Bettina's Take: Silver Hill Hospital Gala 2012
Silver Hill Hospital has been a results driven haven for patients suffering from addiction and depression for many years. As Michael Cominotto told me at the benefit he co-chaired with his husband, Dennis Basso, "Silver Hill hospital saves lives. I am proof of that."
Saving lives is serious business, but the two very popular honorary chairs know that keeping an evening lively and upbeat will only help to enhance a cause. 520 guests, including Joan Collins, Coco Rocha, Tamara Mellon, Jamie Tisch, Marcia and Richard Mishaan, Dayssi Kanavos and Karin Luter gathered to listen to Neil Sedaka sing his most popular songs, including "Love Will Keep Us Together" and "Laughter In The Rain". Martha Stewart was supposed to be the emcee, but was laid up with the nasty flu that is going around, so Basso took over her duties.
Ward F. Cleary, co-chair of the Silver Hill board, and his family, received the Founders Award, and the late Steve Sillerman was awarded the Visionary Award. The speeches, and the auction led by Lydia Fenet, were mercifully short. Guests stayed and danced on after dinner.The evening raised over $900,000. What a great success.