Spring is in the air, love and laughter everywhere. Oh give me the night. What a night it was at the Children’s Health Fund 2016 Annual Benefit. Honorees at the glorious occasion, held at the Mandarin Oriental, were Harry Belafonte, presented with the Humanitarian Award; Girish Navani, CEO and cofounder of eClinical Works, a leader in ambulatory healthcare IT solutions, presented with the Corporate Award; and Robert Essner and Herve Sedky, presented with the Leadership Recognition Award. Presenters were Alex Karnal, Karen Redlener, Dr. Irwin Redlener and Dennis Walto.
The evening opened with a vocal performance by the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, who not only performed for this audience but also previously performed for the pope and the Obamas. The other scheduled performer, folk singer Joan Baez, was unable to attend but sent a video recording that was picture perfect and touching as she sang one of Belafonte’s classics, “Scarlett Ribbons.” Special guests included Morgan Freeman, the Hon. David N. Dinkins and surprise guest, Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Each guest shared a memorable Harry Belafonte and CHF vignette, which made the evening so personable. Dinkins, who is known to always put children first, was credited with being the first public official to recognize children in homeless shelters 30 years ago, when CHF was just a dream. “Without CHF, children living in poverty would just fall through the medical cracks,” Dinkins proclaimed.
Morgan Freeman’s first encounter with CHF dates back 25 years, when his hometown of Clarksdale, Miss. was the first community in the Mississippi Delta to receive health care. “Just ask the kids in the Delta what CHF means to them,” stated Freeman as he and Belafonte shared an emotional embrace.
De Blasio stated, “Harry is an icon that changes the rules of the game. He is devoted to fighting inequality in health care and the way we treat our children. After all, they must have health to enjoy the bounty of our nation.” CHF serves as a model for the country.
As the story goes, and just to show you how life works, it all began when destiny brought two devoted souls together. Harry Belafonte had been traveling through Africa with Jim Grant, founder of UNICEF. Thousands of people across the continent had died of cholera and from famine. Determined to raise the consciousness of America, Belafonte used all of his contacts with other artists and founded USA for Africa. Three things sprung from this effort: First was the recording of “We Are the World,” led by the late Michael Jackson and including every major artist in the country. Second, among the artists was Paul Simon, who brought pediatric doctor Irwin Redlener on board, introducing him to Belafonte. Third, of the $60 million raised from “We Are the World,” $10 million was donated to start the process.
I have purposely left Redlener and his wife Karen for the last of this story, but certainly not the least. It was their drive and determination that brought the dream into reality. They were committed 30 years ago and remain so today. The vision was to create mobile health care units to bring much needed medical treatment and attention to children living in areas where clinical help is either not available or not an option. What started out with one mobile unit has grown exponentially. You may have noticed we have our own unit parked on 125th Street at Seventh Avenue every Monday, open to all of those in need who stop by.
According to the Redleners, “Children’s Health Fund has grown from a single mobile medical unit in 1987 to a national force for giving America’s most vulnerable kids access to the quality pediatric care they need to succeed in life.” Irwin Redlener adds, “Children need to be safe from stress and parents need support.” He recounted a story of tending to a little boy living in a foster home. Asking the child what he wanted to be when he grew up, as he asks all children, he was amazed when the little boy said he wanted to be a paleontologist. The good doctor asked, “Do you know what a paleontologist does?” The little boy replied yes, and proceeded to pull an old copy of a newspaper article out of his pocket, describing the work, which the little boy found fascinating. That was just one of the hundreds of moments that Redlener has used as a source of energy and inspiration when the odds sometimes feel stacked against him. If a little boy from a foster home can have dreams, why can’t we with all of our resources help to make the dreams come true?
By screening children with asthma, hearing or vision impairments, CHF has made a huge difference in children’s ability to perform academically. Can you imagine children failing or exhibiting behavioral problems just because they can’t breath, see or hear?
The flagship unit is located in New York City, with units throughout the country. During the past year, CHF has introduced a state-of-the-art technological mobile unit in the San Francisco Bay area. Samsung has provided digital technology in Miami that can remotely make diagnoses and referrals to a specialist. It has proved to be a great aid to those who cannot get to a doctor. Morgan Stanley has made substantial contributions and a difference in the lives of children in Chicago with doctor, dental and mental assistance. The Redleners, along with Robert Essner, current CHF chairman, and Herve Sedky, incoming CHF chairman, continue to make magic.
Birthdays galore! Celebrated by Jill and Stanley Nelson, Dr. Ernst Robertson, Raquel Johnson, Cleveland Kojack Manley, Bill Palmer and Judge Ray Bruce. Passed: John Langston Williams. Happy stepping up to little Basil Paterson, son of Daniel, onward and upward to fifth grade.
Some have the impression that The Public Theater, under the leadership of Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham, is the only theater in New York that produces Shakespeare classics. Well, it ain’t so. There’s the Classical Theatre of Harlem, presenting “MacBeth,” July 8-31, at the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater at Marcus Garvey Park and the Harlem Shakespeare Festival at various venues. Will someone please tell the world we do more than rap, hip-hop and break dance, even though we do those so well.
Until next week … kisses.