The
Twelfth Annual Food Allergy Ball, presented by the Food
Allergy Initiative,
took place on Monday, December 7, 2009 at The Waldorf=Astoria. The evening
raised $3.9 million, which will benefit the Food Allergy Initiative’s
research activities and educational programs aimed at effectively treating
and raising awareness of life-threatening food allergies.
This year’s
event honored Charles Koppelman, executive chairman of Martha Stewart
Living Omnimedia. Emeril Lagasse, the celebrated chef, restaurateur,
and television personality, received the FAI Lifetime Achievement Award.
Conor Kennedy, the son of Mary
Richardson Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy,
Jr., accepted the FAI Legacy Award, which honored the late Senator
Edward M. Kennedy for his commitment to the food-allergic community.
David H.
Koch was the Corporate Dinner chair, Sharyn
T. Mann and Todd J. Slotkin were the Gala Dinner chairs, and Patricia and James
Cayne, Mary Richardson
Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Julia
Koch were the Benefit Dinner
chairs. The festivities for this black-tie Gala started at 7:00 PM.
The
Food Allergy Initiative (FAI) is a national, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization
dedicated to finding a cure for food allergies, which affect more than
12 million Americans. Founded in 1998, FAI is the largest private source
of food allergy research funding in the United States. Since its inception,
the organization has contributed more than $65 million toward research,
clinical activities to improve diagnosis and treatment, public policy
initiatives, and educational programs to raise awareness among schools,
health and child care workers, and members of the food service and hospitality
industries. Please visit www.faiusa.org for additional information.
