NEW YORK-FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2008. 22nd Annual Citymeals-on-Wheels Power Lunch for Women at The Rainbow Room, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th Floor, New York, NY. A veritable who’s who from the worlds of business, media, government, publishing and the arts filled the Rainbow Room on Friday, November 21, 2008 for the Citymeals-on-Wheels 22nd annual “Power Lunch for Women.” This by-invitation-only benefit, emceed by Diana L. Taylor, Managing Director of Wolfensohn & Company, raised $1.5 million, enough money to provide 155,763 meals for New York’s frail aged. Having read about Citymeals-on-Wheels dire financial straits in New York Magazine, Joan Tisch (wife of the late Bob Tisch) made a surprise announcement at the organization's recent Power Lunch for Women. She said, "Like you, my family shares a deep concern for the hungry and vulnerable in our city. That is why my children- Steven, Laurie and Jon- and I have decided to make a Challenge Grant of $100,000 to Citymeals in honor of Bob, a man known for his compassion and responsiveness to people in need. Bob had an abiding admiration and long association with Citymeals and I'm sure that my daughter Laurie heard his voice, when she got the family together to make this gift." With that challenge 16 people stepped up to the plate and in about 10 minutes, with the matching grant they raised, on site $430,000. Andrew Borrok, a Citymeals Board Member, wrote a check for $150,000 on the spot. When the tallies were in Citymeals raised $1.5 million …making this the largest single fundraiser in Citymeals’ history. Honored for their long-standing commitment to Citymeals and the elderly population were Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. and Lynda Resnick, FIJI Water / POM Wonderful. The after-noon featured a special performance by vocalist Andrea Marcovicci and her 90 year-old mother, Helen. Among this year’s lunching ladies were Cindy Adams; Christine Baranski; Polly Bergen; Susan Blumenthal; Grace Mirabella Cahan; Mary Higgins Clark; Carmen Dell’Orefice; Michele Oka Doner; Beth Dozoretz; Patricia Duff; Nora Ephron; Dasha Epstein; Joni Evans; Florence Fabricant; Linda Fairstein; Tovah Feldshuh; Geraldine Ferraro; Stephanie French; Betsy Gotbaum; Susan Zises Green; Gael Greene; Jamee Gregory; Donna Hanover; Joan Helpern; Caroline Hirsch; Jenny Holzer; Erica Jong; Adrienne Landau; Evelyn Lauder; Alexandra Lebenthal; Cynthia Leive; Stephanie March; Julianna Margulies; Bernadette Peters; Ruth Reichl; Denise Rich; Judith Ripka; Deborah Roberts; Samantha Boardman Rosen; Candida Royalle; Liz Smith; Gloria Steinem; Joan Tisch; Laurie Tisch; Kathleen Turner; Lillian Vernon; Silda Wall; Patricia Wexler; Paula Zahn and others. For a ticket price of $10,000, men can have the privilege of lunching with these powerful and famous women. This year’s $10K men included Michael Batterberry; Albert Behler; Andrew Borrok; Joseph Cohen; Bill Fischer; Bobby Flay; Peter Glazier; Michael Lynne; Michael Norris; Craig Pfeiffer; John Pomerantz; Dennis Riese; Lee Schrager; John Shapiro; Donald Tober; and Steven Zavagli. One hundred percent of the money raised from ticket sales at Power Lunch, and all Citymeals’ events, goes to the preparation and delivery of nutritious meals to homebound elderly in the five boroughs of New York City. This year’s Power Lunch was hosted by the Cipriani Family and the Rainbow Room. Official sponsors of Citymeals-on-Wheels include American Airlines; FIJI Water; MasterCard; and Nespresso. Event sponsors include POM Wonderful; Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.; Bloomingdales; Bobbi Brown; Bernardaud; Chadick Ellig; La Prairie; Taittinger; Teleflora Travelers and W.J. Deutsch & Sons/Georges Deboeuf. PHOTO CREDIT:Copyright ©Manhattan Society.com 2008 by Christopher London | tel:Private |e-mail: ChrisLondon@manhattansociety.com****NOTE: More notes, id's to come soon*****