Key players in the entertainment and corporate worlds mingled at the New York Spring Benefit of The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding at the art-filled Park Avenue apartment of Antonio “LA” Reid, Chairman of Island Def Jam Records. The 15-year-old nonprofit organization, established by Rabbi Marc Schneier and the late Joseph Papp, is dedicated to the promotion of racial harmony and the strengthening of intergroup relations through direct dialogue nationwide. Clearly the apartment of “LA” Reid, who departed Arista Records with a reportedly sumptuous “golden parachute,” made quite an impression on honorees Tom Freston (MTV) and Michael Goldstein (Toys “R” Us), as evidenced by the conversation reported by the New York Post‘s Richard Johnson. Freston commented, “After looking at ‘LA,’ maybe I should try to get fired.” Goldstein replied, “Unfortunately, I retired from Toys “R” Us — perhaps I should have aimed to get fired!” Others honored with the Joseph Papp Racial Harmony Award were the Fund for Public Schools’ Leslie Koch, Motown’s Kedar Massenburg, and El Diario - La Prensa’s Rossana Rosada. The Joseph Papp Corporate Diversity Award was given to Motorola.

Also in sync at the “we love the world” evening was Foundation Chairman and hip-hop royalty Russell Simmons, who had successfully lobbied Governor Pataki to propose amending the mandatory sentence guidelines of the New York State drug laws; Denise Rich; Alan and Karin Wilzig; and Foundation Executive Director Lawrence Kopp. You’ve got to have friends!