More than 300 guests joined Family Centers on an exotic journey across the deserts of the Middle East, through ancient Chinese cities and along the shores of the Mediterranean for its 2011 annual benefit - The Silk Road.
With cuisine from all corners of the globe, a live camel and brightly colored tapestries as far as the eye could see, co-chairs Pam Caffray, Stephanie Horton, Sharon Phillips, Terri Walker and Susan Yonce created an authentic oasis celebrating the best of the East.
Before an international feast prepared by Nisa Lee Chef & Caterer, guests mingled in the "Hookah Lounge" while listening to the soothing sounds of Moroccan musicians. A snake charmer, belly dancers, henna artists and tarot card readers also entertained the crowd and added to the ambiance. As the night wore on, DJ David Chang kept the dance floor packed by spinning an eclectic mix of party tunes.
Hosted by Barbara Netter and her late husband, Ed, at the Stamford offices of Geneve Holdings, the Silk Road benefit raised about $520,000 for the agency's 30 human service and education programs.
When best-selling author Lee Woodruff learned that her husband, former ABC Nightly News anchor Bob Woodruff, was seriously injured by a roadside bomb while on assignment in Iraq, she was in the middle of a Disney World vacation with her four children.
And while she managed to put on a brave face for the sake of her children, the support she received from friends and family helped her cope during one of the most trying times of her life. In her remarks at the Center for HOPE Spring Luncheon on June 6 at the Country Club of Darien, Woodruff talked about how she kept her family together throughout Bob's long and painful recovery. She also stressed the importance of programs like the Center for HOPE and The Den for Grieving Kids.
"In any life-altering event, support is necessary," she told the audience of more than 250. "If you haven't been to the Center for HOPE yet, you're lucky. But chances are, you probably have known or supported someone who has. That's what programs like this are all about."
The Luncheon, chaired by Jan Dilenschneider, raised more than $120,000 for the Center for HOPE and The Den for Grieving Kids - Family Centers' critical illness and bereavement support programs.
More than 300 members of the area's business community packed the Grand Ballroom at the Stamford Plaza Hotel on April 12, 2011 to hear former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker discuss the global economy.
Volcker's keynote, which was the highlight of Family Centers' Business Breakfast, focused on the breakdown and future role of U.S. banks, the massive government bailouts and the emerging economic strength of China and other Eastern countries. Volcker was introduced by Robert Steel, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development for The City of New York.
The event raised $90,000 for Family Centers' programs that serve families in crisis.
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