Connie Milstein

Posts Tagged ‘Connie Milstein’

Ford’s Theatre, where Connie Milstein sits on the Board of Trustees, is not only a place where great theater can be enjoyed by appreciative audiences; it is also a place where  visitors can participate in innovative activities to learn about history.

One of these activities is the “History on Foot” walking tours,  where an actor in costume leads visitors  through downtown Washington D.C., bringing the extraordinary times of the Civil War era to life.

Currently there are two choices of tours available to participants: “Investigation:Detective McDevitt” which probes into the Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy, trying to separate fact from fiction concerning the historical events of April 14 and 15, 1865; and “A Free Black Woman:Elizabeth Keckly” which introduces the visitors to Elizabeth, close confidante to Lincoln’s wife. In this “street theater” presentation participants learn about the Lincoln family and the help Elizabeth gave to former slaves as they learn to live as free people in the newly free city of Washington.

It is also possible to request privately led walking tours for individuals or groups, depending on availability.

Among Connie Milstein’s many philanthropic activities is her participation in the functioning of Ford’s Theatre as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Ford’s Theatre, which, for many is “America’s most famous theater,” earned its place in history when one of America’s most beloved of Presidents, President Abraham Lincoln, was assassinated there in 1865.

Because of its historical importance Ford’s Theatre works in partnership with the National Park Service, overseeing close to one million visitors every year. Visitors to Ford’s Theatre learn about Abraham Lincoln, his tumultuous presidency, and his life in Washington D.C. in the mid-19th century. Ford’s Theatre is an excellent place to begin to understand Lincoln’s struggle to maintain a united country, the events leading up to his assassination and the motivating forces leading to his tragic death.

If you enjoy fine dining, then you won’t want to miss the latest from Plume at the Jefferson Hotel.  Newly renovated by Ogden CAP Properties with Principal and Co-Founder Connie Milstein, the Jefferson Hotel features an elegant and outstanding culinary selection with Plume.

From Tuesday, June 29^th, 2010 through Saturday August 21^st, 2010 they are hosting a series called “Summer Tastes from Chef Damon Gordon.”  This eight-week series includes special four-course menus for Plume, each showcasing one of the season’s most delicious ingredients.  You can join just for one evening, or for the full series for a delectable experience at the Jefferson Hotel!

CURE, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy, has created a program to help soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The most common wound for soldiers serving in these locations is traumatic brain injury (TBI), of which epilepsy is a common long-term consequence.  CURE, where Connie Milstein is on the board, has a program called Prevention of Epilepsy after Traumatic Brain Injury.

With this program, they target funds to basic and applied research on epilepsy that is related to TBI.  This research specifically targets the needs of combat, veteran and civilian populations to understand the causes of epilepsy that commonly follows TBI.

Each year, Connie’s Bakery and General Store, owned by Connie Milstein, selects six non-profit organizations.  They become Charitable Partners of Connie’s store, which means that they promote the work of their partners in their stores and on their website. Connie’s Bakery also gives financial contributions to these organizations.

This year’s non-profit organizations includes:

Breadwinners Foundation
Career Closet
The Family Resource Center of Peekskill, Inc.
The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley
Visiting Nurse Association of Hudson Valley

Connie Milstein and her family have “long been dedicated to philanthropy in the United States and abroad.”  Connie  founded Connie’s Bakery and General Store which gives 100% of its proceeds to charity, she is a board member of Blue Star Families which supports military families, and is on the Board of Directors of CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy).  The Milstein Awards “recognize achievements by biomedical research scientists who have made outstanding contributions to interferon and cytokine research, either in a basic or applied field.”  It was established in 1988, following the 1986 approval of interferon for treating hairy cell leukemia.  Research has gone on to show how interferons and cykotines are crucial in the advancement of many major life-threatening diseases such as cancer, hepatitis, as well as autoimmune disorders like lupus and multiple sclerosis.  This year’s award ceremony will take place on October 3rd at the ISICR Annual Meeting and will be the 22nd of its kind.

The Jefferson Hotel in Washington D.C., meticulously renovated recently by Connie Milstein and her firm, Ogden CAP Properties, offers interesting and frequent events.

Most recently, on June 23^rd, they offered a five-course dinner prepared by Plume’s Executive Chef Damon Gordon.  The evening’s meal included wine pairings from Tablas Creek Winery.

The Jefferson used this lovely event to focus on the wines of the famous Rhone Valley and their American counterparts, together with senior vice president Daniel Hass of Tablas Creek Winery.

Enjoying an evening at the Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C., where Connie Milstein is on the Board, is certainly a treat and a unique experience.  The Society Director Paul Tetreault has recently announced the Theatre’s 2010-2011 season which includes a fantastic line-up.  Certainly, this season will be eagerly anticipated by all.

The 2010-2011 line-up includes Sabrina Fair by Samuel A. Taylor, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, The Carpetbagger’s Children by Horton Foote, Liberty Smith based on the original story by Marc Madnick and Eric R. Cohen and more.

Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy has a number of interesting upcoming events and a few that just happened.  CURE just hosted Gia’s Hope for a Cure on June 13^th, 2010. This event took place at the Miller Beach Surf Club in Miller Place, NY with guest speaker Dr. David Anschell.

On June 17^th, The 22^nd Annual Loeffel Epilepsy Golf Benefit takes place at Hawk’s View Golf Club. This is in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.  Looking farther ahead, from August 8-13, at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, there will be the Gordon Research Conference.  This conference will focus on Mechanisms of Epilepsy & Neuronal Synchronization.

Connie Milstein, co-founder of the Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI), can take pride in the foundation’s Landmine Education Tour.  This enables participants to learn all about landmine action and how it impacts many people in other parts of the world.  Because Americans thankfully do not have to live their everyday lives in fear of war-related debris, it is absolutely natural that they would not understand what it means to be impacted in this way.  But the Milstein-founded Humpty Dumpty Institute, that is “putting the pieces back together,” sees this all the time in other less-fortunate, war-torn countries.  Education is thus key, if efforts are to be made with the citizens in these countries who have to think twice about what should be a simple walk to the local store or playground.

Connie Milstein on Supporting the HDI

So naturally, someone as closely connected to the HDI as Connie Milstein would welcome such an innovative, educational tour. As well as being informative, it is “a great way to encourage individuals to support the important work that HDI” is undertaking along with other organizations with similar goals.  What is good about destroying a landmine is that it is a one-time effort so this kind of problem is definitely solvable.  Once it is solved, the lives of the individuals affected by it can completely turnaround.  What a great way to help people in the world less fortunate than ourselves, by participating in this worthy project; just a one-time solution to a potentially fatal problem.