On a vibrant day in New York City, the New York Junior League (NYJL) hosted HRH Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, for an intimate lunch. This event marked a groundbreaking partnership with the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. Consequently, the collaboration aims to empower young New Yorkers through service, leadership, and personal growth programs.

A Powerful Partnership for NYC Youth

The NYJL, a legacy organization, joins forces with the Duke’s Award to inspire youth aged 14–24. Specifically, the initiative will engage community partners like Harlem School of the Arts, Esperanza Prep, and Good Shepherd Services. These groups will work together to foster meaningful experiences. Moreover, NYJL members will mentor participants, encouraging mental and physical health, community connections, and civic engagement.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award: A Global Legacy

Founded 69 years ago by Prince Philip, the Duke’s Award promotes experiential learning. It offers a personalized program for young people to develop essential skills. For instance, participants can earn bronze, silver, or gold medals by completing activities and adventurous journeys. Impressively, over one million medals have been awarded across 120+ countries. Now, Prince Edward aims to expand this impactful program across the USA.

A Day of Inspiration and Connection

After the lunch, Prince Edward visited Newark, NJ, to meet 300 students. This engagement highlighted the program’s hands-on approach. As a result, the event sparked excitement about empowering youth through real-world experiences. The NYJL and the Duke’s Award are poised to make a lasting impact in NYC and beyond.

Join the Movement

Ready to learn more? Visit nyjl.org for details on this transformative partnership. Together, we can inspire the next generation of leaders!

Check out more latest events, parties, and Hollywood gossip at Couri’s Columns.

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The Dr. Ramón Tallaj Foundation hosted the U.S. premiere of Honor in Armor: Inside the Vatican Swiss Guard at The Sheen Center for Thought and Culture in New York City. The 52-minute documentary offers a rare, in-depth look at the Vatican’s Swiss Guard, exploring their 500-year commitment to protecting one of the world’s most historic institutions, revealing the history and secret missions carried out by this elite force from within the Vatican’s barracks.

The film is a fascinating examination into why young men continue to join the Swiss Guard, upholding this centuries-old tradition, featuring exclusive interviews with eminent historians, security experts, journalists, Swiss Guard veterans, the guardsmen themselves, and their families shedding light on their daily lives and the devotion of those who swear to give their lives in service to the Pope. Written by Seàn-Patrick Lovett and directed by Golden Globe Winner Jesús Garcés Lambert, Honor in Armor was produced by Rome Reports, Dr Ramon Tallaj Foundation, the Pontifical Mission Societies and WaterStone. Group.

Founder Dr. Ramón Tallaj and Mario Paredes have worked with the Vatican for over a decade on health equity and shared values of the Catholic faith. In November 2023, the Dr. Ramón Tallaj Foundation launched the “Thank You, Doctor” campaign with Pope Francis at the Vatican. The campaign highlights the important role of family doctors and the doctor-patient relationship in response to the healthcare crisis Pope Francis has often mentioned.

“The Vatican Swiss Guard’s dedication to protecting the Pope and the Church is both inspiring and vital. I’m proud to share their story and honor the men who continue this remarkable tradition of service.”

— Dr. Ramón Tallaj, Founder of the Dr. Ramón Tallaj Foundation

About the Dr. Ramón Tallaj Foundation

The Dr. Ramón Tallaj Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports students from underserved communities pursuing careers in healthcare. We offer grants, scholarships, and awards to help future doctors, surgeons, and healthcare professionals overcome financial barriers and succeed in their education.

Our mission is to make sure that all talented students have the opportunity to make a positive impact in healthcare.

For more information about the Dr. Ramón Tallaj Foundation, visit drramontallajfoundation

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Audrey & Martin Gruss Foundation          

A year later Audrey established the Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF), a non-profit organization with a mission to fund pioneering international scientific research into the origins, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of depression and its related mood and other emotional disorders, with the goal of finding a cure. Audrey has served as the Chairman of HDRF since its inception. She’s also the President of the Audrey and Martin Gruss Foundation, which she and her husband Martin established thirty years ago to support the cultural arts. The couple also funded the Audrey and Martin Gruss Heart and Stroke Center at Southampton Hospital.

