The New York Center for Children (NYCC) hosted its 24^th Annual Spring Celebration Benefit at The Peninsula New York. NYCC celebrated 24 years of helping the most vulnerable children achieve their full potential. The annual benefit helps raise funds for the Center’s work in healing, prevention and education.

This year’s event featured a “The Magic of Hope” theme, which reflects the organization’s aim to bring about hope to victims of child abuse and help these children achieve their dreams. All of the evening’s proceeds will benefit the center. The event raised $200,000 toward the organization’s mission to support victims of child abuse and their families.

Cyrus Vance Jr

NYCC honored Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus Vance, Jr. with the Champions for Children – Innovation Award. He has held the position since 2010. D.A. Vance’s achievements include takedowns of major gun traffickers and international cybercrime operations, as well as the first-ever convictions on New York State terror charges. He has reduced unnecessary incarceration and ended the prosecution of thousands of low-level, nonviolent offenses annually, most recently ending the criminal prosecution of marijuana possession and smoking, as well as subway turnstile-jumping.

D.A. Vance established the Criminal Justice Investment Initiative to invest ill-gotten gains seized in prosecutions against major banks in large-scale efforts to strengthen communities, prevent crime and accelerate justice reform. Among other investments, he has allocated millions of dollars to help end the national backlog of untested rape kits; created Youth Opportunity Hubs offering services and safe spaces in underserved Manhattan neighborhoods; reduced the number of individuals with mental and behavioral health issues in the criminal justice system; and enhanced security in New York City Public Housing Authority developments. He is the co-founder and co-chair of Prosecutors Against Gun Violence, and co-founder of the Global Cyber Alliance.

The benefit featured a silent auction which included exciting travel offers, fine dining, tickets to cultural performances, fashion accessories and more. Jeremiah Evarts, Director of the Di Donna Galleries, was the Master of Ceremonies and Auctioneer for the event.

Linda Schoenthaler, Betsy Hoover, Lauren Vernon, Glenn Askin, Christine Rales, Barbara Rosen and Isabel Marcal

This year’s benefit committee included: Glenn Askin (Event Chair), Linda Schoenthaler, Betsy Hoover, Isabel Marçal, Meghan Pardi, Christine Rales, Barbara Rosen and Lauren Vernon.

Founded in 1995, NYCC is the only independent center in New York City to provide free, comprehensive evaluation and therapy services to children who have experienced physical and sexual abuse and their families, for as long as their healing requires. NYCC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on donations to ensure it is able to provide these services.

To date, the center has helped more than 15,000 families receive care. The NYCC also provides groundbreaking training programs on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of child abuse, attended by medical students, doctors, nurses and first responders worldwide. More than 20,000 professionals have been trained through NYCC’s educational programs.

For more information on NYCC, visit  newyorkcenterforchildren.org