FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MAY 11, 2017 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 65 A powerful week with powerful women From left to right: Traci Lehrer, Ross Lehrer, Elissa Theilen, Jonathan Lehrer and Barbara Lehrer at the S:US gala m h n of wom vschneps@gmail.com Dynamic $1500 off Lumineers $500 off Invisalign DENTAL WORK CALL FOR FREE CONSULTATION THE INVISIBLE WAY TO SOME EXCLUSIONS APPLY STRAIGHTEN TEETH Third Generation Dentist ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Th is was a spectacular week spent with powerful women in starkly diff erent settings. I got to spend time with hundreds of women who support Planned Parenthood and also enjoyed a remarkable Broadway play about two iconic, enormously successful women in the beauty business. I also attended a fundraiser for S:US, run by President and CEO Donna Colonna and attended by many powerful friends. Founded in 1978, S:US Services provides $200 million in services and support to vulnerable people and their families in New York City and Long Island. On May 5, my daughter Elizabeth asked her sister Samantha and I to join her at the annual Planned Parenthood Nassau County chapter gala; Elizabeth is active with the organization and serves on its Planning Committee. Naturally, Samantha and I said yes. As we drove the long, curving, treelined road into Bethpage State Park to get to Carlton on the Green, we saw picketers standing at the entry gates, carrying shocking signs of aborted children and demanding the demise of Planned Parenthood. It was not unexpected since passions are running higher than ever over the group’s mission. In its own words, Planned Parenthood seeks to empower women to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. Th e organization works to make medically sound health care and educational services accessible to all women, while also promoting public policy ensuring that all women are able to get the services they need. Contrary to public opinion, few of Planned Parenthood’s services are connected to abortion. Th e organization educates and off ers testing to men and women of every race and ethnicity. Many of these services aren’t paid with government funds, but rather through private insurers or by the patients themselves. What Planned Parenthood off ers most is a freedom of choice for women, something that resonates more today even as the group’s existence is threatened. Th e Nassau County branch’s gala had its largest attendance to date, and raised more money than ever before. Its devoted leader, president and CEO JoAnn D. Smith, repeatedly made a bold statement about Planned Parenthood: “We will survive.” Th e overfl owing room of supporters included the honorees Diane and Bernie Yatauro and many local political leaders including State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Congressman Tom Suozzi; all supporting the theme “We Will Survive.” Beauty business rivals in War Paint Th en, on May 6, my friend Linda DeSabato and I were mesmerized by the performances of Tony Awardnominated stars Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole in the powerful story of bitter cosmetic rivals Helena Rubenstein and Elizabeth Arden in the musical “War Paint.” Since Linda and I are both presidents of our companies, we related to the story of the two trailblazers Rubenstein and Arden in the years from 1935 to 1964 -- a time when a tiny number of women led national brand companies. H e l e n a Rubenstein became the wealthiest businesswoman in America, as stated by Forbes magazine at that time. Th ey could have been twins in their similar pursuit of success. Ironically, both experienced the betrayal of the men in their lives and their changing alliances to their rivals. Th ey both suff ered from prejudice; Arden, who was a Canadian Episcopalian, but was excluded from an exclusive WASP club membership because she was considered “nouveaux riche,” having made her money herself and not being part of the “old world” money, while Rubenstein was denied the opportunity to purchase a penthouse Park Avenue co-op by the co-op board because she was Jewish. (Rubenstein would get her revenge by buying the building, then living out her life in the triplex penthouse!) Th e glamorous and remarkably talented LuPone and Ebersole wore stunning costumes created by the talented Catherine Zuber. Some of the gowns I’d love to wear myself; Arden’s favorite color, pink, is also my favorite, and was used prominently in War Paint in both the costumes and background lighting. Th e sold-out crowd got the full vocal talents of the extraordinary lead women, off ering everyone a look into the lives of two powerful women (who never met, even though they lived and worked only a few blocks apart in Manhattan). Th ey were born decades ago, but their extraordinary accomplishments live on. Go see “War Paint” at the Nederlander Th eatre. You, too, will love it! Ross Lehrer and NYC Aging Commissioner Donna Corrado r e n i n l b and VICTORIA’S SECRETS Victoria SCHNEPS-YUNIS tweet me @vschneps State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli with Samantha, me and Elizabeth
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