| U.S. MARINE CORPS
Richard Torrenzano Hosts
Toys for Tots at Nasdaq Story by Roger Webster  NE of my favorite holiday parties for the past few years is the one corporate crisis expert Richard Torrenzano hosts for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys For Tots at the Nasdaq Marketsite in Times Square.
Richard, the charming host whom Gotham Magazine lists as one of our city’s best, goes out of his way to make the evening a success. It is so heartwarming to see the mountain of shining toys, destined for 5,000 needy children, grow. Guests sipped Veuve Clicquot Champagne and had their picture taken, which appeared on the Nasdaq marquee overlooking Broadway. Among those who attended were Kathy and Rick Hilton with sons Conrad and Baron, who brought four bags full of toys; CeCe Cord, who brought her toys in happily decorated packages and carried her adorable dog in her bag, a surprise treat for all to see, and Muffie Potter Aston, who brought six toys – two for girls, two for boys and two unisex. Other notables included Debbie Bancroft with her children Will and Serena, Grace Hightower, R. Couri Hay, Linda Mansfield, Christine Shaw, Mark Gillespie, Felicia Taylor and Dylan Brown, Elite model Heidi Albertsen with handsome Kevin Glaser, Janis and Sharon Gardner, Paul Carroll, Charles Cecil, fashion designer Kim Hicks, Michael Fagan, foot doctor to the stars Suzanne Levine, dermatologist Dr. Howard Sobel, actor Don Fitzgerald, art expert Thomas Knapp, Amy Rosi, Valerie Grubb and fire fighter Jeff Darling from Engine 39, a September 11 hero. The toys are still pouring in – Victoria Hearst, from her ranch in Colorado, sent 50 Teddy Bears from FAO Schwartz – and they are about to reach their goal of 1,000 toys. After the lovely cocktail party, Torrenzano gave a buffet dinner at his home on the Upper East Side for committee members and friends. |
