High Water Women’s 3rd Annual Casino Night Raises Over $810,000
On January 28, 2008 a record amount was raised this year to support math education for children and financial literacy training for teens and women. The hedge fund community, friends and colleagues gathered at Sotheby’s to support our non-for-profit partners in promoting these programs which are very important. These programs which prepare individuals for success both in school and in the work force are a huge step towards financial security.
Beneficiaries from this year’s Casino Night include: Bottomless Closet; Count Me In; Inwood House; Iris House; Partnership With Children; Strive/East Harlem Employment Service; TEAK Fellowship; The After School Corporation (TASC); Women in Need (WIN); and The Young Women’s Leadership Foundation. In addition, up to 10% of the proceeds will help the organization's capacity-building efforts by which High Water Women can continue to operate, grow, and support its mission.
The evening was full of fun and excitement as guests played blackjack, roulette, and craps at the gaming tables while enjoying cocktails and delicious food. There was also a spectacular live action conducted by Hugh Hildsley of Sotheby's, featuring four one-of-a-kind lots which were all donated and raised $61,000 of the total raised. The four auction winners were Andrea Bollyky from Aetos Capital, 
Nicholas Botta from Pershing Square, Kathleen Kelley from Kingdon Capital Management, and Aimee Thomas who attended with her father, Lee Thomas, a table sponsor.
The excitement of the evening was topped off by a high-stakes Texas Hold 'Em tournament. Top finalists at the Poker Tournament (and subsequently the gaming tables) selected prizes from a lot of luxury brand donations. The tournament winner, Andrew Lai from Mezzacappa Management, selected a 2ct. total weight Moissanite martini stud earrings set in white gold, and the runner up, Heather Howes of Corbin Capital, chose a weekend stay for two at Rock Resorts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Top players from the general gaming tables were Bill Greeley from Ridgefield Capital Group and Brooke Simpson from GoldenTree Asset Management who each won a Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa package which includes a 2-night stay, spa and dinner certificate in Atlantic City. Tim Wilson the Chief Risk Officer at Caxton Associates won an antique buffet from ABC Carpet & Home. Alain Farrelly from Ramius Capital Group chose a Maurice Lacroix watch, David Schnur of GoldenTree Asset Management, Carrie Picket of Meteora Partners and Melanea Colonna of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network each received a Fine Art Children's Photography certificate. Jeff Treut from Hedge Fund Advisers received a Texas Hold 'Em party provided by Marne Cahn Consultants/Events LLC. Bonnie Stone from Women in Need won W Magazine note cards.
We are grateful to our loyal supporters, and welcome the support of a number of additional groups this year, helping to make this one of our most successful events ever. As well, the event would not have been made possible without the efforts of many individuals who contributed their time towards the planning stages, the fundraising, the auction, communications, signage, video displays, web design, and logistics the night of the event.
HWW extends many thanks to all the sponsors who helped make this event a huge success. Major sponsors were Tudor Investment Management, Highbridge Capital Management, Kingdon Capital Management, Galtere Ltd, Glenview Capital Management, Ridgefield Capital, Lee Thomas, Barlow Partners, Coatue, Corbin Capital Partners, Execuzen, Greenlight, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Lewis, James & Sydney Passin, Pershing Square, Prisma Capital Partners, Rothstein Kass, Tremblant Capital Group and Wilmer Hale.
Other sponsors include Bloomberg, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, GoldenTree Asset Management, Highside Capital Management, Hoplite Capital Management, Juniper Capital, Mezzacappa Management, Monitor Capital, Morgan Stanley, Prudential Bache Commodities, LLC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Satellite Asset Management, Sidley Austin, and Stroock.
HWW wishes to acknowledge the generosity of those who donated the items included in the auction lots which included a Buenos Aires cultural exploration, a Tuscan villa retreat, a New York luxury lifestyle package with shopping jaunts, as well as a Vegas and Sports Fantasy Package. In kind sponsors who made the auction lots possible included Barbara & Carlos Abadi, Bradford Portraits, Brick City Sports, Duhau Restaurante & Vinoteca, Esquina Carlos Gardel Eternautas Viajes Historicos, Everlast, Ferragamo, Fine Art Children's Photography, Fortunoff, Four Seasons Restaurant Le Mistral, Grand Cru, Ken Young, Kimberly Hotel, Lariviere, Loews Hotels, Madison Square Garden, Marjorie Kaufman, Melanea Colonna & Harvey Tanton, Mexico 631 Lounge, Patrick Gerschel, Smart Workout, The Core Club, Tocar, Inc., Tory Burch, Valera Global, Vera Padilla, and W Magazine.
