Listen to “Friendship Tree” on Spreaker.

The post The American Oriental Art Foundation appeared first on Good News!.

Founder of The Farzana Foundation, Farzana Niemmann and 3 Time Emmy Award Winning Anchor and 2 Time NYTimes Best Selling Author, Rita Cosby

The Farzana Foundation held its Inaugural Gala at the Apostle’s Ballroom on November 29 th, 2022. It was a huge success with attendees including well known entrepreneurs, anchors, actresses, artists, models, socialites and
fashion designers including, emcee C-King, 3 Time Emmy Award Winning Anchor and 2 Time New York Times Best Seller, Rita Cosby, Designer/Supermodel, Avadora Mimouni, Designer, Elie Balleh, Singer, Model and Reality Show Stars, Jamila and Celina Niemann, Humanitarian, Eve Brookville, Model, Artist, and Actress Olga Gretchen Schwartz, Model and Makeup Artist Sabine Wonderwoman, Award Winning Actress, Julianne Michelle, Artist and Philanthropist, Vill E. Wright, Ukrainian-American, Artist and Philanthropist Tatyana Horoshko and Ukrainian- American Opera Singer,
Oleksandra Hrabova, Socialite, Juan Castelo Branco among many other notables. Fashion shows were featured including Diana Mahrach designs with models’ hair and makeup coordinated by Donna Sousa of Makeover Artistry. Food was catered by La Mila Catering Camp; Events and drinks by Empire Rockefeller Vodka and Peramo Wine, and entertainment by DJ Sulel.

All photos in this article by Jeff Smith

Jose Castelo Branco, Tomaczek Bednarek, Rita Cosby, Farzana Niemann, Avadora Mimouni, Alex Quint, Lorraine Silvetz and Julianne Michelle

Farzana Niemann and Artist, Vill E Wright and his portrait of Farzana.

Eve Brookville, Farzana Niemann, Avadora Mimouni and Lorraine Silvetz

Fashion show took place during the event including Designer, Diana Mahrach with Hair and Makeup coordinated by Donna Sousa. Food was catered by La Mila Catering & Events and drinks by Empire Rockefeller Vodka and Peramo Wine, and entertainment by DJ Sulel. One hundred percent of the funds raised went to funding water wells in the region of Herat, Afghanistan.

Emcee C-King

Farzana Niemann and Rita Cosby

Celina and Jamila Niemann

Farzana Niemann, Rita Cosby, Diane Sare and Lorraine Silvetz

Since 2017, Farzana’s family has provided funding for more than 61 freshwater wells in the area surrounding her birth city of Herat which is located in the Northwestern parts of the country near the border with Iran. This has enabled families, living in this area. to enjoy this basic necessity. While each of these wells provides water to literally hundreds of families, there is a great need to construct more to satisfy the people’s substantially greater requirements.

Tatyana Horoshko, Alex Gegera and Jenise Ariane

Gretchen Olga Schwartz, Farzana Niemann, Jose Castelo Branco, Eve Brookville

Tatyana Horoshko, Flora Pllumaj, Robert Baxter, Lorraine Silvetz and Rebecca Ricks

Those that do not have a freshwater well in their village must frequently travel great distances on foot and physically carry extremely heavy containers of water for their families. As a mother of three, Farzana recognizes the difficulties and stress one experiences as a parent, under normal conditions, let alone an untenable environment where one has little supply of basic necessities.

Farzana Niemann, Designer, Diana Mahrach and Eve Brookville

Singer, Oleksandra Hrabova

Farzana Niemann, Singers, Mother and Daughter, Oleksandra and Anna Hrabova

Farzana is a passionate and accomplished veteran in the healthcare industry who, for the first fifteen years of her career, worked as a senior registered nurse at some of the most prestigious hospitals in the city of Hamburg, Germany, where her family finally settled after fleeing the ravages of war in her birth country of Afghanistan. Farzana came to the UN from Hamburg in 2011 where she shifted her focus from medicine to becoming a full-time skincare specialist (NY licensed aesthetician) and celebrity makeup artist.

Designer, Elie Balleh and his lovely wife

Rita Cosby

Center of photo-Diana Mahrach, Farzana Niemann, Donna Sousa and models

Being a survivor of domestic violence Farzana has become an advocate for Women’s Empowerment that reinforced her sensitivity to the plight of women in Afghanistan. She has been an outspoken public speaker on this topic with the goal of providing women with a greater sense of unification and cohesiveness. This has included presentations to the Miss Immigrant Contest Unlabelled Award and The United Nation’s an organization dedicated to the promotion of Women’s Empowerment.

Lorraine Silvetz, Gretchen Olga Schwartz and Flora Pllumaj

Artist, Tatyana Horoshko and Farzana Niemann

Farzana feels particularly passionate about this project since her own life experiences closely parallel challenges that unfolded in Afghanistan. After the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 she was subjected to a terrifying environment of war over a two-year period where members of her nuclear family were murdered by the invading forces. Many of her surviving family were forced to flee the country or face certain death, although some remained to face the aftermath. Due to being exposed to this horrific environment, she became determined to create more palatable circumstances for those that remain in Afghanistan. As an advocate for women’s rights, she is deeply troubled by the subordination and general abuse experienced by women under the current regime and is determined to support and encourage a greater climate of justice in the area.

