Connie Milstein and BSF Host Holiday Luncheon at at Walter Reed

Last month, Connie Milstein partnered with Neiman Marcus, Fidelis Security and Blue Star Families to host the 2012 holiday luncheon at Walter Reed Medical Center. Each winter wounded warriors, caregivers and their families are treated to an afternoon filled with tasty treats, holiday crafts and games, and a visit from Santa. This year guests were treated to a performance by the Annapolis Area Christian School’s Madrigals Choir and a special Christmas story read by Darlene Greenert. Also inattendance was Deputy Secretary of Defense, Ashton Carter; Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, George Little; Commanding Officer of Walter Reed Admiral Stocks and his wife; Surgeon General of the Navy, Admiral Matthew Nathan; and the wife of Admiral Anderson Chief Medical Office of the Marine Corps, Paula Anderson.

This annual BSF event allows wounded warriors to celebrate what is important during the holidays with their families and caregivers, even if they cannot be at home. Each family left the event this year with a family portrait with Santa, books, holiday cards and other special gifts. Nearly 200 BSF volunteers, including Connie Milstein – a member of the non-profit’s Board of Directors, gathered to organize the holiday event.

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.

Supporting CURE in San Francisco

CURE, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy, is excited to see San Francisco getting into the action. On March 25^th, the 1^st Annual San Francisco CURE Benefit Dinner will be held at The Four Seasons Hotel on 757 Market Street in San Francisco.

Certainly, CURE, where Connie Milstein is on the Board of Directors, values all of its sponsors and patrons. As a nonprofit organization, they are dedicated to finding a cure for epilepsy and can only do so with the funds raised for research.

The 1^st Annual San Francisco CURE Benefit Dinner will include a sponsor reception at 5:30 pm and a general reception beginning at 6 pm followed by dinner. The keynote speaker is David Axelrod, a Former Senior Advisor to the President and there will be a special performance by Grammy Award-winner Peter Rowan.

Be Part of the CURE in Boston

In recent news, Boston will see its first benefit for CURE, the volunteer-based organization founded by mothers of children with epilepsy. On Friday, October 15, 2010, the first annual Boston Benefit for CURE will take place at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts.

The guest speaker will be Pulitzer Prize-winning author and presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. Dinner chairs include Anne Finucane, Mike Barnicle and Susan Axelrod. Certainly, board members such as Connie Milstein support the efforts of CURE to create these fundraising events and to tirelessly work for a cure for epilepsy.

New Epilepsy Research

The CURE website features a fascinating article about a recent study. This article explains that researchers found that deep brain stimulation reduces the frequency of partial epileptic seizures in patients who don’t respond well to medications. The study was conducted by Robert Fisher, MD, PhD of Stanford University and his colleagues.

Certainly, this information is exciting news for supporters of CURE such as CURE President Susan Axelrod and board members Barbara Kelly, Connie Milstein and others.

Ford’s Theatre Upcoming Line-Up

The Ford’s Theatre recently announced its upcoming schedule for the 2010-2011 season. While there are many new and exciting productions planned for the Theatre, where Connie Milstein is on the board, other ongoing activities will continue as usual.

For instance, the popular daytime one-act production One Destiny by Richard Helleson will continue from October 12 through 30, 2010 and April 4 to May 28, 2011. Furthermore, the History on Foot walking tours A Free Black Woman: Elizabeth Keckly and Investigation: Detective McDevitt will be available from September to October 2010. Investigation: Detective McDevitt will resume in the spring from March-August 2011; A Free Black Woman: Elizabeth Keckly will run April-August 2011.

Certainly, this provides a wealth of entertainment for anyone who has the pleasure of coming to the Ford’s Theatre.