Depression Task Force

What’s unique about HDRF’s research program is that they not only fund research, but they also created their own research group by hand-selecting several doctors who collectively work with the non-profit on strategy, development, and implementation. “We had to create our own research team because what we envisioned did not exist.  Our Depression Task Force works collaboratively – they put all their data into the Hope Data Center at the University of Michigan and that data is shared among the doctors at HDRF – the ones that do the research. That’s really a very hard thing to do,” Audrey says. “It’s as though we are created our own mini neuroscience center,” she adds. Since its start, HDRF has also awarded 104 research grants at 48 research institutions in 12 countries and 18 U.S. cities. hopefordepression.org

Developing an Alternative to Prozac

And the research is paying off. Audrey continues to explain that “the HDRF doctors are now creating a version of a new category of anti-depressant that is completely new, since Prozac was introduced 35 years ago.” This was after only eight years of the HDRF doctors being brought together in this mission.  “This is remarkable in the world of neuroscience. This usually takes decades,” adds Audrey.  She goes on to say that HDRF did not create something brand new. They found an existing drug that has not been approved in the U.S. which they made a patented version of and it’s in clinical trials at Columbia University and Mount Sinai.

It’s a fact that better medication to help with depression is desperately needed.  Studies today estimate that up to 35-50 percent of people suffering from depression do not positively respond to existing antidepressant medications called SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

5K Race of Hope

In addition to the Week of Hope, in which business round the Hamptons show their support for the fight against depression, Audrey Gruss and her organization also host a 5k Race of Hope. This year will mark their sixth annual Race of Hope to Defeat Depression in Southampton Village. Candace Bushnell, author, journalist, and the creator of the bestselling Sex and the City anthology, will attend as this year’s celebrity Grand Marshall to cheer on the race’s participants and lead them on a beautiful 5K (3.1 mile) loop around Lake Agawam in Southampton Village. The Race is open to all ages and speeds and walkers are also welcome. The Race of Hope has raised over $1 million for research since its inception in 2016. raceofhopeseries.com

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Jean serves on the boards of the served on the board of The Jewish Board, a large mental health service charity, for 28 Southampton Hospital Foundation, years and now is one of its Honorary Mission Society of NYC, Couture Council of
the Museum at FIT, French Heritage Trustees.

Jean has been honored several times—by many different charities and organizations. The list honoring her includes the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Humane, Southampton Hospital Foundation, Mission Society of NYC, French Heritage Society, Urban Resource Institute and countless others.

Jean Shafiroff is also the author of a book called Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life by What You Give, which has an introduction by Georgina Bloomberg. “Philanthropy is multifaceted,” said Shafiroff. “The premise of my book is that anyone can be a philanthropist. If you do not have financial resources to give, you can give your time and knowledge. However, if you have resources, I believe you have an obligation to give.”

Jean Shafiroff first got started in philanthropy at a young age. While attending Catholic school, the nuns taught her the importance of helping those less fortunate. She also counts her parents as good role models; her father was a music school teacher, and her stay-at-home mom volunteered at the local church and school.

Jean Shafiroff ’s desire to be of help to society led her from a young age to volunteer with various charities, and then to start serving on the board of directors of a number of them. She also volunteered at her daughters’ schools.

“When my children went off to college,” said Shafiroff, “I became much more involved in charity work. I started to join different charity boards. Today I serve on seven charity boards, two honorary charity boards, and one advisory board. Each year I chair eight to ten charity galas, and then host and underwrite several large cocktail parties in my homes. I have done a great deal of volunteer fundraising and have raised quite a bit of money for several charitable organizations. It has been hard work; however, it is very fulfilling to know that you are helping by changing the lives of the less fortunate.”

“When you serve on a charity board,” she said, A charity has to be run like a business. All decisions have to be made in the most professional manner. I am on many boards that receive government funding. I take all charity work very seriously.”

But charity events can be fun and social. “You meet many people who generally have similar values,” said Shafiroff. “The people attending are interested in philanthropy and helping others. They want to see changes made in the world.

Jean Shafiroff is a fashion lover who is noted for wearing elegant and interesting gowns to different black-tie charity events. Fashion can help elevate an event.

