2012 Valentine Gala

On Tuesday evening, February 14, 2012 The Bowery Mission hosted its 13th Annual Valentine Gala at The Plaza in New York City. Christina Minardi, President of the Northeast Region of Whole Foods Market and Irwin D. Simon, Founder, President and CEO of The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. were honored for their invaluable support of The Bowery Mission.
Daryl Simon, Director of International Sales at The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., Lidia Bastianich, Chef, Author and Restaurateur, Richard Horowitz, Principal at Cooper-Horowitz, Inc. and Veronica Kelly, one of The Bowery Mission’s exemplary volunteers were Co-Chairs of the evening.
Special guests included Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, Walter Robb, Co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, Dr. Jennifer Ashton of the hit show The Revolution on ABC and Melissa Russo Government Affairs Reporter for WNBC New York, who was the Master of Ceremonies. Guests were treated to a special rock-jazz piano performance by ELEW and gifted with a signed copy of Lidia’s latest cookbook, Lidia’s Italy in America.
The event had a record-breaking 530 guests and raised more than $1.2Million for the programs of The Bowery Mission.