Seven top models come out to support New Yorkers for Children.
By Lisa Germinsky
Coco Rocha and Zac Posen at A Fool's Fête, April 2009.
New Yorkers for Children provides 17,000 foster care children with mentoring, tutoring, and networking programs supported by fund-raising events such as Wrap to Rap and the Annual Fall Gala. With such a positive impact on the child-welfare community, it’s no wonder NYFC has such a serious model following.
On April 15th, a flurry of glam philanthropists descended on Manhattan’s Mandarin Oriental hotel for NYFC’s Annual Spring Dinner Dance, A Fool’s Fête. Among them were Coco Rocha, Selita Ebanks, Maggie Rizer, Joy Bryant, Jeisa Chiminazzo, Eugenia Silva, and Hilary Rhoda, whose efforts helped raise $400,000.
Some were first-time supporters, but all possessed an apparent interest in the children. Selita Ebanks in particular shares a personal connection. “I’m a product of the foster care systems, and you know, it’s really great. This program and some of the other programs here in New York just help children who are less fortunate realize that things are possible,” she said. And as a self-proclaimed adopted child of New York City, Eugenia Silva also feels strongly about giving back.
Some of that giving back is the kind that allows kids a shot at their dreams. When Joy Bryant is asked how she got her start in acting, she explains that she took acting classes, but realizes this isn’t realistic advice for everyone. “How do you tell a child who’s been through the things they’ve been through, who may not even have a home, ‘Oh, yeah, go take an acting class’?” With the help of NYFC and her acting teacher, Joy sent two young ladies to acting school last summer. “They had an amazing time, so we are hoping to do that every year,” says Joy.
Hana Soukupova, Maggie Rizer, and Hilary Rhoda are all New Yorkers for Children supporters. Photos courtesy of New Yorkers for Children.
Notable AIDS activist Maggie Rizer is also an active supporter of NYFC. “I grew up with younger brothers and sisters and a lot of cousins. Children are very important to me,” says Maggie. It’s this very passion that brings these beauties together for the same red-carpet benefit.
According to Joy, it’s all about focus. “I had to realize I can’t help as many people as I would like to. The key thing is to focus on something that you feel passionate about. It’s hard. You have to narrow it down: do you want to solve world hunger, peace, draught, climate change… Pick something that really, really speaks to you—one thing, and then work from there.”
