WWO Award For Anderson

.

Volunteers in the News Heidi Klum, Seal and Anderson Cooper Headline Benefit for Maplewood-Based Nonprofit
The celebrities will help raise funds for the Maplewood-based Worldwide Orphans Foundation at NYC gala on November 1

12:46pm


On November 1, a lot of star power will be brought to bear to help raise funds for a Maplewood-based nonprofit with global reach.

Maplewood's own Dr. Jane Aronson founded Worldwide Orphans Foundation in 1997. Since that time, WWO has established humanitarian programs in Haiti, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Serbia and Vietnam. Two of its major programs are HIV/AIDS treatment programs for orphans in Vietnam and Ethiopia. Other programs include physical/occupational therapy, early intervention, education, global arts and humanities, sports and recreational camps.

Now in its sixth year, the WWO Annual Benefit Gala raises thousands of dollars to benefit Dr. Aronson's work. This year's gala takes place on November 1, at 6:00 pm at Cipriani Wall Street in New York. CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper will be honored and supermodel Heidi Klum and Grammy Award-winning singer Seal will co-host the evening gala, which will feature a special half-hour musical performance by Seal.

The 2010 Gala theme is "...reaching out and reaching deep." CNN's Cooper will receive the WWO Honorary Orphan Ranger award in recognition of his in-depth reporting on Haiti and outstanding coverage of Haiti's orphaned and vulnerable children in the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquake that rocked the island on January 2010.

"WWO is proud to honor Anderson Cooper for shining the spotlight for the world on the devastating impact of Haiti's earthquake on orphaned and vulnerable children," said Dr. Jane Aronson, founder and CEO of WWO. "I first met Anderson Cooper in Haiti following the earthquake and was impressed then and continue to be impressed now, with the depth of knowledge and thought he brings to every issue he covers."

Special Guests attending the star-studded gala will include: actors Deborra-lee Furness and Hugh Jackman; actress Brooke Smith & Steven Lubensky; fashion publicist Desiree Gruber and actor Kyle MacLachlan; Broadway director Kathleen Marshall & Scott Landis; and actress Donna Murphy & Shawn Elliot. Tony-award winning director Kathleen Marshall is the gala's Entertainment Chair.

WWO board members Chris Yanney and his wife Elsie, and Mary Knobler and her husband Claude, are the gala co-chairs.

The mission of Worldwide Orphans Foundation is to transform the lives of orphaned children around the world by addressing their unique needs in their own countries through medical, developmental, psychosocial and educational programs. WWO programs are designed to nurture each child and provide opportunities for them to become healthy, independent, productive members of their communities and the world.

Individual tickets are $1000/$2500 (limited availability), table packages begin at $10,000. Visit Worldwide Orphans Foundation at www.wwo.org or call 973-763- 9961 for more information.