NSO Announces European Tour in Early 2013

The National Symphony Orchestra recently announced that they will embark on a four country European tour beginning January 31, 2013. The orchestra, under the direction of Christoph Eschenbach, will perform in Madrid and Murcia, Spain; Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Nürnberg, and Frankfurt, Germany; Paris, France; and Muscat, Oman. The tour date in Oman was added after the tour’s initial announcement and the National Symphony Orchestra will be the first major American orchestra to perform at the Royal Opera House Muscat.

The NSO is currently wrapping up its second international tour in eight months. It is currently wrapping up the Americas tour, which included stops in Trinidad, Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Over the years, the NSO has celebrated many touring milestones. The first international tour was in 1959 and made stops in 19 countries over the course of 12 weeks.

“From the earliest days of my appointment as National Symphony Orchestra Music Director, I have said that I wanted to bring this great orchestra to the attention of the world,” Eschenbach said. “To be making our second international tour so quickly after our first, is tribute to the wonderful musicians of the NSO, and to our work together.”

Connie Milstein, a Washington, D.C. resident and huge supporter of the arts, serves on the National Symphony Orchestra’s Board of Advisors.

NYU Washington D.C. Academic Facility Officially Open to Students

Connie Milstein, right, attended the NYU Washington D.C. ribbon cutting on Monday, Sept. 24.

Last week, NYU expanded its presence in the nation’s capitol as it cut the ribbon on the Constance Milstein and Family Global Academic Center. University students can now “study abroad” in D.C., taking classes, conducting research and pursuing internships from the 75,000 sq. ft. academic facility. Located just blocks from the White House, the curriculum offerings will focus on politics, government, public administration, and journalism, among other trends. NYU hopes to place many of the visiting students in internships or jobs by tapping the large number of NYU alumni in the city. 

The campus was made a reality through generous donations by Connie Milstein, Principal and Co-founder of Ogden CAP Properties, LLC, and local philanthropist; and Ronald Abramson, a shareholder in the firm of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney.

“On behalf of the entire NYU community, I thank Connie Milstein and Ron Abramson for their wonderful gifts, as well as the many other alumni and friends who supported NYU Washington D.C. Their philanthropy 

and their belief in us are potent validations of the global academic network NYU is building,” said NYU President John Sexton.

NYU’s Washington, D.C. site is the 14^th NYU-operated academic center outside of New York City. It was designed for NYU by Hickok Cole Architects and the general contractor was the Sigal Corporation. Construction began in December 2010 and the University is currently applying for LEED Certification for the building.

NY-Presbyterian Welcomes Three to Board of Trustees

Though Connie Milstein now resides in Washington, DC, she remains involved in a variety of causes in New York City, where she lived and worked for many years. In 2010, the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital opened the Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center, made possible through a $50 million gift from the Milstein family, including Connie and her brother Phillip. The state-of-the-art, 142,000-square-foot Heart Center features advanced diagnostic technology and treatments that are less invasive, more accurate, and require less healing time. Connie has served as a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Board of Trustees since 2000. The Board, which is made up of 87 individuals, oversees the Hospital’s five campuses.

Last week, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital announced three new additions to the Board of Trustees: private equity executive Russell Lloyd Carson; real estate developer Bruce A. Beale, Jr.; and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

The hospital is the national’s largest not-for-profit, non-sectarian hospital – it boasts 2,409 beds between its five campuses. Each year, the hospital’s 6,144 affiliated physicians and 19,376 staff provides inpatient, ambulatory and preventative care for the 2 million inpatient and outpatient visits each year. The U.S. News and World Report ranks NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital as the sixth-best in the United States. Each of the hospital’s specialties was ranked in the top 50 by the publication.

Facebook Launches Suicide-Prevention Services for Military Families, Active Duty Members and Veterans

Last week, Facebook announced a new partnership with Blue Star Families and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide customized crisis support to military families who are at risk for depression or suicide. Facebook launched suicide-prevention services in December, but the new, military-centric service will provide users connected to active-duty service members, military family members and veterans with content and services tailored to the military – including the Veterans Crisis Line.  

Facebook is a lifeline and a major way of communication for many members of military families. Not only do they use the social network to talk to deployed family member and loved ones, but can use it to connect with other military families going through similar experiences. The 2012 Blue Star Families Military Family Lifestyle Survey showed that 90 percent of the 4,000 military families surveyed reported some level of Facebook usage. Eight-six percent said they were on the Facebook website daily. The survey also revealed that the percentage of military family members who have pondered suicide is nearly equal to the number of service members who have also contemplated suicide. 

Connie Milstein serves as a member of the Blue Star Families Board of Directors.

Singer Mary McBride Tours Asia as HDI Spokesperson

This month, singer-songwriter and HDI spokesperson Mary McBride will travel to Vietnam, Laos, Taiwan and Iraq to perform with the support of the American Institute in Taiwan and the U.S. Embassies in Vientiane and Hanoi. The tour itself is hosted by the Humpty Dumpty Institute and Project RENEW. Prior to this tour, McBride shared her unique blend of R&B, American Country, and old-school Rock ‘n Roll to audiences in Pakistan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Russia.

One of McBride’s concerts in Vietnam was held at the Quang Tri Mine Action Visitor Center in Dong Ha Town. The center serves as a place where local residents and students can come to learn how to avoid bombs and mines. It is also frequented by international tour groups visiting the former Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

Connie Milstein is a co-founder of the Humpty Dumpty Institute, which is working alongside Project RENEW to reduce the impact of Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) by providing income-earning opportunities to the families of landmine victims. HDI also works more broadly to promote public diplomacy and create dialogue between the United Nations and the United States Congress. The New York-based NGO’s other humanitarian efforts include feeding school children in Laos and teaching landmine awareness in Myanmar.

CURE CEO Tapped for Illinois Medical Distric Commission

Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE),which Connie Milstein serves as a member of the Board of Directors, made headlines this week in Chicago. The organization’s CEO, Carmita Vaughan, was appointed to the Illinois Medical District Commission by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

Vaughan has worked for CURE since she joined as Chief Operating Officer in 2010. Prior to working with CURE, Vaughan served as Chief Strategy Officer for America’s Promise Alliance, a youth development organization founded by Gen. Colin Powell. She has also worked for the Chicago Public Schools Office of High School and High School Program. She has also worked with Fortune 500 companies in the following roles: global marketing, strategic planning and engineering/operations management. She serves on the Board of Directors for Marwen, a Chicago-based arts education organization, the Academy of Urban School Leadership and America’s Promise Alliance.

In her newly appointed role, Vaughan will be one of seven charged with overseeing, coordinating and reviewing development projects within the Illinois Medical District. She was selected because of her experience with medical issues and healthcare, her commitment to community service and her managerial experience.