Farzana and Celina Niemann, Lorraine Silvetz and Rita Cosby

Lorraine Silvetz, Dr. Adal Hussain and Avadora Mimouni

The immediate goal of the Farzana Foundation is to provide funding for the construction of more freshwater wells. The benefit to families in this region cannot be overestimated. Farzana is determined to ensure that the the proud people of Afghanistan receive the proper treatment and basic necessities to which all of humanity should be entitled. I could not imagine a more noble goal.

Alex Quint, Lorraine Silvetz, Alex Gegera, Farzana Niemann, Artist, Tatyana Horoshko, and Emcee, C-King

For more information go to www.thefarzanafoundation.com
IG @thefarzanafoundation

Journalist, Lorraine Silvetz, MSW is a psychotherapist and Executive Director of Global Stress Initiative. She is a graduate of New York University’s School of Social Work.
Instagram @lorrainesilvetzofficial
Twitter @lorrainesilvetz
Photo Credit: Alvin Toro

The post The Farzana Foundation brings Water to the World! appeared first on Good News!.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvf3MLw_l7Y

This is Religions for Peace website – www.rfp.org
More information on me here
We minimise on printing on paper whenever we can, so all we have is available digitally.
Let me know if/when you have any particular questions.
With gratitude & Appreciation,
Azza
Prof. Azza Karam (Ph.D.)
Secretary General
BUILDING TOGETHER BETTER
Support the Multi-religious Humanitarian Fund

#azza #karam #secretary #general #religions #peace #building #together #katherine #marshall #heroes #role #models #spiritual #exemplars #interfaith #practice #rfp #elijah #institute

The post Dr. Azza Karam, Secretary General, Religions for Peace International, BUILDING TOGETHER BETTER appeared first on Good News!.

You and a guest are cordially invited to a private brunch
showcasing the latest models from Ferrari &
Maserati along with exclusive luxury brands.

Hors d’oeuvres & Signature Cocktails will be served

Private Estate, Southampton, NY
(address upon confirmation)

Saturday, August 5th, 2017 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Silent Auction to benefit Every Mother Counts

Experience Luxury, Performance and Design
**Test drive the Maserati GT or Ferrari California
T with your own personalized test drive.
Limited test drives will be available to qualified buyers.

The post Ran Luxury appeared first on Good News!.

The post Opening Reception for “Former Models: An Exhibition” appeared first on Good News!.

Moving Families Forward…

Founded in 1960, the Ackerman Institute for the Family is one of the premier institutions for family therapy and one of the best-known and most highly regarded training facilities for family therapists in the United States. The Institute serves families from all walks of life at all stages of family life.

The Ackerman Institute’s mission is to provide:

• Innovative couple and family therapy services through its on-site Clinic (licensed by the State of New York Office of Mental Health).
• State-of-the-art training programs for mental health and other professionals on-site, in community settings and internationally.
• Cutting-edge research initiatives that focus on the development of new treatment models and training techniques.

Through this dynamic interaction of treatment, training and research, Ackerman helps families, serves mental health care professionals and brings innovative perspectives to a broad array of community service agencies and other health care facilities. For more info, go to www.ackerman.org

A Tribute To Families Gala

Hosted by

Natalie Morales, NBC News’ Today Anchor Benefiting

The Ackerman Institute For The Family

Monday, October 22nd at the Waldorf=Astoria in NYC

WHAT: A Tribute to Families Gala benefiting The Ackerman Institute for the Family

The Ackerman Institute for the Family will host $B!F (BA Tribute to Families $B!G (B Gala to honor Gregory T. Rogers, of RayLign Advisory LLC, and Baron Davis, Veteran NBA Point Guard and Founder of Rising Stars of America. Gregory T. Rogers will receive the Ackerman Corporate Partner Award, while veteran NBA Point Guard Baron Davis will receive the Ackerman Distinguished Service Award. Natalie Morales, news anchor of NBC News $B!G (B TODAY & Co-Host of the third hour, will host the evening for the second year in a row to  benefit the vital programs and ongoing services for children and families at the Ackerman Institute for the Family. Board members Martha Fling & Alice Netter will Co-Chair the event.

