Spirit of Helen Keller Gala

HKI hosted its seventh annual Spirit of Helen Keller Gala on May 21, 2012 at The Pierre Hotel in New York. The event raised over $1,000,000 to benefit HKI's sight- and life-saving programs in 22 countries around the world - our most successful Gala yet!

2012 Honoree:
Spirit of Helen Keller Award
William Foege, M.D., M.P.H.

 Special Guest:
Brian Williams
Anchor, NBC Nightly News 

 

  • 2012 Gala PhotoGala Co-Chairs (L) D. Brooks Betts and (R) Desmond G. FitzGerald with CEO Kathy Spahn
  • 2012 Gala PhotoSpecial Guest Brian Williams, CEO Kathy Spahn, and Spirit of Helen Keller Award Recipient, Dr. William Foege
  • 2012 Gala PhotoHKI Trustee Wendy Lee, Eileen Simmons, Easton Ragsdale, Mary Libby, George McNeely
  • 2012 Gala PhotoBen Amy, Morgan Grandi, Kat McElroy, Luigi Bonaventura
  • 2012 Gala PhotoHKI Trustee Bradford Perkins and Benefit Committee member Beverly Orthwein
  • 2012 Gala PhotoJunior Committee members with guests
  • 2012 Gala PhotoHKI Trustee Gregory Feller with his wife Dana
  • 2012 Gala PhotoHKI Trustee Henry Barkhorn and Janice Oresman
  • 2012 Gala PhotoJulie Casella-Esposita, Benefit Committee member Gretchen Grant, and HKI Trustee Jennifer Buda
  • 2012 Gala PhotoJunior Committee co-chair Sarah Mason with Benefit Committee member Sheila Lennon
  • 2012 Gala PhotoBecky Thomas, Benefit Committee member Beverly Orthwein, HKI Trustee Robert Thomas, CEO Kathy Spahn
  • 2012 Gala PhotoJunior Committee members Sam Barclay and Hilary Aylesworth with Pau Sabria
  • 2012 Gala PhotoChildSight® staff explain our vision screening program to guests
  • 2012 Gala PhotoHomestead Food Production display
  • 2012 Gala PhotoGala co-chair D. Brooks Betts with HKI Trustee Leslie Dukker Doty
  • 2012 Gala PhotoHKI Trustee Mark Menting with Calvin Mew
  • 2012 Gala PhotoGala co-chairs D. Brooks Betts and Desmond G. FitzGerald welcome guests to the dinner
  • 2012 Gala PhotoBrian Williams tells the crowd the story of how his father, Gordon Williams, met Helen Keller.
  • 2012 Gala PhotoGeralyn Ritter, President of the Merck Company Foundation presents Dr. William Foege with the Spirit of Helen Keller Award
  • 2012 Gala PhotoWilliam Foege, Kathy Spahn and Brian Williams talk during dinner
  • 2012 Gala PhotoGuests Jeanne Gallardo, Meenu Mahajan, Vikas Mahajan
  • 2012 Gala PhotoAuctioneer George McNeely starts the bidding during the live auction
  • 2012 Gala PhotoJazz singer Tony DeSare ends the evening with a musical performance.
Photos ©Ryan McCune/PatrickMcMullan.com