Our NYC ‘Tinis for Preemies event on Nov. 2, 2016 definitely delivered! Corporate and individual supporters, specialists in the NICU field, preemie parents and friends gathered at the Ernst & Young building of 5 Times Square to further the Graham’s Foundation mission of providing support, advocacy and research for premature babies and their families.
Board Member Chris Becker, Co-Founders Jenn and Nick Hall, Board Members Xena Ugrinsky, Jason Hart, Dr. Mia Wechsler Doron, and Ambassador Kellog (Kelly) C. Gaines
Co-Founders of Graham’s Foundation, Nick and Jenn Hall and Graham’s Foundation Board Members greeted guests at the start of the evening.
The Gaines twins, Chilton and Simmons
Supporters had the opportunity to meet the 2016 NYC Ambassador Family, Kellogg C. (Kelly) Gaines, Director of the New York Capital Markets division at Jones Lang LaSalle, a global commercial real estate firm and his wife, Kerry, a Partner at Judson Partners, an executive search firm based in New York and their preemie twins, Chilton and Simmons, now both 20 years old and attending college.
Ambassador Kelly Gaines shares his preemie story
Kelly shared his family’s preemie story adding how much easier it would have been to have an organization like Graham’s Foundation available when their preemie twins were born. Twenty years ago, Kelly and wife Kerry felt on their own and completely lost. No amount of time can truly prepare parents for the prematurity journey.
The Mead Johnson Nutrition crew
Supporting change makers like this year’s honorees is crucial to the evolution of preemie care, in and out of the NICU. In recognizing the important work of honorees we aim to raise awareness of not only the impact of prematurity, but also the need to increase funding and research into improving outcomes for future preemies and families. The HOPE Award was presented by Graham’s Foundation and Shire to Maureen Doolan Boyle, founding member of MOST (Mothers of Supertwins). The MIRACLES Award was presented by Graham’s Foundation and Mead Johnson Nutrition to Dr. Jatinder Bhatia of Augusta University.
“Double Your Awesome” was the theme for the evening. Signature ‘tinis with Tito’s Handmade Vodka were featured, and guests doubled their awesome with donations to Graham’s! Tito’s matched every dollar for dollar, up to $5,0000! Thanks go out to Xena Ugrinsky and Kathleen McLane for their awesomeness!
Connie Karcher, Jenn Hall, Xena Ugrinsky, Kathleen McLane
Other awesome supporters include Dana Wechler Linden and Larry Linden, Emma Trenti Paroli and Richard Thaler. What a pleasant surprise when Luigi Paroli surprised his mother, Emma, with an impromptu visit!
Luigi Trenti Paroli, Emma Trenti Paroli, Richard Thaler
Also seen were Amy and Jason Hart with friends Nancy and Ryan Deane and Vivian Blanco; Jennifer Degl, author of “From Hope to Joy” and her husband, John; Steve Bethel of Angel Eye Camera, Dr. Robert Paduano, Dr. Rochelle Steinwurzel and husband Dr. Brian Steinwurtzel; Dr, Chavis Patterson, Scott Panzer, and Kyle Manske among a host of other fantastic folks.
Jenn Hall and Dr. Chavis Patterson
Corporations gathered round in sponsorship, too. Katie Moore, John Langevin, Kristin Petrullo and LLana Golovaty of Mead Johnson; Tidewater Dermatology; Jeep Newman of Medical Predictive Science, Jack Foley of Stewart Title; Shire, Ernst & Young; and Craig Fraser and Kathryn Cole of Windtree Therapeutics. Fabulous florals were provided by Starbright Floral Designs.
With the generosity of so many individuals and corporations, ‘Tinis for Preemies raised over $41,000!
Stay tuned for details on events coming your way, like our 2017 Golfing for Graham’s Foundation and the NYC 2017 ‘Tinis for Preemies.
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