• Special Performance by Chris Gillespie from the renowned Carlyle Hotel

WHO:

$B!| (B     Natalie Morales – News Anchor, NBC News $B!G (B Today | Co-host, The Third Hour

$B!| (B     Gregory T. Rogers – Founder & Managing Partner, RayLign Advisory LLC

$B!| (B     Baron Davis –  Veteran NBA Point Guard and Founder,Rising Stars of America

$B!| (B     Lois Braverman – President & CEO, Ackerman Institute for the Family

$B!| (B     Cheryl Wills – Award winning Anchor, NY1 News Television

$B!| (B     Chris Gillespie, from the renowned Carlyle Hotel

$B!| (B     Marie Wilson – Founder & President Emeritus, The White House Project & former President of The Ms. Foundation

$B!| (B     Tamsen Fadal – Anchor, WPIX News & Best Selling Author

$B!| (B     Camilla Barungi – Project Runway & founder of African Moringa

$B!| (B     Timothy Mandala  – Star of the hit Vin Diesel series The Ropes

$B!| (B     Stacey Tisdale – Correspondent, PBS $B!H (BNeed To Know $B!I (B & Founder of Winning Play$ for women $B!G (Bs financial literacy

$B!| (B     Wendy Diamond – Correspondent, The Today Show, Philanthropist & Publisher of Animal Fair Media

$B!| (B     Javier Gomez – Noted Photojournalist with upcoming exhibits in Paris, Madrid, Tokyo, and Panama

$B!| (B     Tim Morehouse – U.S. Olympic Champion

$B!| (B     Rachael Kun – Associate Producer, 60 Minutes & CBS Evening News (national edition)

$B!| (B     Lori Sokol – The Huffington Post & Publisher of Work Life Matters

$B!| (B     Blair Brewster – Partner of Bear Rock, an internet printing business. Founder of Electromark, and XpressMyself.com

$B!| (B     Ben Tapper – Senior Director, Eastern Consolidated

$B!| (B     Al Feliu – Esq., Vanderberg & Feliu, LLP

$B!| (B     Martha Fling –  Event Co-Chair | Founder, Drake Libby LLC

$B!| (B     Alice Netter – Event Co-Chair | Trustee of Continuum Health Partners, Inc. and Beth Israel Medical Center

$B!| (B     John O $B!G (BNeill – Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal (Global professional services firm) | Co-Chair, A Tribute to Families

$B!| (B     Steve Schwartz – Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal

$B!| (B     Jonathan Adelson – Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal

$B!| (B     Robert Ruckh – Ernst & Young

$B!| (B     C. Hugh Hildesley – Executive Vice President, Sotheby $B!G (Bs | Auctioneer, A Tribute to Families

RSVP is required as space is limited. To cover A Tribute to Families Gala, please contact: Christopher M. Vicini or Carolyn Gitomer at JGPR: christopher@jamesgrantpr.com or carolyn@jamesgrantpr.com  (917) 626-1300

About Ackerman Institute for the Family

Since 1960, the Ackerman Institute for the Family has achieved international prominence and earned national awards for the development of innovative models of family therapy, professional training, and community programs for families facing major life challenges.  One of the first training institutions in the United States committed to promoting family functioning and family mental health, Ackerman is dedicated to helping families at all stages of family life.

The post Ackerman Institute for the Family appeared first on Good News!.

Company Background:
In 2010, I decided to build a bridge between my two passions, fashion and philanthropy. I had been in the fashion industry as a model and actress, since moving to NY in 2004 and I wanted to employ the influence and creativity of the fashion industry to make a difference in our world, on both a national and international scale. I began a fashion blog (www.cortneyrenee.com), wherein I covered philanthropic fashion brands (brands that have a give back built into their business model and fund a partner NGO or an internal NGO). In my research and networking I learned of ingenious social entrepreneurs pioneering new territory, and I realized they were on the cutting edge of social enterprise by employing fashion as a tool to effect global change. My mission continued to evolve and grow, and I began to offer professional modeling services to these start-ups and my fashion industry insight to help them enter the mainstream.

Now, a year later, I am hosting my 2nd evening of philanthropic fashion where we celebrate brands making a difference. I have professional models (many of them my friends) act as spokes models for the evening. Our first event, “Share the Love: An Evening of Philanthropic Fashion” saw 1,000 inspired and thrilled New Yorkers, and was a huge success. See my interview with the Green Stylist. Our next event, “Hampton’s Summer Preview Party: An Evening of Philanthropic Fashion” will be held May 23rd, 2011. Our major fashion sponsors include Peace Love World, Same Sky, Native Honey, and our non-profit partners include the Somaly Mam Foundation and Print4Change/Healing Haiti, and our corporate sponsors include the Body Shop, Equinox, and many more. I have also begun to offer fashion film production to brands to build their brand image online and give them new inventive ways to reach their target demographic. I look forward to seeing this division grow.

Bio:

Cortney Renee moved to NYC to attend The King’s College where she studied Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. Her pursuit of modeling and acting provided appearances in Brides magazine and feature films and TV shows including How To Lose Friends and Alienate People, August, and Gossip Girl. Her passion for justice inspired involvement in the 2009 launch of Stop Child Trafficking Now. Her love for fashion and philanthropy birthed a brand which aims to promote ethical fashion. She currently resides in NYC where she endeavors to bring light to designers making a difference! Her long term hope is to inspire the fashion industry to make a creative and engaging world contribution. Her personal mission is to reflect true beauty, and her definition of “true beauty” is one that “come from a heart that lives to give back”. So she endeavors to reflect that in all things, both professionally and personally.

cortney@cortneyrenee.com
www.cortneyrenee.com

The post Cortney Renee – Two Passions: Fashion & Philantrophy appeared first on Good News!.