HWW would like to especially thank Sotheby's for the fabulous venue, The JFM Group for the event planning, Canard Inc. for the catering, Marne Cahn Event Consultants for the casino and gaming services, and Burns McClellan for their public relations assistance.
Special thanks go to the following individuals: Jaclyn Ayers, Lynn Connolly, Justin Jackson, Andy Kaynor, Lynn Kolk, Natalie Kuznetsova, Mary Jane Lupton, Monique Miller, Robin Mosberg, and Michelle Szwarcberg.
See you next year at the 4th Annual Casino Night!
High Water Women’s 2nd Annual Casino Night raises $745,000
Our second annual Casino Night was held on January 18, 2007 at the Boylan/Peter White Studios with proceeds benefiting programs for the economic empowerment of women worldwide with a special focus on support for microfinance programs. These programs deliver financial services to individuals living in poverty who are typically excluded from the “traditional” financial system, such as credit, savings, and insurance. Over 41 million of the world’s poorest families are microfinance borrowers, and it is anticipated that 30% of microfinance borrowers leave poverty within three years of their first loan.
Primary beneficiaries were ACCION International, Grameen Foundation, and Women for Women International. Additional beneficiaries were Count Me In, Inwood House, Iris House, STRIVE/East Harlem Employment Service, Inc., and Women In Need.
The evening featured blackjack, craps and roulette gaming tables; live and silent auctions; an exciting high roller Texas Hold'em tournament won by Richard Potapchuk of Highbridge Capital Management; and an wonderful VIP lounge with private bar and delectable menu.
HWW is very grateful to all the sponsors who helped make this event a huge success. Major sponsors were: Tudor Investment Corporation, Anderson Kill& Olick PC, CME, Glenview Capital Management, Hayground Cove Asset Management, Kingdon Capital Management, Leeward Hedge Funds, Moore Capital Management LLC, Raptor Funds, RNK Capital, Noble Partners LP, Goldman Sachs, Invemed Associates LLC, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Door LLP, Balyasny Asset Management LP, Bank of America, Barlow Partners Inc., Calyon Financial, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, GoldenTree Asset Management LP, Ridgefield Capital, Tami & Rick Schneider, Boomerang Capital LLC, Hoplite Capital Management, Pershing Square, Protégé Partners LLC, Prudential Financial – Global Commodities Group, Sandler O’Neill & Partners LP, Tiedemann Investment Group, Titan Advisors, Sansar Capital Management LLC, UBS Investment Bank, Ovation Travel, and Taittinger Champagne.
Casino Night 2006 Raises $750,000
High Water Women kicked off the New Year by raising more than $750,000 at our first annual Casino Night on January 19. Over 700 high rollers from hedge funds and Wall Street came together at the Roseland Ballroom for a night of fun and philanthropy to benefit four of our charitable partners: Inwood House, Iris House, n and Women In Need. Each one of these charitiededicated to improving the lives of underprivileged women and children in New York City.
HWW board member Leslie Lake said, "The evening completely surpassed our expectations! Roseland was packed with people from the hedge fund and financworlds playing poker and blackjack, sampling the terrific food, and socializing.” Theatmosphere at the high roller tables upstairs was especially exciting, as people competed for high end prizes including a trip to Istanbul.”
The event committee included all HWW board members pictured at right: LeslieRahl, Marjorie Kaufman, Leslie Lake, Alexandra Poe, Kathleen Kelley and Liz Hilpman, as well as HelenMarie Rodgers, Gretchen Piller, and BarbarJustiz. Attendees spent their "funny money" playing blackjack and roulette while beginners learned to play poker inpoker clinic. The highlight of the evening wby John Deignan of Remsenberg Capital.
"It was an amazing event", said Rob Koltun of RNK Capital, one of the high roller attendees. "It was great to see many men and women from the financial industry who are dedicated to giving back to the community. High Water Women made it so much fun for everyone while at the same time raising awareness for New York’s less fortunate."
