New York - On Sunday, December 2nd, New Yorkers will shop with their hearts to benefit New York children in need of health services at The ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥â€™s Aid Society’s Miracle on Madison Avenue presented by The Bank of New York Mellon. ()
December 2nd is the 21st annual Miracle on Madison Avenue, the charity shopping event that kicks off the holiday season each year and brings together leading luxury retailers, restaurants and galleries on the Avenue.
From noon to 5:00 PM, nearly 100 participating Madison Avenue establishments between 57th and 86th Streets will donate 20 percent of the day’s sales to The ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥â€™s Aid Society’s health care programs. Madison Avenue will be closed to traffic from 66th to 72nd Streets, the only day of the year that the Avenue is closed. Specialty tents will line the Avenue instead of cars.
The event will start at noon with an opening ceremony to include singing by The ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥â€™s Aid Society Chamber Chorus and a ribbon cutting by the New York Yankees’ Andy Phillips, The Bank of New York Mellon CEO Robert Kelly, and C. Warren Moses, CEO of The ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥â€™s Aid Society.
Says Andy Phillips, "I am very pleased to have been asked to be honorary chair of this year's Miracle on Madison Avenue, a great New York tradition like the New York Yankees. Even though Bethany and I don't live in this great city throughout the whole year, we consider ourselves to be true New Yorkers. We strongly believe in the work done by The ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥ Society and doing our part to support health care services for the city's kids is the least we can do."
Members of the Miracle on Madison Avenue Honorary Committee include Tony Danza, Edie Falco, Debi Mazar, Michael McKean and his wife Annette O’Toole, Bethany Phillips, Kelly Ripa, Susan Sarandon, Tamara Tunie and Robert Verdi.
For the fourth year, The Bank of New York Mellon is the event’s presenting sponsor. Says Daisey Holmes, Director of philanthropic activities in the Metro region and President of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation Foundation, "The Bank of New York Mellon is proud to continue its tradition of supporting a great organization as it launches its third decade of 'Miracle.' Our new organization remains true to the community spirit on which its heritage companies -- The Bank of New York and Mellon Financial -- were founded. We are committed to join with the public, private and nonprofit sectors to address the needs of our community. 'Miracle' is a shining example of this pledge, as our Company and its employees are deeply involved in assuring its continued success."
Other sponsors include Real Simple, Gotham, and The Madison Avenue BID (Business Improvement District), a long-time supporter of Miracle on Madison Avenue.
The specialty tents on the Avenue will offer something for everyone: the Hospitality tent will offer “tastes’ of Madison Avenue restaurants; children will have plenty of fun in our new Kids’ Tent; shoppers can refresh in the Clarins Skin Spa Tent and Real Simple Magazine will wrap gifts in its new tent.
Miracle on Madison Avenue was created in 1987 by Martha Dupee and Noonie Marx, co-founders of the Madison Avenue Fund for ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥. Since its inception, Miracle on Madison Avenue has raised approximately $6.6 million for charity.
The ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥â€™s Aid Society was founded in 1853. It is one of the nation’s largest and most innovative non-sectarian agencies, serving more than 150,000 of New York’s neediest children and their families with a network of services that includes community schools, neighborhood centers, camps, adoption and foster care services, teen pregnancy prevention, education, health and recreation. For more information, please call 212-949-4938 or visit .
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