It was an evening of laughter and laudations at The Partnership for Public Service Gala at the exquisitely decorated Cipriani 42nd St. Daniela Cotton opened with a majestic rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, and was joined for the final line by Steven Colbert, whose awkward harmonizing began a brilliantly satiric routine that left the crowd weeping with laughter.
The evening’s honoree was Police Commish Raymond Kelly, acknowledged for his work in promoting the future of public service. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo presented the award, and upon acceptance Kelly praised The Partnership for Public Service for “inspiring a new generation of public servants.”
An unusual auction followed, led by Sotheby’s Jamie Niven, offering three opportunities for bidders to provide college students with a chance to work with the federal government. A keynote address capped the evening, offered by Leo Wise, who detailed his experience with the Justice Department’s Enron Task Force merely two years after graduating from Harvard Law.
Founder of the Partnership and Chairman of International Specialty Products Samuel Heyman served as the Dinner Chair, while Ingeborg and Ira Rennert, and Robert and Gillian Steel co-chaired the event which raised over $2.2mil. |