HWW is grateful for the huge outpouring of support from more than 50 hedge fund and Wall Street sponsors who helped make Casino Night a roaring success. Major sponsors were led by Tudor Investment Corporation, Alson atue Management, Glenview Capital Management, Highbridge Capital Management, Kingdon Capital Management, LeewarGroup, Raptor Funds, Ridgefield Capital, RNK Capital and Vantis Capital.
Other sponsors included Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, WilmerHale, Angelo Gordon, Calypso Capital Management, Hayground Cove Asset Management, Invemed Associates, Maverick Capital Foundation, Noble Partners, Owenoke Capital Management, Prime Management Bermuda, and US Trust.
Casino Night could not have happened without the help of an enthusiastic group of women from the financial community including Barbara Abadi, Lynn Connolly, Elizabeth Derbes, Pam Goldman, Sandy Gross, Erika Khoo, Cynthia Lake, Jaime Lorenzo, MJ Lupton, Katherine Lynch, Sarah Madigan, Mary Reilly and Eleanor Thomas. HWW applauds their efforts!
We also wish to acknowledge Burns McClellan and Trader Monthly for their much valued media support for the event, and TopNotch Graphics for their terrific signage and displays.
The evening was enhanced by generous donations of goods and services from The New York Yankees, the USTA, EOS Airlines, and Ovation Travel. Other key donors included: Alba Interiors, Anne Fontaine, Rene Arsenault, Bang & Olufson, John Barrett Salon, Breezy Hill Inn, Bridgette Raes Style Group, CBS, Chanel, Christine Ansbacher, Coatue Capital, Monroe & Becky Cobey, The Core Club, Cornelia, DreamWorks, Joseph Drouhin Wines, Brenda Earl de Paola, Elizabeth Arden, The Estee Lauder Companies, Flowers of the World, Gevril, Great Point Partners, Hammerman Bros., Invemed Associates, Gilbert S Kernan, Kerzner International, Leslie Lake, Maison Louis Jadot, Marne Cahn Consultants /Events, The Mayflower Inn & Spa, Micropage, NBC, New York Little Elves, New York City Opera, Therese Oswald & John Curran, Renny & Reed, San Pietro Restaurant, Samantha von Sperling, Catherine Louise Schubert, Susan & John Stuart, Rafael Urena, Anna Vlaicu, Robert Varkonyi, Vero Bourgogne Wines, Sukey Wagner, and ZoneManhattan.
STRIVE Wine Tasting 2005 - Benefit Raises More Than $200,000 for STRIVE/East Harlem Employment Service
High Water Women held its first benefit last week, raising more than $200,000 for STRIVE, an East Harlem-based non-profit job training and placement agency that specializes in assisting the hard-to-employ. The organization has branches in 19 cities across the United States and branches in London, England and Jerusalem, Israel. Since 1984, STRIVE has been responsible for training and placing more than 32,000 individuals in gainful employment.
"High Water Women's support for STRIVE's mission is invaluable. Their generous assistance will continue to allow the organization to positively impact society in ways that are beyond measurement," said Rob Carmona, President and CEO of STRIVE. "Everybody STRIVE helps wants to work and improve their lives. High Water Women's ability to help with our fundraising efforts will enable our clients to become work ready individuals and productive members of society."
High Water Women founders, Leslie Rahl, President of Capital Market Risk Advisors, Inc., and Kathleen Kelley, Global Macro Portfolio Manager, Kingdon Capital Management, said, "The evening surpassed all of our expectations, and we are impressed by the commitment shown by our colleagues in the financial community. This is indeed testimony to the increasing participation of women in philanthropy and the appeal of an approach to philanthropy that is coupled with a strong commitment to volunteerism." Each of High Water Women's philanthropic programs emphasize as a key feature access to members' time and insights based on their considerable organizational expertise.
Gretchen Piller, Managing Director of The Torrey Funds and a member of High Water Women's Benefit Committee for the June 9 event, commented, "Being women committed to surpassing the high water mark, we doubled our original fundraising goal of $100,000. As successful women, we identify with similarly driven organizations such as STRIVE, communicating their powerful message of hope and possibility. We are grateful to have been able to make this contribution to such a worthy organization."
