Charitable Support from Connie’s Bakery & General Store

Certainly, if you’ve ever been to Connie’s Bakery & General Store, owned by Connie Milstein, then you know that you can find delicious food and baked goods. What you might not know is that 100% of the after-tax profits go to 6 charitable organizations that Connie selects each year. These organizations receive Connie Milstein’s financial support, and are also promoted at the store and on the website. Three of the organizations to receive Connie’s Bakery & General Store support at the moment include:

The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley – This non-for-profit organization collects large donations of unmarketable but still edible food and distributes it to nearly 370 member agencies in six counties in the Hudson Valley.

Visiting Nurse Association of Hudson Valley – This not-for-profit organization provides home health care in the Westchester Community to those who need services, regardless of their ability to pay.

Veteran’s Hospital of Castle Point – This hospital in New York offers a large array of services to veterans who have served their country.

Recent Breakthrough in Epilepsy Research

Recently, two researchers offered an exciting breakthrough for epilepsy research. The two researchers who had grants from CURE, where Connie Milstein is on the Board, included Daniela Kaufer, PhD from the University of California at Berkeley and Alon Friedman, MD, PhD from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel.

Together, these researchers have shown that the drugs known as TGF-beta blockers have prevented epilepsy in rats who experience brain injuries. Should these findings be confirmed in humans, it would mean that the TGF-beta blockers could prevent many cases of epilepsy which occur in accident victims, in soldiers leaving war zones and more.

Their findings have been made possible by the CURE’s program, Prevention of Epilepsy after Traumatic Brain Injury, in partnership with the United States Army Medical Research and Material Command. Now in its third year, this research is intended to look at the impact that traumatic brain injuries have on epilepsy and to develop intervention and treatments against this outcome.

Blue Star Families Lend Support to Soldiers

One of the most recent projects led by the Blue Star Families is the Operation Appreciation program. The Blue Star Families Military Life Issues Survey found overwhelmingly (94%) that the public doesn’t understand or fully appreciate what the military is doing each day and the sacrifices they are making.

Blue Star Families, including Board of Directors member Connie Milstein, started “Operation Appreciate” to express gratitude to those in the field. This initiative invites community members to write letters of support to the military families. The person sending the card can send it to the parent, spouse or child of a military member, or to a veteran in the armed services.

This is a perfect activity for schools, Cub Scout and Brownie troupes, and more. It is a great opportunity to let military people know that others are thinking of them and appreciating the work that they are doing for America.

New Heart Center Offers “State-of-the-Art Care”

The latest addition to excellent health care in New York City has opened its doors as of February 1st, 2010. The Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center will begin offering cutting-edge cardiac care within the New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center’s prestigious walls. Designed by the internationally renowned architectural firm of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners in conjunction with daSilva Architects, this 260 million dollar, 142,000 square foot, 6 floor facility will be able to give the best care possible to cardiac patients and others with related conditions.

Fifty million dollars of the cost was donated by the Milstein Family, which has a long history of service and support for the hospital. Connie Milstein, daughter of Seymour and Vivian, has been actively involved on several committees at the medical center, including the Quality and Performance Improvement Committee. The donation represents one of the largest single donations in New York Presbyterian Hospital’s history, and will go far to create one of the most outstanding cardiac facilities in the country, and even the world.

Susan Axelrod on the 60 Minutes Segment

Hear from CURE Epilepsy founder Susan Axelrod, and the many supporters of this organization, including Connie Milstein about the recent 60 Minutes segment.

CURE Reaches Its 2009 Goals

As 2009 came to a close, CURE raced to raise $250,000. They were thrilled to not only raise this amount, but to surpass their goals as the year ended. This money will go to fund another Challenge Grant for the coming year, which will be named the Friends for the Cure Award. The extra money will, hopefully, fund yet another research project.

President Susan Axelrod, newest Board Member Connie Milstein, and many others were thrilled with the fundraising efforts they saw in 2009. They hope to continue to publicize the needs of those with epilepsy in 2010 and they hope to continue to fight epilepsy in the coming decade.

A Great Upcoming Production

The City Parks Foundation is excited, as 2010 begins, to announce that Three will be coming to the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park. A compilation of the classic fairy tales, “Three Three Little Pigs,” “Three Billy Goats Gruff,” and “The Three Bears,” this is an hysterically funny and enjoyable production.

Written by Jeff Borkin, a children’s TV writer and Emmy winner, the show includes original music and marionettes that are made by master pupetter Addis Williams. The show will run from January 12, 2012 to June 25, 2010.

This is one of the many performances and activities that the City Parks Foundation offers. The Board of Directors include Andrew Tisch and Jean Troubh, and the many trustees include Connie Milstein, James Abadie and others.