Yahoo Lifestyle Moda Operandi’s Lauren Santo Domingo Honored at Citymeals on Wheels Benefit at the Plaza
In a “power lunch” at the Plaza ballroom in Manhattan on Wednesday, a powerful amount of money — more than $1.5 million — was raised to support Citymeals on Wheels, easily surpassing the organization’s goal of $1.3 million.
“Through COVID, Hurricane Sandy, and Sept. 11, 2001, Citymeals has been there to mobilize so our elder neighbors never have to go without food,” said Lauren Santo Domingo, the cofounder and chief brand officer of the Moda Operandi luxury e-commerce site, who was honored at the annual event, along with Robert Wankel, chairman and chief executive officer of The Shubert Organization.
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As she accepted her honor, Domingo warned the crowd of 400 that severe cuts by the incoming Trump administration “are expected to be deeper than any ever enacted,” and posed an important question to the crowd: “What is our gift? What is our superpower? It’s our voice, our leadership, our platforms and our foundations.” She said she felt very comfortable asking chic fashion shoppers to get out their credit cards and donate to Citymeals, which was made easy via the QR code listed at the tables.
“This year, we’re proud to recognize Lauren Santo Domingo and The Shubert Organization for their unwavering commitment to helping Citymeals end elder hunger,” said Citymeals CEO Beth Shapiro. “We are also grateful for the steadfast support of our donors and sponsors who joined us today. Their generosity strengthens Citymeals’ lifeline for older New Yorkers, delivering meals and more to our older neighbors who built this city…New York is facing a hunger crisis. Our goal is to end hunger of older New Yorkers by 2040.”
“Citymeals on Wheels is not just about the food. It’s about the human contact,” said Deborah Roberts, cohost of “ABC 20/20” and a Citymeals board member, who emceed the fundraiser.
On either side of the ballroom’s podium were placards with messages underscoring the plight of elder New Yorkers needing food, including one that read: 87 percent of older adults receiving Citymeals on Wheels say it enables them to remain living at home. Another sign indicated: One out of ten New Yorkers over 60 is food insecure.
Working in partnership with 30 community-based organizations and older adult centers, Citymeals delivered more than 2 million meals last year for 22,000 older New Yorkers. Citymeals operates with 18,000 volunteers, and has donated 70 million meals during its history.
The organization, according to its website, dates back to 1981 when Gael Greene, the late New York magazine restaurant critic, read a disturbing article about older New Yorkers facing hunger and quickly rallied friends in the food and hospitality to raise funds for 6,000 meals for homebound elderly neighbors that Christmas. Ten years later, Citymeals was delivering nearly one million meals annually and was established as an independent 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization.
“New York and the Shubert Organization are at their greatest when we all work together,” said Wankel. “Through the compassion and dedication of Citymeals,” he added, “seniors always have a real meal.”
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