Shafiroff makes an effort to support lesser-known and emerging fashion designers. “If we want to give lesser-known and young designers an opportunity, we have to create a platform for them,” she said. “I realize that part of my job as a member of the Couture Council and the Museum at FIT is to promote different designers. I believe in this and enjoy doing it. It’s just like someone who supports the arts; I support the work of lesser known and emerging fashion designers.”

Shafiroff first got involved in fashion as a vehicle for philanthropy in 2010, when she became a board member of the Couture Council at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. “All my life, I have loved fashion,” she said.

As a member of the Couture Council of the Fashion Institute of Technology, she makes an effort to buy the clothing of lesser-known designers and also emerging designers. In 2008, she started buying the couture of the very talented young designer, Victor dE Souza.

“In 2008 I remember buying a pink gown of his that I wore to the French Heritage Society Gala. Bill Cunningham put my photo in The New York Times, probably because of the gown I was wearing,” she remembers.

In 2009, she attended Victor dE Souza’s runway show during New York Fashion Week and fell in love with the finale gown on the runway. It was a cranberry-hued, one shoulder silk gown covered with tiny flowers. “At the end of the show, I went to Victor, and I said, ‘I’d like to buy that gown,’ and he said, “Okay.” He sold that very gown to me,” she recalls. “I love that gown and now have it in my collection.”

Bill Cunningham, the late New York Times fashion photographer and documenter, captured Jean Shafiroff at galas frequently. “Mr. Cunningham seemed to recognize the work of lesser-known and emerging designers, and tried to give them a platform,” she said.  I am most grateful for their support.”

As she became more involved in philanthropy, Jean Shafiroff began purchasing more and more gowns from independent designers, but also continued to purchase beautiful gowns from designers such as Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta.

When she co-chaired the Mission Society of New York City’s Bicentennial Gala at the Pierre Hotel in 2012, she wore his gown. She continues to buy his clothing and wears it to many events she chairs and attends.

Jean Shafiroff also wears the designs of Malan Breton, a very talented Taiwanese-born designer who is a Goodwill Ambassador to Taiwan, and a former Ambassador to the UK Parliamentary Society for The Arts, Fashion and Sports. He has held runway shows in different cities around the world. Most recently, he held fashion shows at New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week. He has dressed stars for America’s Next Top Model, the Golden Globe Awards and the 73rd Tony Awards. Shafiroff met Breton many years ago at a charity event, and they became friends.

Jean has often worn gowns by Malan Breton to the Viennese Opera Ball in New York City, an event she has chaired for many years. She also wore a striking black couture gown of Breton’s to the American Ballet Theater Gala and then a beautiful golden green gown to the recent Carnegie Hall Gala.

Another young highly talented designer she has supported along the way is Esé Azénabor. Ese was born in Nigeria and grew up in Canada. A self-taught bridal designer, she recently opened her latest boutiques on Madison Avenue and in Southampton. Shafiroff first discovered Azenabor’s designs when she sauntered into the designer’s Southampton boutique one summer day. “I loved her clothing, and I bought a big pink hand-painted gown that I wore to the Angel Ball in 2023,” said Shafiroff, who recently walked in the runway for Azenabor’s New York Fashion Week show at the Rockefeller Center in September 2024, wearing a white gown covered in a rainbow of floral patterns.

She also supports the work of Venezuelan designer, Nabys Vielman. “He moved to New York City a few years ago and slowly we’ve developed a friendship,” said Shafiroff. “He is very talented, and I like to support his work.”

Most recently she started to purchase the work of self-taught fashion designer, Ron Dyce. Ron creates a new modern look. I now also consider Ron Dyce a wonderful new friend.

Jean Shafiroff also supports the work of a number of FIT graduates. Recently she wore a gown by young designer Ashley Plasse, who uses the art and craft of embroidery in her designs. Jean Shafiroff wore her dress as she walked down the runway at a New York Fashion Week event entitled Catwalk FurBaby, an Elysian magazine initiative to raise funds for different charities. All the models walked down the runway with dogs. Shafiroff was no exception. Her dog, Rosita, walked the runway with her.

“I was a model, and I enjoyed wearing Ashley Plasse’s dress,” said Shafiroff. “In the show, I represented the New York Women’s Foundation. In a way, I was also representing FIT by wearing a dress created by one of their very recent graduates. The dress was just beautiful.”

