| 
Muffie Potter Aston,
Richard Torrenzano, Helen Schifter
and Grace Hightower
Photo by Rob Rich
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Lydia Hearst and the toys
Photo by Rob Rich | TOYS FOR TOTS
Richard Torrenzano Calls In
The Marines To Help The Kids By Roger Webster  EW YORKERS were not just thinking of themselves this season as corporate crisis guru Richard Torrenzano and the U.S. Marine Corps hosted their third annual Toys For Tots holiday party at Doubles, the private club at the Sherry Netherlands Hotel.
His guests, including Rosanna Scotto, Cornelia Guest, R. Couri Hay, Lydia Hearst, Jason Grant, Lisa Jackson, Larry and Denise Wohl, Felicia Taylor, Janis and Charles Cecil, Mitch Krieger, Cass Almandro, Muffie Potter Aston, Dr. James Eisdorfer, David Abramson, Grace Hightower, CeCe Cord, Randall Stempler, Tina Louise, Christiaan MacPherson, Julie Hayek, Andrea Stark and Doubles’ guiding light Wendy Carduner brought over 1,000 toys for America’s needy children. Guests walked down the famous red staircase into the glamorous club tastefully decorated to the rafters for the holidays and were greeted by Santa. They placed their toys under the tree and admired a whole wall decorated with red poinsettias and red and gold glass balls while the Champagne Veuve Clicquot was poured and the Music People caroled seasonal classics. Interestingly, the marines themselves were just as popular as Santa when it came to posing for the photographer. “I want to be in a picture with the men who are defending our country” was heard over and over again. Lance Corporals Salazar, Wong and Gonzalez, who had volunteered for “charity duty” from the base at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, were only too happy to comply. The Marine Corps’ Toys For Tots program began in 1947 when reservists distributed 5,000 toys. Each year the Marines distribute new toys in their communities through local social welfare agencies and church groups in more than 290 communities in 50 states. |
