The Pierre was festooned with hundreds of cherry blossom branches at the 65th annual Boys’ Towns of Italy’s Ball of the Year.

Boys’ Towns of Italy supports at-risk youth from 18 countries around the world, but particularly focuses on the development of children in the U.S. and Italy, offering them a chance in life.

Lainie Kazan, who called herself an “honorary Italian,” received the “Entertainer of the Year” award as well as performed for the crowd.
Francesca Gumina Braschi was another honoree along with Conair executive Lee Rizzuto Jr., whose family is a long-standing supporter of the charity. The crowd cheered with a standing ovation for the final honoree, textile industrialist Anthony Maltese, who attended with his beautiful wife, Cynthia.

Other notable guests included WABC radio host Mark Simone (the evening’s MC), Carmen Dell’Orefice, Dr. David and Illiana Sime, Rita Cosby, Marty Richards, Francine LeFrak and Rick Friedberg, Matilda Cuomo, Lisa Solomon, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Frank and Michelle Rella, Taki and Alexandra Theodoracopulos, Kristen and Charles Krusen, AJ Maltese and his new fiancee Christine Alicea, Barbara and Bruce Winston, Larry Kaiser, Cheri Kaufman, and Jo Hallingby.

Everyone enjoyed the festive decor, the chow, and the Ciaos.