board of Directors – is all about helping and supporting military families.  Just last week, there was yet another story of how Reyna Reyna (chapter director of Southern California’s BSF) saw this in practice.  When she asked localities to help her send care packages to deployed Marines in Afghanistan, the response was overwhelming; no one sat back silently.  Indeed, it was a group of grandmothers who organized an assembly in Saint Catherine’s Church, Temecula, to get out their mixing bowls and flour and start baking!  At the end of the project, there were over 200 dozen freshly baked cookies ready for the marines in Afghanistan.
“This is exactly what Blue Star Families is all about,” said Reyna. Indeed, Connie Milstein and the BSF work hard to literally get “hands-on” to support the military and their families.

In an unprecedented move, Blue Star Families – the organization that supports military families – is seeking to assemble a Blue Star Family Cookbook.  The goal of the project is to “celebrate” the lives of military families while easing the soldiers’ “transitions away from home.”  Included in the book will be recipes as well as articles addressing specific entertaining and cooking needs while trying to “support [the soldiers] while they’re making sacrifices and adjusting” to military life.
Connie Milstein is a member of the Board of Directors of Blue Star Families.

Susan Sher, Ted Greenberg, Connie Milstein

For the past 13 years, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts recognizes excellence in humor and presents The Mark Twain Award to the one performer who has contributed the most to the art form in the previous year.

Last year’s event took place on Tuesday, November 9th, awarding the coveted prize to Tina Fey, a comedienne who has appeared in several comedies on the big screen, appeared on Saturday Night Live, and got her start at the Second City Improv Group in Chicago.

On hand for the festivities at the Kennedy Center, which included a pre-show dinner and a post-show reception, were fellow comedians Steve Martin, Tracy Morgan, and Betty White. Connie Milstein, as a patron of the Kennedy Center, was also there, along with Ted Greenberg and Susan Sher, as pictured.

All proceeds from the event, which was also taped for television broadcasting on PBS nationwide, will be used to support programs at the Kennedy Center, including performances and outreach.

Back in 2007, Connie Milstein was one of several recipients of the prestigious Urban Visionary Award of The Cooper Union. The 5th annual award ceremony took place on the 52nd story of Number Seven World Trade Center.

Connie Milstein was presented with the award for Urban Citizenship. See the photo for other awardees.

The awardees were Constance Milstein for Urban Citizenship, Santiago Calatrava for Architecture (his son Gabriel Calatrava accepting), Jennifer Lee (AR'97) for Emerging Talent, Craig Nevill-Manning for Engineering and Kara Walker for Visual Art.

In early December hundreds of guests gathered together at the Newseum to salute the scientific work of CURE. They also came to increase awareness and to give honor to Tammy Haddad as the recipient of the 2010 Friend of CURE Award.

Susan Axelrod is the Chairwoman and founder of CURE, Citizens United For Research in Epilepsy. Together with Connie Milstein, long-time CURE supporter, they co-hosted the event.

Gordon Brown

Last Saturday night was a big night in Washington, D.C. for former Prime Minister of England, Gordon Brown. Following the path of many, Brown has written a book and is now touring the globe promoting it.

On hand to help Brown, welcome him to the U.S. and honor him was Connie Milstein, owner of the Jefferson Hotel, where Connie hosted a fabulous party. Co-hosting along with Ms. Milstein was her husband J.C. de La Haye St. Hilaire, and friends Ted Greenberg and Tammy Haddad.

On hand to greet Brown were many top politicians, global financial leaders and media personalities, including  David and Susan Axelrod, Austan and Robin Goolsbee, Ambassador Elizabeth Bagley, Bill Burton and Laura Burton Capps, Stephanie Cutter, Bruce Reed, Eric Lesser and Katie McCormick Lelyveld.

Tina Fey, the successful actress, screen writer and producer, was honored this week with the 13^th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. She is the third woman to receive this award, following Whoopi Goldberg and Lily Tomlin. Special guests at the event included David Axelrod, Susan Sher, Connie Milstein and Austan and Robin Goolsbee.

While receiving the award, Fey expressed her gratitude to the former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin. She explained that her success must come partially from her amazing impression of Palin that people are so very familiar with.