The festive holiday “100 Women Against Child Abuse” dinner at The Pierre benefitted The Children’s Advocacy Center of Manhattan, a free clinic providing support to victims of abuse and their families. (It is estimated that one in three children in New York City will experi-ence abuse by the time they reach 18 years of age.) The Center honored their co-founder (and Chicago producer) Marty Richards (award presented by Arlene Dahl), and Pulitzer-Prize-winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein (award presented by the hilarious Paul Rudnick).

Those dining and dancing throughout the night participated in live and silent auctions benefitting the Center, bidding on Travel + Leisure’s dream vacations and an 18K-white–gold, diamond, and sapphire Balloon of Dreams pin designed by CASSIS. The distinctive jewelry company initially designed the pin for The Michael Bolton Charities, a nonprofit foundation helping women and children overcome the obstacles of abuse and poverty. (The Balloon pin is a symbol of optimism, representing the potential of the human spirt to soar, with the support of those who change the world through their acts of kindness!). In the mix were Chita Rivera, Carolyne Roehm, Nina Griscom, Sharon Hoge, and Julia and David Koch.

We caught up with the glowing Donna Hanover (the ex-Mrs. Giuliani), who let us in on the latest chapter in her acting career. She appears with Susan Sarandon, Robin Williams, and Penelope Cruz in Chazz Palminteri’s upcoming film Noel (a New York fable about disillusioned New Yorkers who are inspired by the holidays to rise above their problems). Donna, herself, radiated joy as she showed us photos of her wedding to her high school sweetheart, attorney Edwin Oster, as well as of her son and daughter (former Gracie Mansion inhabitants Carolyn and Andrew) — and what fine young teenagers they have grown up to be! Today, the former First Lady is a happy woman. In fact, everyone there was happy to be together at this convivial party — supporting such a worthwhile and much-needed clinic.