2009 Gala

On May 12, PDF welcomed over 300 guests to its annual gala, Bal du Printemps, at New York City’s Pierre Hotel, raising over $725,000 for Parkinson’s research. Themed a ‘Celebration of Movement,’ the event also honored longtime PDF supporters, Evan and Sandra Stern and family.

Awards Ceremony
The gala featured an awards presentation honoring Evan and Sandra Stern and Family.  Ms. Stern joined PDF's Board of Directors more than a decade ago.  Her talents as a caring educator and estates advisors, along with her husband's gifts a business strategist and counselor, have enriched PDF's program of science, education and public advocacy.  In addition, they and their children - Mark, Russell, Doug, Kyle and Anna - have been generous and creative contributors to PDF's fundraising campaigns and consistent champions of its cause.

Guest Speaker
Guest speaker David Leventhal, Founding Teacher of the Mark Morris Group's Dance for Parkinson's Program, underscored the evening focus on 'Celebration of Movement.'  Mr. Leventhal spoke of the power of dance in temporarily easing the motor symptoms of PD.  He noted, "As one of our Brooklyn participants says, 'When I'm in dance class, I don't have Parkinson's,'...It's a wonder that we don't have more research about what actually happens to us when we dance...Of course, PDF is at the forefront of exploring this kind of research...the answers will no doubt provide rich benefits for all of us, but particularly for people with Parkinson's."

Leadership
The 2009 gala was led by Honorary Chairs Page Morton Black, Amy Goldman and Judith Sulzberger M.D.; Dinner Chairs Stephanie Goldman-Pittel and Margo Catsimatidis; Gala Co-Chairs Karen Burke Goulandris, M.D., Ph.D., Isobel Robins Konecky and Arlene Levine; and Corporate Co-Chairs, John K. Castle, John Catsimatidis, Alan C. Greenberg and Howard DeWitt Morgan; Master of Ceremonies, Len Berman; and the Drury Design Group

Sponsors

              

 

            

 

History of Bal du Printemps
Bal du Printemps has been cultivated over the years by Page Morton Black, Chair of the PDF Board of Directors and wife of the late William Black, founder of PDF.  The spirit of the evening is to celebrate the community leaders who advance Parkinson’s science, and the philanthropic leaders who make these advances possible with their generous financial support.  Past attendees have included Madonna, Muhammad Ali, Frank and Kathy Lee Gifford and Lynn Redgrave. 

At the dinner, PDF recognizes and honors outstanding figures in the Parkinson’s community. 

Past recipients of Awards include:

• The Mel and Carol Taub Family, medical philanthropists, Mel served on board of directors of PDF – 2008
• The Sol and Lillian Goldman Family, philanthropists – 2007
• Dr. Stanley Fahn, Scientific Director of the Parkinson's Disease Foundation – 2006
• Page Morton Black, Chairman of the PDF Board of Directors – 2005
• Alan and Kathy Greenberg, philanthropists – 2004
• John K. Castle, Chairman and CEO, Castle Harlan, Inc. – 2003
• Gerald D. Fishbach, M.D., Dean of the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University – 2003
• Herbert Pardes, M.D., President and CEO, New York Presbyterian Hospital – 2003
• Paul Greengard, Ph.D. and Avid Carlsson, M.D., Ph.D., co-recipients of the 2000 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine – 2002
• Lillian Goldman, humanitarian and philanthropist – 2002
• Eric R. Kandel, M.D., co-recipient of the 2000 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine – 2001