April 16th, 7- 9 PM, Downtown-NYC
Text, Images J. Ecochard
We immediately said –yes- to an invite to a Tycher Family Foundation benefit for the Fisher House Foundation-a terrific organization that builds and maintains houses on and near military bases stateside- for visiting families of returning vets undergoing treatment for injuries. (Akin to what Ronald MacDonald Houses for cancer stricken kids and their families).
Held at the swank Tribeca Grand Hotel in downtown Manhattan, the extended cocktail hours soirée was already packed by 7:10 PM with a congenial mix of 25-55 years olds – including Hugo Boss-ed attire financiers, sharply dressed real estate and ex-military types…plus a dabble of chicettes sporting the latest garb.
Chicest of them all, naturally were leading lights Sally Tycher and her daughter, Dana-a bubbly 20 something wheeling a hefty rolodex who “actually chooses the charities” to support. Dana guarantees a good time for the young professional crowd “who want to have fun and be involved.” And- she notes, “a family’s love is good medicine.”
IMHO-a most interesting half hour was spent conversing with the dedicated Fisher House Foundation President -David A. Coker- a veteran who was as wowed as we were (fifteen years prior) by the positive effects families at the ready can have-- (housed in "stabile and comfortable environments")- on an injured soldier.
Another highlight of the night was the moving video clip featuring interviews with veterans… some disfigured beyond recognition… serving up testimony on how critical to their recovery- was having a dad, a wife, a husband-someone- by their side-during their treatments.
And yes, returning American soldiers “deserve the best we have.”
For more information, visit: www.fisherhouse.org
Special mention also goes to the BFF worthy, Accidental Housewife Julie Edelman who accompanied a West Point graduate to the event. Informing us: “Brea is not me” …Edelman kept us chuckling over her take on bringing “Wysteria to Hysteria” (a satirical but practical twist on the Desperate Housewives/Martha Stewart perfectionist mode of modern living).
Edelman’s paperback, The Accidental Housewife that just hit shelves last week… is entertaining-plus delivers on the promise “to embrace your inner housewife while letting go of the inner critic”…and chronicles her life…“trying to be perfect like my mother cooking gourmet meals and having a son wearing perfectly ironed clothes”
YIKES.
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