Matilda Raffa Cuomo, former First Lady of New York State; Margaret Dowd, executive director of S.L.E. Lupus Foundation, and president/CEO of Lupus Research Institute; and Dr. Margaret I. Cuomo, of North Shore University Hospital

Michele Gadsden-Williams, Jessye Norman, Tim Gunn and Desiree Gruber

Anna Fisch, restaurant investor and Bag Ladies Luncheon chair, and Rebecca Gold, jewelry designer 125 stunning designer bags on display

LUPUS
Bag Ladies Of The Plaza
Rally To Fight Lupus

STORY BY NINA BOXER
PHOTOS BY TIM BOXER

M

ICHELLE Gadsden-Williams had a personal message at the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation Bag Ladies Luncheon in April at the Plaza Hotel in New York. The managing director and global head of diversity and inclusion at Credit Suisse said, "For anyone who’s been diagnosed with lupus or any other chronic disease, find the meaning behind whatever it is you are going through. Sometimes things happened for a purpose. Since my diagnosis, I have recognized that I am here to promote education and awareness of this disease and use my story as an example."

To which opera diva Jessye Norman replied, "It’s a pleasure to attend this luncheon and see the power of women helping women."

"Living with lupus takes strength," said Dr. Lisa R. Sammaritano, associate attending physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery and professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Lupus is a chronic disease that affects 1.5 million Americans, primarily young women of color. Only one new drug has been approved in 50 years. The luncheon, under the direction of Margaret Dowd, executive director of the foundation, featured a silent auction of stylish handbags donated by such designers as Betsey Johnson, Prada, Valentino and MarcJacobs. The event raised more than $350,000 for the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation, which provides direct patient support and public awareness as well as funding innovative lupus research.

Tim Gunn, Emmy winning of Project Runway, who served as emcee, presented Woman of Achievement Awards to Gadsden-Williams, Dr. Sammaritano, and Project Runway co-creator Desiree Gruber.

"The Bag Ladies Luncheon," Gruber said, "is the perfect opportunity for the fashion industry to support the very women they serve on a daily basis." Gruber was accompanied by her husband Kyle MacLachlan, well-known for his TV roles in Sex and the City and Desperate Wives.

Melany Hearne Martins, founder and chief investment officer at Exantas Capital, chaired the luncheon. Among the trend-setting guests were Anne Keating, senior vice president of public relations, special events and corporate philanthropy at Bloomingdale’s; Danielle DiFernando, founder of Danielle Nicole Handbags; Mary Belle, president/licensing at The Jones Group which represents such iconic lifestyle brands as Anne Klein, Jones New York and Nine West; and philanthropists Phyllis Mack, Denise Wohl and Lady Va Maughan.