Jean Shafiroff has also worked on a photo shoot with Fern Clausius, an evening wear designer who founded her own brand called Fern New York. Fern graduated from FIT in 2019. “I’m constantly going on the websites of young designers and checking out their work,” she said.

One way that she has discovered new designers is at an annual event she hosts. Over the past six years, Shafiroff has hosted Times Square Fashion Week. The annual event shows the work of emerging designers.“We showcase emerging designers and promote diversity at this exciting event.”

She isn’t just a model on the runway, but a model in life. Many women look up to Shafiroff as someone they aspire to be. “I love the philanthropic work I do; it has created purpose in my life, and I believe it’s what I should be doing,” she said.

“Follow your passions. If you’re working full time, do what you can. Perhaps you can volunteer once or twice a month. Next try to become involved with some junior groups, because you’ll probably enjoy being with people your own age.  All of this is in my book Successful Philanthropy, How to Make a Life By What You Give.

Jean Shafiroff owns a large gown collection. She plans to donate this collection to a museum one day. “The gowns are all pieces of art. Many are couture gowns. Fashion is art,” said Shafiroff. “I think they tell the story about my love affair with philanthropy and fashion.”

Jean Shafiroff has already been in touch with a few museums about her couture collection. In 2016, she loaned an Oscar de la Renta gown to the de Young Museum in San Francisco for a retrospective about the designer. This year, she donated a dress to the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum in Palm Beach, Florida.

She plans to write a book that blends the world of fashion and philanthropy, outlining her relationship with fashion designers. For sure, it will be most interesting. Jean Shafiroff has over 1.2 million Instagram followers where she promotes philanthropy, positivity, and fashion. She can be followed @JeanShafiroff

To learn more about Jean Shafiroff, go to JeanShafiroff.com

Fashion Designers on Jean Shafiroff

Fashion Designers who have designed dresses for Jean Shafiroff speak to Park magazine about why the First Lady of Philanthropy inspires their designs and work.

“Jean Shafiroff is one of the kindest, most loving people in fashion.She has a caring heart and uses it in aid of many. I am grateful for the many moments I have had the honor of sharing with her. As it will stay in our archive as a very special moment with Jean Shafiroff.

“Jean Shafiroff inspires me for many reasons! She is a wonderful, classy woman with a heart of gold. Art is so multifaceted, and for Jean I believe collecting couture is the same as collecting paintings, wearable art that has a story behind it. It’s my honor to dress someone like that.”

“Jean Shafiroff is not only an inspiring woman, but a beautiful lady with nobility of soul. Indeed, she radiates a bright light on those of us who’re privileged to be around her. Thus, what a great pleasure it’s for me to have designed a few couture looks for this woman who’s a symbol of New York.”

“For years I’ve watched Jean at galas and red carpet events in larger-than- life gowns that truly catch the eye.   However, she was not afraid to try a new style, be daring, and lean into a different side of herself. It was inspiring to see her transform and connect deeper with her inherent femininity when she wore my designs.”

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Aspen Snow Ball

The Aspen Snow Ball gala on February 8th is the centerpiece of four days of festivities at the famed ski resort in support of the Children’s Oncology Support Fund (COSF). Jay Leno will host the evening and Christie Brinkley will be honored with the Philanthropic Achievement Award. Chairs, board members, and hosts include Rachel Zoe, who was last year’s honoree, Christina and Ivy Getty, Monica Elias, Keni Silva, Bill and Giuliana Rancic, Brooke Burke, and Kyra Kennedy. Robin Thicke and Swedish songbird Zara Larsson will perform at separate events for guests including actor William Abadie, better known as Antoine, the fragrance house mogul in Emily in Paris, and Real Housewives’ Kyle Richards and Erin Lichy.

Children’s Hospital Colorado

Held at the St. Regis Aspen, proceeds from this year’s Snow Ball will go to Children’s Hospital Colorado where COSF has established an endowment to fund wellness programs for kids affected by cancer and the hiring of art and music therapists and child life service therapists. “It’s an endowment that will provide stability to ensure that children in treatment at the Center for Blood and Cancer Disorders and their siblings have access to these programs in perpetuity,” said COSF founder Thomas Pierce.

