A little D.C. and Palm Beach in the mix

Jeffrey A. Goldstein, Philip J. Deutch, and Geoffrey Lamb

Luis Gerardo Ayala Real, Olivia Aguilar Durantes, and Anthony Walton

On the eve of International Women’s Day, the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) issued a challenge for U.S. and world leaders to take a stand, listen to the needs of women and girls, and use their influence to implement the “right solutions” to advance the progress and opportunities for women and girls in impoverished nations around the world.

The 2008 Champions for Change gala was held at Union Station in Washington, D.C. The event featured dinner, an “Investing in Women” awards presentation and a live auction with former Washington Post columnist Bob Levey. Sarah Jones, Tony Award-winning playwright, actor and poet, performed a one-woman act portraying characters from around the globe. Nina Totenberg, NPR correspondent, served as Mistress of Ceremonies.

Distinguished guests from government, nongovernmental organizations, the diplomatic corps, academic and scientific communities, and the media attended the inspiring event to salute exemplary leaders and organizations that are working to promote the health, well-being and economic progress of women and girls through their policies, programs and partnerships.

Geeta Rao Gupta (ICRW president) and Mahmud Ali Durrani (ambassador of Pakistan)

Harriet Babbitt, Justice Stephen Breyer, and Rep. Jane Harman

ICRW presented the Innovation award to Salud y Género (“Health and Gender”), a Mexico-based nongovernmental organization, for its cutting-edge work with men and boys in Latin America to challenge assumptions about proper masculine roles, reduce violence against women and improve men’s support of women’s reproductive health.

The Vision award was given to Standard Chartered Bank for its work in Asia, Africa and the Middle East to promote health through generous investments in the prevention and mitigation of HIV and AIDS, its exceptional activities to build gender equity through an extensive program of microfinance, and its efforts to reduce poverty by building sustainable businesses and promoting responsible environmental practices.

“To all these leaders we say thank you,” said Rao Gupta to the award recipients and other champions for change worldwide.

The awards gala was held prior to the annual observance of International Women’s Day; this year’s theme is “Shaping Progress.”

Julie T. Katzman and Rep. Betty McCollum

Patricia Caffrey, Ambassador of Zimbabwe Machivenyika Mapuranga, Shupikai Mapuranga, and Ellen Weiss

Wafa Abdelati, Caroline Atkinson, Lily Lamb, and Geeta Rao Gupta

Matthew J. Mallow and Carole Dickert-Scherr

Gala Emcee Nina Totenberg and Gala Live Auctioneer Bob Levey

Harriet Babbitt, Moises Naim, and Amy Coen

Enrique Escorza (center), consul Embassy of Mexico, greets Salud y Genero honorees Luis Gerardo Ayala Real (left) and Olivia Aguilar Durantes (right)

Nina Totenberg of NPR was the evening's emcee

Geeta Rao Gupta addresses the crowd

Helene Gayle, Florentina Kurti, and Kate Button

Jeanne Warner and Bobbi Silten

Clara Brillembourg and Hilda Ochoa-Brillembourg

Justice Stephen Breyer takes an oath while assisting World Bank economist Apurva Sanghi in his magic trick

Sarah Jones delighted the audience with a short performance of three distinctly different female characters ...

Anthony Walton and Julie McHugh

Geeta Rao Gupta and Arturo Brillembourg

Muffy and Donald Miller hosted a cocktail party in Palm Beach for the Central Park Conservancy Women's Committee Adopt-A-Bench program. The Adopt-A-Bench program was founded in 1986 by Phyllis Cerf Wagner to create a permanent fund to maintain and endow the care of Central Park's 9,000 benches. "From marriage proposals to family memories, Central Park's benches tell stories of love and life while leaving a great legacy within our urban jewel," said Douglas Blonsky, President of the Central Park Conservancy and Central Park Administrator.

The Host Committee included Jessie Araskog, Norma Dana, Pat Dunnington, Robin Gerstner, Anne Harrison, Mai Hallingby Harrison, Eleanora Kennedy, Sheila Labrecque (Chair of Adopt-A-Bench), Karen LeFrak, Betsy Messerschmitt (President of the Women's Committee), Calvert Moore, Hilary Geary Ross, Alexia Hamm Ryan and Thorunn Wathne.

Central Park benches.

The Millers were joined poolside by 70 guests on a warm mid-March Palm Beach evening, including: Evelyn and Leonard Lauder, Jessie and Rand Araskog, Mr. and Mrs. William Lee Hanley, Jr., Audrey and Martin Gruss, Gail Hilson, Hillie Mahoney, Susan Bodnar and Timothy Malloy.

More than 2,000 benches have been purchased to date, raising more than $14 million for the Park. Most benches can be adopted for $7,500; a hand-made rustic bench can be adopted for $25,000. Donors can have an engraved plaque with an inscription of their choice on the bench they select. For more information on adopting a bench, please call 212-310-6617 or e-mail benches@centralparknyc.org [3]

Alexia Hamm Ryan and Baird Ryan

Heidi Baldwin and Anne Harrison

Eleanore Kennedy and Gail Hilson

Betsy Messerschmitt, Douglas Blonsky, and Sheila Labrecque

Jerome LeWine, Hillie Mahoney, and Diane and Robert Frye

Heidi Baldwin, Sheila Labrecque, and Anne Harrison

Sarah Baker, Guy Peyrelongue, and Kathy Moore

Kathy and George Moore

Muffy and Donald Miller

Rand and Jessie Araskog

Mary and Marvin Davidson with Norma Dana

MIchael and Eleanore Kennedy with Leonard Lauder

Allie Hanley, Kathy Moore, Norma Dana, and Muffy Miller

Sheila Labrecque, Evelyn Lauder, and Candy Hamm

Tatiana and Campion Platt with Darlene Marone

Susan Bodner, Timothy Malloy, and Courtney Arnot

LeRoy Neiman hosted a cocktail party in his studio to announce the creation of The Arts Horizons LeRoy Neiman Center. Rod Gilbert, Neil Sedaka, Michael Feinstein, and Celeste Holm were among celebrities on hand.