Hedge Funds Care Ninth Annual Open Your Heart to the Children Benefit
The Marriott Hotel, NY NY
February 8, 2007

heather The Hedge Funds Care Committee of Hearts held its “Open Your Heart to the Children Benefit 2007” on February 8, 2007 at the majestic Marriott Hotel. Hedge Funds Care, an alliance of hedge fund industry professionals whose mission is to raise funds to support activities focused on the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect, has been operating for nine years. It is the only group solely devoted to combating child abuse and has already risen over $20 Million to support activities focused on strengthening families and saving children from the trauma of abuse and neglect. The committee has distributed 349 grant awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 to community based non-profit organizations providing these critical services.

The elegant Black-tie affair began with cocktails and a silent auction which allowed the numerous guests to view various alluring packages being offered to persuade bidders to make significant contributions to this worthy cause. The evening continued with an auspicious welcoming by Committee of Hearts Co-Chairs Mitchell Lieberman and Michael Tannenbaum, the singing of the Star Spangled Banner by Emily Winnall, and Reverend Wade Atkinson blessing the event, followed by presentations, awards, dinner, and the live auction. Michael Vranos, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ellington, was the recipient of the Hedge Funds Care Award for Caring.

Hedge Funds Care founder Rob Davis eloquently expressed his hope that in the future children would not be subjected to the same kind of abuse and neglect that we seem to hear of every day, and his hope that coming together at this annual event was a sign that action would be taken to change this tragic situation. Congressman Charles B. Rangel, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, thanked the organization for the “incredible honor” bestowed upon him when given the opportunity to speak at the event. He proceeded by delivering a memorable speech about how despite his own impoverished childhood he managed to become an American Success Story. Congressman Rangel concluded his speech by telling the guests that what they do today to help the children will determine what their responses will be when their children and grandchildren ask, “Just what did you do to help?” Although Representative Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, who was scheduled to be the Special Guest Speaker, was unable to attend the event, she provided a powerful presentation via video emphasizing the theme of the evening on the importance of helping children. Keynote Speaker Shari Shink is a child advocacy attorney and the Founder and Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center which is a nonprofit that provides legal services to abused and neglected children in the Rocky Mountain region. The delivery of her words as hard cold facts of the plight of today’s children and tomorrow’s children if things were not changed, placed even greater emphasis on the need for continued support and action in this matter, to an audience whose attendance and generosity already spoke of their tireless efforts. Shari Shink has been advocating on behalf of abused and neglected children for over 30 years, saving the lives of more than 7,500 children.

The most moving presentation of the evening was delivered by J.C. Coble, who recently celebrated his 17th birthday, when he gave a heart wrenching speech that gained him much respect and love. J.C. entered foster care at the age of four and was appointed Shari Shink as his guardian by the court shortly thereafter. His youth did not take away from his ability to deliver a soft but powerful account of his fear and that of his sisters as they were taken away from their parents and their lives after they were placed in foster care. Listening to this “aged” young man tell his story resulted in tears, sorrow and anguish followed by a resounding standing ovation.

The other guests in attendance were Super model Petra Nemcova, Former Yankee Players Joe Pepitone and Roy White, Georgina Bennett, President, TCIU with her Husband, Mr & Mrs York owners San Francisco 49ers and Former NFL Giants player Karl S. Nelson. It was a great event and what mr Rob Davis is doing with the organization is truly a great thing,we at Liberty News Honoree him and his cause, we also like to thank him for his kind invite, to contribute, sponsor or learn more about the Hedge Funds Care organization feel free to log onto their website at www.hedgefundscare.org











Heather McClellan was born in Baker, Oregon and raised in McAllen, Texas. she lived in Houston for a year and attended the University of Texas at Austin (liberal arts, undeclared) for two years before transferring to Manhattan's Fashion Institute of Technology, where her major is Fashion Merchandising Management. She plans to have an editorial career in fashion journalism here in New York. If it weren't for fashion journalism, she would pursue a career in her other passion: genetics technology. Heather's column will feature articles written about famous celebrities, community heads, sports figures, politicians, film festivals, cultural festivals and much more. If you are interested in havng Liberty News Online Magazine come to cover one of your events, feel free to email us one week in advance at lnevents@hadofnyc.org, or feel free to telephone us at (718) 507-7616 Monday through Saturday from 8:00am to 8:00pm, and ask to speak to Steve so that we can add you to our master events calendar for coverage of your event. If you would like to email Heather McClellan with your opinion, please feel free to email her at Heather@hadofnyc.org.