Also part of the exclusive weekend is a Kickoff Benefit Concert on Thursday at the Aspen Art Museum, with which COSF has partnered on a campaign about art therapy and the importance of access to art for children. Friday’s “Saddle Up and Shop” event has ten brands donating 25% of proceeds to COSF, and that evening is a VIP Benefactor Dinner for top supporters. On Sunday, board members Carly and Scott Weber will host a Super Bowl party at ZIGZAG, their new Aspen restaurant.

“Aspen is so enchanting and I wanted to share it with our donors,” Pierce said. “We wanted to create a destination event so we can really get full focus from our donors and build community. And it really is pretty magical when you’re dressed up in black tie in a small ski town.”

GIVING Tuesday

New Yorkers didn’t have to head to the ski slopes to support COSF, whose mission is to fund the development of less toxic therapies for pediatric cancer patients across the U.S. New Yorkers attended a holiday dinner on Giving Tuesday at private club Coco’s at Collette that featured a performance by Broadway star Michael James Scott. Top New York donors include members of the Rockefeller and Hilton families, along with actors like Thomas Doherty of the Gossip Girl reboot and Karla Sofia Gascon, who is getting Oscar buzz for her performance as a drug lord in the Netflix musical film Emilia Perez. “We’ll bring a touch of Aspen, and it’s our official kickoff event to the Aspen Snow Ball,” Pierce said. Partygoers included jeweler Kayla Rockefeller and her parents Kimberly and photographer Steven Rockefeller, model and oil heiress Ivy Getty, Candace Bushnell, Author of Sex in the City, Peter Thomas Roth, Adrien Lesser, Isabelle Bscher, Janna Bullock, Ashley Wyndham, heir to Whydamn Hotels, orange house wife Keni Silva, Nikki Haskell, and 20 others of that ilk and stripe.

COSF Founded in 2022

With such glamorous events bringing together important donors from across the globe you might be surprised to learn that COSF was founded in 2022. Snow Ball 2025 will be the third iteration of the stellar event.

In January 2022 Pierce hosted a cocktail party at a friend’s home with a small silent auction table of 20 items. “I really wanted to host a gala that year but with the conditions of COVID and the restrictions, we decided to host just a little cocktail of 40 people,” he said. He was able to meet community leaders and share his idea of starting the foundation. That one cocktail event raised $200,000, which funded Snow Ball.

“That covered our deposit for the hotel along with other production costs to get things in motion.” Chopard got involved as the presenting sponsor, and Farfetch as co-presenting sponsor. Diana Ross was confirmed as headline performer the first year, and Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden hosted. “Marcia and I go way back,” Pierce said. “It was a really special time. But it was all bootstrapped with the vision to bring a glamorous event to raise money for these children.”

Spurred to Action by Personal Tragedy

The impetus to found COSF arose from the death of Pierce’s friend, Pamela Johnson, from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, in her mid-20s. Pierce got involved with Denise Rich’s Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, started its Next Generation Circle of Philanthropists, and there learned how to mobilize and lead. He was also on the Next Generation board at UNICEF.

“I had a passion for children being our future and a passion for helping in the cancer space, and I merged the two after realizing what the data looked like with pediatric cancer and the need for programs to ensure kids have access to childhood activities while in treatment.”

Once COVID hit, he realized that a lot of fundraising programs dependent on live events were at risk. “I thought what better time to start a foundation and help the problem.”

Filmmaker & Philanthropist

Pierce, a filmmaker and philanthropist, is executive producer of The Brutalist, in theaters December 20, starring Adrien Brody as a famous Jewish architect from Budapest who escaped the holocaust and came to New York. The film is already getting Oscar buzz and just won Best Film at the New York Critics Circle Awards. As a producer, Pierce is drawn to projects that have a social impact. “We look for projects that could drive a media conversation and shift the minds of its audiences. And you could do that through entertaining content.”

His next film, The Wizard of the Kremlin with Jude Law playing Vladimir Putin alongside Alicia Vikander, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, and Tom Sturridge, begins shooting in January.

COSF foundation, cosffoundation.org

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