Thru the Lens: Women of Valor Awards Tea

For the ninth year in a row, an estimated 1,000 N.Y. businesswomen and men gathered to honor a select group of women notable for their generosity and good deeds at the Women of Valor Awards Tea, held at the Waldorf=Astoria. Proceeds from the event benefit the St. Francis Food Pantries & Shelters. Significantly adding to the number of guests attending the event was Faith Hope Consolo, chairman of Prudential Douglas Elliman's Retail Group, who arranged for several tables in support of NYcrew past president and fellow board member Barbara Champoux, Esq., partner, Crowell and Moring, LLP, a current Clarissa Award recipient. Consolo was one of the first to be honored with the award. "It is always important to help those in need, but with so many people unable to make ends meet today, the work of the Food Pantries takes on critical dimensions," said Consolo. "At this event, we not only have an opportunity to honor our friends and colleagues, we donate substantial funds to the St. Francis Food Pantries & Shelters, while receiving updates on all their amazing work." In addition to Champoux, this year's Clarissa Award recipients included: Pamela Caruso, senior vice president, Real Estate Counsel, Vornado Realty Trust; Lisa Dimoulas, senior vice president, Corporate Real Estate, Neuberger Berman; Joanne Foulke, vice president of risk management services, Cauldwell Wingate Co.; and Jody Brown, Corporate Real Estate Executive. A special award was presented by Fox 5 News' Ernie Anastos to Veronica Kelly, the 2011 Honorary Chair and Keynote Speaker, who as director of special projects for The Bowery Mission, is at the forefront of helping the working poor in New York City. Kelly is also the wife of NYPD commissioner Raymond Kelly. This year's Guest of Honor was Robin Fisher, managing director, Newmark, Knight, Frank. The Humanitarian Award recipients were Laini Marie Rey, senior vice president, Jones Lang LaSalle, and Pia Silvetri, director, Tishman Speyer. Committee co-chairs included Frances Resheske, senior vice president public affairs, Con Edison, and Leslie Whatley, managing director, Morgan Stanley. The Women of Valor Awards Tea was first organized in 2003 by St. Francis Food Pantries & Shelters executive director Joseph Sano and Father Francis Gasparik, with Jeffrey Mann, president of Mann Publications. For more information about the organization and volunteer opportunities, visit online at www.stfrancispantries.org or email Joseph Sano at [email protected].