September 29, 2010
NEW YORK CITY – To raise awareness and support for its ongoing battles to defend the lives and legal rights of abused and neglected children in foster care across the United States, Children’s Rights will hold its Fifth Annual Benefit — honoring philanthropist and hip-hop icon Darryl “DMC” McDaniels — on Tuesday, October 19, 2010, at NYC’s Plaza Hotel. The organization selects an annual honoree who demonstrates, through public advocacy and action, a passionate commitment to the most vulnerable among our nation’s children.
Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, a groundbreaking musician and founding member of the rap trio Run-DMC (named Greatest Hip-Hop Group of All Time by MTV), began advocating for adoptees and foster youth after learning late in life of his own adoption. McDaniels will receive the coveted Children’s Rights Champion Award for his tireless work on behalf of foster children through his Felix Organization/Adoptees for Children, a nonprofit organization that operates Camp Felix in upstate New York and provides leadership training for teenage youth, as well as other year-round opportunities for children in foster care. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, McDaniels was also awarded an Emmy in 2006 for his VH1 documentary, DMC: My Adoption Journey.
Former New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine will present the 2010 benefit’s keynote address. Gov. Corzine has long been recognized as a leader in child welfare reform for his work with Children’s Rights to transform foster care in that state. “No organization is bringing more vigilance and discipline and thoughtfulness to the effort to protect our kids than Children’s Rights,” said Gov. Corzine. “Sometimes we need a blunt instrument to make us aware that we must live up to our responsibilities. Children’s Rights has done that.”
About the Fifth Annual Children’s Rights Benefit:
Co-Chairs for this special evening are Richard D. Emery, Lawrence J. Fox, and Jordan Seaman, current members of the Children’s Rights Board of Directors. Young Leadership Committee Co-Chairs are Rachel Balaban, Rahil D. Briggs, Paul and Jessica Davis, Rebecca Kysar, Diane and Alejandro Longoria, and Sarah Rosenwald Varet.
A live auction in support of Children’s Rights’ work for abused and neglected kids will be conducted by Hugh Hildesley, Executive Vice President and Senior Auctioneer, Sotheby’s. Additionally, an online auction will be conducted by CharityBuzz.com live from October 13 to November 4, 2010.
Held in New York City at the Plaza Hotel, located at 58th Street and Fifth Avenue, the benefit evening will include cocktails beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Terrace Room, with dinner at 7:30 in the Grand Ballroom, followed by awards and auction.
Full tables are available at the $10,000-50,000 levels. Individual tickets may be purchased for $250-1,000. For more information and to purchase tickets, please contact Buckley Hall Events at 914.579.1000, or visit www.childrensrights.org/benefit.