Story and Photos by Tim Boxer

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ONNA KARAN was honored as an Outstanding Mother by the National Mother’s Day Committee. Her response: "The biggest Jewish guilt I have is where am I going to be on Mother’s Day? I will not be with my children. I’ll be in Haiti."

This inexhaustible humanitarian joined the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Task Force on a fact-finding mission to the earthquake-devastated Haiti. On her exploratory journey she searched for ways to aid the stricken and preserve the culture of this island nation for future generations.

"To join the world of philanthropy has truly been my dream," the dynamic fashion designer said.

Karan was one of five exceptional women recognized at the 33^rd Outstanding Mother Awards luncheon in May at the Pierre Hotel in New York. The other honorees were Joyce Armeli, senior vice president of the Bon-Ton Stores; Cindi Leive, editor in chief of Glamour; actress Susan Sarandon, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. The senator did not appear in person. She was with President Barack Obama at Ground Zero to mark the dispatch of Osama bin Laden that week.

Part of the luncheon proceeds benefitted Save the Children, which helps more than 78,000 children every year who live in poverty in the U.S. Mark Shriver, senior vice president of the charity, noted that 1 in 4 rural kids live in poverty, and 60 percent don’t have books in the home.

"I used to contribute to Save the Children when I was in college," Sarandon said.

The actress was told she couldn’t have children, but a miracle happened and she now has three. She had her third at age 45. "My kids are 19, 21 and 26—and they’re still going to the pediatrician!"

Her daughter, actress Eva Amurri, is getting married in the fall. She said, "I’ll have four babies and get it over with." Sarandon told her, "It’s never over. Get a dog first."

Mindy Grossman, CEO of HSN and a 2010 Outstanding Mother, presented the awards. "Outstanding Mother?" exclaimed Cindi Leive. "After most days I’d settle for Still Standing Mother!"

Her third grade daughter was unimpressed. "Mother," she said, "there are a billion mothers in the world. Why did they pick you?"