The High Water Women benefit at Fred's at Barneys New York was completely sold out, with more than 225 people attending. Kelley and Rahl noted that "we had surveyed our members as to what kind of event they preferred, and a wine tasting was their number 1 choice!" As the featured event of the evening, the wine tasting was conducted by The Wine Diva, wine educator and entertainer Christine Ansbacher.
"While the evening had a serious purpose, it was also really a lot of fun, and we had a great time interacting with the team from STRIVE," said Richard Schneider, Managing Director of Highbridge Capital Management LLC. "This is the kind of event that can attract new faces and make philanthropy more approachable, especially to those who may not have been highly involved until now."
Another highlight was an auction of a day in the kitchen of famed chef, David Bouley. Bidding was brisk, and a surprise came at the end when two separate bidders each won their own day in Bouley's kitchen. Mr. Bouley was "thrilled" with his part in contributing to the success of the evening.
The High Water Women benefit for STRIVE was underwritten by High Water Women board member Leslie Lake and The Invus Group Ltd., LLC and also received a generous contribution from Paul Tudor Jones, Founder of Tudor Investment Corp.
Patrons of the High Water Women event were:
- Far Hills Associates
- Noble Partners, LP
- Vantis Capital
Benefactors were:
- Bank of America
- Goldman Sachs
- Jason Ader, Hayground Cove Asset Management
- Hoplite Capital Management
- Barbara Justiz, Barbara Justiz Advisors
- Jim Pallotta, Tudor Investment Corp.
- Andrew Rahl, Anderson, Kill & Olick
- Schulte Roth & Zabel
- Scout Capital
- Standard & Poor's
- Wolf Asset Management, LLC
Members of the June 9 Benefit Committee were:
- Betsy L. Battle, Soros Fund Management LLCv
- Daphne Bradshaw-Mack, Bessemer Trust Company
- Jolyne Caruso-Fitzgerald, Lehman Brothers
- Sheila Clancy, Pequot Capital Foundation Inc.
- Karen Cook, Steinhardt Partners
- Julia B. Dailey, Andor Capital
- Cinta Delmonaco-Kemp, Merrill Lynch
- Brenda Earl de Paola, Earl Enterprises
- Cara Fleckenstein, Bank of America Securities
- Robert Fomon, Bear Stearns Inc.
- Jessica Forbes, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson
- Harry Harrison, Barclays Capital
- Liz Hilpman, Barlow Partners
- Amy Hirsch
- Jason Huemer
- Dr. David and Marjorie Kaufman, Kingdon Capital Management
- Kathleen Kelley, Kingdon Capital Management
- Leslie Lake, The Invus Group Ltd., LLC
- Gena Lovett, Alexandra Investment Management
- Barbara Lucas, Capital Market Risk Advisors
- Lauren Malafronte, Barclays Capital
- Lynne Minard, XT Capital Partners, LLC
- Morrison & Foerster LLP
- Marti Murray, Murray Capital
- Virginia R. Parker, Parker Global Strategies, LLC
- Leonard A. Pierce, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
- Gretchen Piller, The Torrey Funds
- Alexandra Poe, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
- Leslie Rahl, Capital Market Risk Advisors
- Helen Marie Rodgers, Prisma Partners
- Rosemary Safranek, Ninepeaks Capital Management L.P.
- Rick Schneider, HighBridge Capital
- Shodhan and Sujata Trivedi, Opax Investments Inc.
- Anita Volz Wien, G-7 Group
Sponsors of the event were:
- HedgeOp Compliance
- Pet Wines
- Royal Wine Merchants
- SkinKlinic
- The Torrey Funds
About STRIVE/ East Harlem Employment Service
STRIVE is an East Harlem based non-profit job training and placement agency that has specialized in assisting the hard-to-employ. The organization has branches in 20 cities across the United States and a branch in London, England.
The core feature of STRIVE's curriculum is a one-month job readiness program that emphasizes a positive attitude, accountability, responsibility, personal growth and a two year follow-up. STRIVE is committed to transforming anyone who has had difficulty maintaining or obtaining employment into a work- ready individual. Additional information about the organization can be obtained at www.strivenational.org or by calling (212) 360-1100. 
