“He’s being far too modest,” said Bill Sullivan, CEO of Ronald McDonald House, adding that Mr. Cole’s work raised over half a million dollars last year.
As we tried to navigate the thick crowd forming at the bar, we chatted with art-world beauty and top 20 honoree Bettina Prentice, who has been involved for eight years with Coalition for the Homeless. Coalition provides emergency food, housing, crisis intervention and job training to the homeless in New York City. “There are so many people involved in charities on a macro level but I really want to be involved on a micro level,” explained Ms. Prentice. “I want to affect one person’s life. And the Coalition really gives me the tools to do that.”
Ms. Prentice, a new mom to baby Henry, was visibly emotional as she told us about the work that Coalition does, especially a program in which the program will pay a family’s back rent in order to save them from eviction. “I’m going to cry I’m so hormonal and emotional from the baby!” she said.
“She’s blaming it on the baby, she’s always like this when she talks about the Coalition,” chimed in Coalition Executive Director David Giffin.
Ultimately, despite some teary hormonal moms, the evening was a festive one, with everyone in generous spirits, copious free booze and more grilled cheeses than we can count. Who says that giving back can’t be fun?