NBC television personality Willie Geist hosted the VIP reception and introduced the St. Jude patient speaker, who shared his personal journey with the hospital and thanked the Wall Street community for its leadership and support.
Wall Street once again opened its heart to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, raising nearly $2 million at the annual Wall Street Taste of New York
This year the event honored Cathy Rosen of Zweig DiMenna Associates and Michael Lynch of Bank of America Merrill Lynch with the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Humanitarian Award for outstanding leadership and support of the initiative.
Lynch is also a member of the Professional Advisory Council for ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. He said the St. Jude story has been a personal journey for him, as he has met families, heard their stories and realized first-hand that he could make a difference.
St. Jude is that difference the images of these smiling children benefiting from the research and care of St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, he said. What we do seems so insignificant compared to the doctors, nurses, researchers and staff that every day are working hard to advance cures and prevention through research and treatment.
In its 25-year history, the event has raised more than $40 million for St. Jude. About 700 guests attended the premier New York industry event held November 18 at Guastavinos.
The event committee of more than 60 investment professionals represents nearly every major firm in the industry.
Wall Street Taste of New York featured chefs tastings from 18 of the citys best restaurants. Attendees also were treated to a taste of St. Jude. Chef Miles McMath, St. Judes director of Culinary Operations, served the hospitals famous Cosmic Mac n Cheese to the guests.
The events Buy It Now auction raised $59,000 and included such premium items as a father/son New York Giants game and team travel experience, a private resort stay at the Bakers Bay Ocean Club in the Bahamas, a New York Rangers luxury box, reservations at famed Harlem eatery Raos, and suite tickets to Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden.
The Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation served as the events title sponsor, with Gotham Magazine as the media sponsor.
