Bette Midler with Matthew Bronfman,
managing director of ACI Capital and
president of 92nd Street Y. | BETTE MIDLER
The Y’s Divine
So’s the Wine By TIM BOXER  ETTE MIDLER was in fine fettle when she starred in the 92nd Street Y spring gala. “I’ve done more for the Y than the Village People,” she declared.
I laughed at that line and at several others too blue to repeat. Alluding to New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s marital woes, the bombshell diva showed neither patience nor understanding: “Donna and Rudy, get a grip! I haven’t seen such mud slinging since Burt and Lonnie split up the hairpieces.” Katie Couric, Connie Chung, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Ann Hampton Callaway and other notable names performed in a skit showing off the Y’s various attractions. 
Tami Mack (left), wife of Fredric Mack
of the Mack Company, with
Lisa Belzberg, president of PENCIL
and wife of Matthew Bronfman. | The magnificent original show, called A Family Affair, celebrated the Y’s 127 years of offering New Yorkers the highest quality entertainment as well as cultural and community services. Directed by two-time Emmy winner and five-time Tony nominee Patricia Birch, A Family Affair was written by talented lyricist Mark Waldrop, the production supervisor for Midler’s Divine Miss Millennium tour. This wonderful unique ensemble earned hearty applause from a thousand guests including Y president Matthew Bronfman and wife Lisa Belzberg, Judy and Michael Steinhardt, Joan and Robert Tisch, Ann and Andrew Tisch, Anita and Leonard Boxer, Mrs. Avery Fisher, Marcia Riklis, among others. 
Dr. Ruth Westheimer with
Sol Adler, 92nd Street Y Executive
Director. | Board member Peter May, president and COO of Triarc Companies, Inc., announced that the event brought in a tidy $1.2 million. You can tell that its countless supporters hold the venerable 92nd Street Y in high esteem. “The 92nd Street Y has held a central role in the artistic life of New York City,” executive director Sol Adler said. Charles Grodin credits his hometown Y for setting his head straight on his career path. “When I was growing up in Pittsburgh,” he said, “it was at the Y where I learned that I wasn’t going to be a professional basketball player. I also learned I wasn’t going to be a boxer. When you get hit on the head, things look different.” 
Bette Midler with Michael Goldstein (from left), CEO of Toys R Us, and Leni and Peter May, chairpeople of the 92nd Street Y spring gala.
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