October 22, 2009
Oceana celebrated the launch of their New York City office this past Monday evening. The party was hosted by Alexander & Brenda von Schweickhardt and held in their beautiful Manhattan penthouse. Guests stopped to pose for photographs before making their way up the spiraled staircase and into the main event.
Oceana Board Chairman, Keith Addis, and Executive Vice-President, Jim Simon proudly welcomed their guests. Addis and Simon later gave well-received introductions about the nonprofit organization, which concluded with their announcing the launch of the New York Office.
Both levels of the apartment reflected an ocean theme that was present in every detail of decoration. Seated on a window ledge leading to the upstairs penthouse were two models dressed in head-to-tail mermaid attire. Their colorful and shiny outfits made quite a splash that night. Upstairs, waiters served delicious gourmet hors d’oeuvres and guests were treated to specialty drinks donated by Zaya. Tiffany & Co. sponsored the event, with Foundation President Fernanda Kellogg in attendance.
Celebrities and well-known members of New York Society attended the exclusive launch in support of the nonprofit’s continued contributions to ocean environments. Gina Gershon, Sue Cohn Rockefeller, Law & Order’s Sam Waterston, fashion designers Tommy Hilfiger and John Varvatos all shared in the festivities. Music producer Nile Rodgers, New York Jets’ Damien Woody, and actor Jeff Goldblum were among other note-worthy attendees. They were all truly excited to be a part of such an honorable organization.
Bettina Alonso, Vice President, Development, was thrilled to have such a successful showing for the event. Extending the launch an extra hour gave people an opportunity to learn more about the situation of our oceans.
“We had a lot of supporters with us, Board Members and Ocean Council members, as well as new faces who have shown interest in knowing more about what how we achieve victories.”
Alonso worked in the European headquarters in Spain for two years before moving to New York, and feels that it is the perfect location.
“New Yorkers have an international approach to topics, as well as Oceana. I also felt, that our very focused results oriented approach is something that appeals to New Yorkers.”
Oceana is a nonprofit international advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the world’s oceans. With representatives present in North America, Europe, and South and Central America, it makes sense that they locate workers in a global city like New York. Founded in 2001, Oceana staffers and volunteers work tirelessly to reduce pollution and help prevent the destruction of fish, marine mammal, and other sea life habitats and populations.
-Megan McDonough
Here is Oceana’s official mission statement, courtesy of Bettina Alonso :
Oceans cover 71 percent of the globe, and they are as important to us as they are vast. Not only do they control our climate; they are the primary source of protein for 1 billion people around the world. They drive our economies. For millions of sailors, swimmers, and vacationers of all stripes, they offer a refuge from the metal and concrete that encase our working lives.
Oceana seeks to make our oceans as rich, healthy and abundant as they were in our grandparents’ youth. We look to a future in which dolphin sightings are common along any temperate coast; in which the mighty swordfish, marlin and tuna are abundant once again; in which whales and sea turtles thrive, cod are plentiful on both sides of the Atlantic, local fishing cultures evolve rather then decline and in which fish are a safe, growing and plentiful source of food around the world.
In the last few decades we have seen the benefits of restored rivers and lakes – for ecological and economic health – in many parts of the world. We can reap the same benefits from healthy oceans. We can restore ocean ecosystems that will sustain us, entertain us, amaze us and generate jobs around the world for centuries to come.
http://sociallysuperlative.com/2009/10/22/oceana-new-york-launch-party/
No comments:
Post a Comment