The Playground Partners, a program of the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy, held their annual Winter Luncheon kicking off the year’s fundraising events supporting the Conservancy, the nonprofit that cares for all 843-acres of the Park from horticulture and trash management to visitor services, restoration and more. The luncheon raised essential funds to support the daily upkeep and ongoing care of Central Park’s 21 playgrounds, which provide New York children and families safe and accessible areas to play.
Over 330 attendees gathered at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in an area with beautiful backdrop views of the Park. The luncheon featured a lively conversation between Tony Award-winning actress, and author, Sutton Foster and journalist, actor and CBS correspondent, Mo Rocca who discussed how crafting has been integral to Sutton’s life, as she highlights in her new book, Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life.
This year’s event co-chairs were Sugie Hong Bruttomesso, Melissa Crandall, Tiffany Gardner, Melanie McLennan, Lizzy Quick, Gigi Stone Woods, and Playground Partners Chair and Vice Chairs are Heather McAuliffe, Mimi Ritzen Crawford and Austen Phillips Cruz. Luncheon attendees included Women’s Committee President, Yesim Philip, Central Park Conservancy CEO & President, Elizabeth W. Smith, along with guests including Katherine Birch, Shirin Christoffersen, Kate Davis, Ainsley Earhardt, Lydia Fenet, Mary Guiliani, Gillian Hearst, Kate Davidson Hudson, Sharon Jacob, Eleanora Kennedy, Alexia Leuschen, Margo M. Nederlander, Barbara H. Scott, Amy Tarr, Tanya Warren and Sarah Wetenhall.